McGyvering the throttle linkage... Sweeet

[texanidiot25]

My throttle cable snapped when turning off huffmiester onto cypress church. Hit the gas, and the pedal fell off (not uncommon, my gas pedal isn't properly mounted), so I goto put it back on, and hit the gas, but it's on teh floor! Take the pedal off, and hit the throttle arm, and it's on the floor! I idle over to a gravel road, and pop the hood. My dad suggests over the phone to use a shoes string. Tied a loop around the throttle arm, and tied a knot on the carb's throttle plate. The shoe string stretched so much that top speed was 40 miles per hours, and it took nearly a minute to reach there... You could say I had good MPG!

My dad and neighbor's suggestion for a better temp fix, a coat hanger... and... Hey, the throttle is more responsive than it was with the stock cable!!! Time to look into a linkage setup.




"Shoe String Budget"




Where's a cheap cable replacement, or even a cheap universal linkage setup I can get?

[sleepertruck72]

I dont think I would of believed it, without those pictures Hey at least you made it back ok. I hope you get her all fixed up. Lokar makes a throttle cable for your truck that should get you back to cruisin.. Or you may look into getting a 72 gas pedal set up with the cable since your pedal is falling off

[texanidiot25]

I just need a new pedal, the cups for the ball studs broke. Occasionally if I floor it with out my foot being on the center of the pedal it will slip, or if I knock into it. Not a problem driving like a normal person though.

I'll lookinto the Lokar setup... Gotta be CHEEEEEP though for me... Just spent a good chunk of change of a 550 mile round trip for a cab.

[Green Machine]

That is a 69 cab/truck right ? 67-70 used a full mechanical linkage, 71-72 used a cable that went all the way from the pedal to the carb.

It looks from the picture that you already have the year correct mechanical linkage from the pedal on out. Looks like someone just added a piece of cable to make the carb hookup.

All you need is the rest of the stock linkage, I'll see if I can find a pic.

[Longhorn Man]

69/70 is the exact same as 67/68... his was somewhat hodge podged

[68C15]

when I swapped to a V8 I re-did my linkage. I used some 1/4" rolled steel, threaded one end, put on a ball-stud deal from NAPA, measured to the pedal, and bent the end to 90*. I used the original clip at the pedal. you can get the clip new if you look in the Dorman hardware catalog.

[joedoozer]

I'd run it like that until it broke, and I'd keep and extra coat hanger behind the seat for a replacement. Haha

[texanidiot25]

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Alumin...-Rod,1604.html Thinking of just grabbing this, shortening, retapping, and never have the problem again.

[rwolf9653]

Thats great! I thought shoe laces could only be used when your wipers stop working.

[jorgensensc]

Be cautious of running rods for linkage. My Bel Air Stuck wide open when the motor mount broke and the motor twisted, putting the linkage in a bind so that it wouldn't release. Drove it straight into a tree before I could shut her down! . I highly suggest using a cable, for safeties sake. That is why GM got rid of the throttle linkage and went to the Cable. Please go back to cable.
Great ingenuity though!
Shawn

[texanidiot25]

What style linkage did you do? This comes with mini Heim Joints, same style used in a 4-link of a rock crawler. Very bind free on the big scale.

Gotta goto school today... Have my extra coat hanger and pliers in hand.

[68C15]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Alumin...-Rod,1604.html Thinking of just grabbing this, shortening, retapping, and never have the problem again.

although it looks like a nice piece I would be concerned with the nylon getting dirt stuck in it causing the throttle to stick. plus my way cost less than half what that sells for.

[joedoozer]

Its not so much about the joints getting stuck, but the rod bending. In an accident where the motor get shook real bad, or like jorge said if a motor mount breaks. If that rod gets bent, the throttle is open if not wide open. A lot of classes in racing have gone to cable only for the throttle, for this exact reason.

You should definitely run a cable. If you don't like the quality of them, with those little crimped ends. Then you can make your own.

[Green Machine]

Yes you could run a complete cable setup from a 71-72 truck, that would be safer, but it is not a bolt in deal. Some cab surgery is required, GM changed the holes in the cab when they went to the cable style.

If the motor mounts have ever been changed it is likely that they have the new improved style where there is an interlock built into the mount. In case the rubber seperates the metal tabs keep it from coming clear apart. This interlock is covered by the rubber of the mount, but it is in there.

The original mount were just a rubber biscuit of sorts and would come apart in two pieces when they failed. If you are worried about it you could get some newer style 73 up mounts and brackets or aftermarket setup or some ureathane mounts. But the stock replacements now have the interlock as mentioned above. Or get a short lengh of chain and connect between the block and the frame on the left side.

I would stay with the plan you are on and get or make some kind of rod in there. Much easier than doing cab surgery IMHO. It looks from the pics like the ball stud on the carb is riveted on there, if you could remove that ball stud or use one of the other holes on the carb linkage, that might give you more options.

[texanidiot25]

Calling NAPA today, found out they carry the cable's (for once, an autozone employee was helpful, knew what part I was talking about and all, just didn't have it in store any more). If the price is about the same I'm thinkin rod setup. I just like the hair finer feel of the throttle. And that's with a coat hanger for christs sake!

The motor mounts are brand new ones from NAPA installed less than a year ago, I think she'll be fine. Plus, with mini heim joints binding shouldn't be an issue... When the mount breaks and the motor jumps up, a cable is going to pull on the throttle just like a rod I figure.

[joedoozer]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

Calling NAPA today, found out they carry the cable's (for once, an autozone employee was helpful, knew what part I was talking about and all, just didn't have it in store any more). If the price is about the same I'm thinkin rod setup. I just like the hair finer feel of the throttle. And that's with a coat hanger for christs sake!

The motor mounts are brand new ones from NAPA installed less than a year ago, I think she'll be fine. Plus, with mini heim joints binding shouldn't be an issue... When the mount breaks and the motor jumps up, a cable is going to pull on the throttle just like a rod I figure.

But when the motor comes back down to earth, the cable goes back to normal where the rod is bent and gives a stuck throttle. You can finds faults in anything if you look hard enough. They make and sell both, so someone must like them and buy them.