Converting rod linkage to cable - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

HeavyD · 07-01-2005, 03:57 AM

My 70 GMC has the rod gas pedal linkage and I was wondering how difficult it is to swap over to the cable type linkage used in 71-72. I have a 72 parts truck to steal parts from. Anyone here know the procedure?? Thanks.

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 07-01-2005, 05:14 AM

I did it on a '68 Stepside. Used the gas pedal set up from a '72, but with a Lokar style cable. My buddy fabbed a metal copy of the plastic "rod support" so we could bolt that into one of the bolt holes from the old system. Had to drill a new hole thru the firewall for the cable bulkhead connector. We had to mess with the angles of the gas pedal rod to get the fit just right. We used a longer cable since this was an L6 application to a 4 barrel carb that sits "side-saddle" on the drivers side. It wasn't a simple bolt in.

Longhorn Man · 07-01-2005, 05:21 AM

And it's even more involved if you want to use the factory items... like cutting part of the firewall out and welding in the section from the parts truck.

HeavyD · 07-01-2005, 06:47 AM

Hmm.re-welding wasn't going to be part of the plan. Maybe I will just be happy with the rod setup. Thanks.

neonlarry · 07-01-2005, 07:48 AM

Check out this post:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hreadid=100644

purple gas · 07-01-2005, 09:38 AM

I started doing the swap. Did the re-work on the plastic rod holder of the old style to accept the cable type linkage parts but had problems with not being able to open the throttle fully. ( cable was alittle too long and had some slack in it). I went back to the original style with the rod & the peddle hooked to the floor for now becasue it works. My next plant is to try to modify the peddle arm parts- keep the rod linkage but have the new style peddle. I guess it depends what you want to achieve. The newer style peddle, the cable linkage, or both. I'd love to see picks of how others have done the swap without modifying the firewall.

cwilkie · 07-01-2005, 11:54 AM

I was hoping to do the exact same thing but I think I will keep my rod linkage setup after hearing how much work such a simple thing takes. Thanks for the sliders heavy d.

Chance

fastwillie 696969 · 07-01-2005, 07:00 PM

try using a morse cable set up its easy to use

cwilkie · 07-07-2005, 12:15 PM

Has anyone ever taken a 71-72 cable accelerator arm and cut both the top and bottom sections off? And then did the same to a 67-68 rod accelerator arm. After that welded the sawed off top and bottom pieces from the 71-72 arm to the 67-68 arm. Thus making a combined arm where the middle would bolt to the firewall and then it would have the suspended pedal on the bottom and the cable section on the top. The measurements would need to be figured but I would think it's a nice alternative to modifying the firewall. Any comments on this engineering alternative???

Chance

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 07-08-2005, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwilkie

Has anyone ever taken a 71-72 cable accelerator arm and cut both the top and bottom sections off? And then did the same to a 67-68 rod accelerator arm. After that welded the sawed off top and bottom pieces from the 71-72 arm to the 67-68 arm. Thus making a combined arm where the middle would bolt to the firewall and then it would have the suspended pedal on the bottom and the cable section on the top. The measurements would need to be figured but I would think it's a nice alternative to modifying the firewall. Any comments on this engineering alternative???

Chance

The design of the 2 systems is different. The '67-'68 style was a pusher type but the '71-'72 style is a pull type throttle actuation.

Putter · 07-07-2005, 02:35 PM

But if all you really want is the suspended pedal, why not only cut/change/weld the bottom section and leave the rod-to-carb intact?!?!?!
That'd work, too.

cwilkie · 07-07-2005, 03:26 PM

My reasoning for the whole "engineering process" is because I just bought a new 700R4 transmission. I assume the T.V. cables need to be set properly and the cable system would be easier than the rod linkage. What do you think?

Chance

ed455 · 07-07-2005, 03:37 PM

I'm dealing with this now. The rod linkage on my 66 interferes with the TV cable for the 700r4. Tonight, I'm going to remove the pedal assembly and weld another piece onto the outside portion of the arm, effectively raising the point where the rod attaches. This will clear the TV cable. I made my own rod and will lengthen it or shorten it as needed. Just a tip, you can get the nice rod end type of linkage ends from a circle track shop. Then you can use a die to thread 1/4" rod at the ends and use jam nuts. Looks really good and gives a professional appearance. You can also use 1/4" all-thread, but it looks cheezy.

ed455 · 07-07-2005, 08:43 PM

here's the project completed. Pic 1 is the way it was before. Pic 2 is the modified pedal. Pic 3 is the way it is now.

