Tony: Do yourself a favor and buy yourself a high-quality set of shift cables and then install them properly. This includes preparing the housing ends correctly by cutting them cleanly, filing or grinding them square, opening the ends and using the correct ferrules. Size the loop at the rear derailleur properly. Consult the Park Tool or Sheldon Brown Web sites if you need guidance. Doing it right rather than half-a**ed and in a hurry will save you a lot of grief and head-scratching down the road. Correct installation of brake cables is even more important from a safety standpoint.