07-01-2005, 03:57 AM	#1
HeavyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada Posts: 3,180	Converting rod linkage to cable My 70 GMC has the rod gas pedal linkage and I was wondering how difficult it is to swap over to the cable type linkage used in 71-72. I have a 72 parts truck to steal parts from. Anyone here know the procedure?? Thanks. __________________ "You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man"

07-01-2005, 05:14 AM	#2
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,539	I did it on a '68 Stepside. Used the gas pedal set up from a '72, but with a Lokar style cable. My buddy fabbed a metal copy of the plastic "rod support" so we could bolt that into one of the bolt holes from the old system. Had to drill a new hole thru the firewall for the cable bulkhead connector. We had to mess with the angles of the gas pedal rod to get the fit just right. We used a longer cable since this was an L6 application to a 4 barrel carb that sits "side-saddle" on the drivers side. It wasn't a simple bolt in. __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

07-01-2005, 06:47 AM	#4
HeavyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wakaw, Sask, Canada Posts: 3,180	Hmm.re-welding wasn't going to be part of the plan. Maybe I will just be happy with the rod setup. Thanks. __________________ "You can take the man out of PA, but you can't take PA out of the man"

07-01-2005, 07:48 AM	#5
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,745	Check out this post: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hreadid=100644 __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

07-01-2005, 09:38 AM	#6
purple gas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: saskatoon, planet earth Posts: 696	I started doing the swap. Did the re-work on the plastic rod holder of the old style to accept the cable type linkage parts but had problems with not being able to open the throttle fully. ( cable was alittle too long and had some slack in it). I went back to the original style with the rod & the peddle hooked to the floor for now becasue it works. My next plant is to try to modify the peddle arm parts- keep the rod linkage but have the new style peddle. I guess it depends what you want to achieve. The newer style peddle, the cable linkage, or both. I'd love to see picks of how others have done the swap without modifying the firewall. __________________ I got a bench seat baby, you don't have to sit over there.

07-01-2005, 05:21 AM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	And it's even more involved if you want to use the factory items... like cutting part of the firewall out and welding in the section from the parts truck.

07-01-2005, 11:54 AM	#7
cwilkie Chance Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Belcourt ,ND, USA Posts: 750	Rod Linkage I was hoping to do the exact same thing but I think I will keep my rod linkage setup after hearing how much work such a simple thing takes. Thanks for the sliders heavy d. Chance __________________ 1968 Chevrolet Stepside BB 396 w/TH400 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 Ton 4x4 BB 496 w/TH400

07-01-2005, 07:00 PM	#8
fastwillie 696969 ~Rest In Peace~ Join Date: May 2005 Location: CALIFORNIA NOR CAL Posts: 9,707	try using a morse cable set up its easy to use __________________ is it fast ? it has a lighting bolt donut? B___H please, I can remove 90% of your so called "beauty" with a kleenex

07-07-2005, 12:15 PM	#9
cwilkie Chance Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Belcourt ,ND, USA Posts: 750	Would this work? Has anyone ever taken a 71-72 cable accelerator arm and cut both the top and bottom sections off? And then did the same to a 67-68 rod accelerator arm. After that welded the sawed off top and bottom pieces from the 71-72 arm to the 67-68 arm. Thus making a combined arm where the middle would bolt to the firewall and then it would have the suspended pedal on the bottom and the cable section on the top. The measurements would need to be figured but I would think it's a nice alternative to modifying the firewall. Any comments on this engineering alternative??? Chance __________________ 1968 Chevrolet Stepside BB 396 w/TH400 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 Ton 4x4 BB 496 w/TH400 Last edited by cwilkie; 07-07-2005 at 02:13 PM.

07-07-2005, 02:35 PM	#11
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	But if all you really want is the suspended pedal, why not only cut/change/weld the bottom section and leave the rod-to-carb intact?!?!?! That'd work, too. __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

07-07-2005, 03:26 PM	#12
cwilkie Chance Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Belcourt ,ND, USA Posts: 750	700r4 My reasoning for the whole "engineering process" is because I just bought a new 700R4 transmission. I assume the T.V. cables need to be set properly and the cable system would be easier than the rod linkage. What do you think? Chance __________________ 1968 Chevrolet Stepside BB 396 w/TH400 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 Ton 4x4 BB 496 w/TH400

07-07-2005, 03:37 PM	#13
ed455 Captain Ed Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Port Charlotte, FL Posts: 1,241	I'm dealing with this now. The rod linkage on my 66 interferes with the TV cable for the 700r4. Tonight, I'm going to remove the pedal assembly and weld another piece onto the outside portion of the arm, effectively raising the point where the rod attaches. This will clear the TV cable. I made my own rod and will lengthen it or shorten it as needed. Just a tip, you can get the nice rod end type of linkage ends from a circle track shop. Then you can use a die to thread 1/4" rod at the ends and use jam nuts. Looks really good and gives a professional appearance. You can also use 1/4" all-thread, but it looks cheezy.

07-07-2005, 08:43 PM	#14
ed455 Captain Ed Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Port Charlotte, FL Posts: 1,241	here's the project completed. Pic 1 is the way it was before. Pic 2 is the modified pedal. Pic 3 is the way it is now. Attached Images Last edited by ed455; 07-07-2005 at 08:44 PM.

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