c42no06

On my 1967 427 w/tri-power, the intake manifold is from a 1969 and my primary carb is holley #3660. Which is the correct carb return spring that I should be using, a '67 or '69? Not sure whether to order it for the year of the car or for the year of the manifold.

gbvette62

If your running the stock accelerator rod from your 67, I would suggest that you use the 67 (black) spring. The 67 spring runs forward to a bracket that bolts to the first 2 left front, intake, manifold bolts. 68-69's use an accerlerator cable instead of a rod. The cable was held by a bracket that mounted to the 2 left side, rear carb, mount studs. The 68-69 spring runs rearward to a hole in the accelerator cable bracket.

The 67 spring and bracket will maintain the stock appearence (if that matters to you) and should operate correctly with the steel accelerator rod. By the way, if your converting a non 3x2 car, 67 3x2 cars use a different accelerator rod than 427/390 cars. The accelerator arm (the arm connects the accelerator pedal swing arm to the rod) is the same on all 67 BB's, but is different from the 67 SB arm. I would suggest replacing the accelerator rod and arm with the correct ones for a 67 3x2 car, if you don't already have them. This will ensure that everything works correctly, and smoothly.

65-67 BB's all use a black spring, 68 3x2's use a yellow spring, and 69 3x2's use an orange spring. There may be a rate difference to the springs, but I think if you use the correct rod, arm, spring and bracket, everything should work as GM intended.

c42no06

gbvette62,

Thanks! Now I need to change my order with ZIPS.

rongold

1968 & 1969 Corvettes used a throttle cable instead of a rod, so regardless if your manifold is a 67, 68, or 69, you still have the throttle rod from your 67. You have to use the 1967 rod, spring and bracket---nothing from a 68 or 69 will fit. The 68 & 69 springs were much shorter, and went from the bottom of the center carb lever backwards to the cable retainer bracket. On the 67 setup, the spring goes from a small hole on the rod forward to a bracket mounted at the second pair of intake manifold bolts. As GBVETTE said, the 3x2 rod is different than the 390 HP rod, and the small block lever is different than the big block lever, so make sure that you have a matched set, or you may not be able to achieve full throttle.

RON

c42no06

Thanks Ron. I originally ordered the '69 return spring and just waiting to contact zips first thing tomorrow. Thanks again for such quick imput. Excellent forum!

rongold

Again, just make sure that you have all 3 of the correct pieces---the spring, the rod, and the spring bracket---You need all 3 for everything to work.

RON

c42no06

Ron,

As i observed my set-up, I have the '69 spring bracket with unknown spring, with '67 accelerator rod.

gbvette62

If you have the 68-69 bracket that mounts at the base of the carb, you definately need to order the 65-67 big block spring bracket, too. For everything to work right with the correct spring, the spring must run forward to the intake mounted spring bracket. Good Luck.

Glenn

rongold

Here's what it should look like. I had to split it into 2 pics.











RON

c42no06

But will the '67 spring bracket fit on my '69 manifold? Doesn't the '67 bracket have two holes for mounting vs. the the ' 69 where theres only one hole?

Thanks, chris

Shurshot

Modify the bracket if it can be done.......... or find another way to route the spring without using the tab on the rod

Nowadays if you go to the strip you will a need second spring anyway.

Do you have a tab with a hole on your thermostat housing?....... many of them have the right size hole for a return spring

Doug

gbvette62

The bracket mounts using the intake manifold bolts, not to the manifold itself. The intake manifold bolt location is the same on all big blocks. I think I miss-stated in my previous post that it mounted using the first 2 bolt holes, I believe that it mounts using the 3rd & 4th bolt holes actually. You can see where it mounts in relation to the carbs in rongold's photo.

c42no06

Still confused, the '67 spring bracket has 2 mounting hole. So if i use this bracket, one of the holes will be vacant. Which one do I use?

JohnZ

The bracket has two holes in it - they go on the 3rd and 4th bolts from the front of the manifold.

c42no06

John Z,

The '69 intake manifold doesn't have two bolts located close enough together to mount the bracket. There is only one bolt. The next bolt is way out of reach.

gbvette62

Where are you trying to bolt it to? As John Z and I have both posted, it goes under the 3rd and 4th intake manifold bolts on the left hand (drivers side) of the manifold. These are the same bolts used to bolt the intake to the head. The intake manifold mounting bolt hole location is the same on all 65-74 big blocks, if your intake mounted to your heads, than the bracket should mount to the engine.

Are you using a 65-67 big block return spring bracket? The bolt hole spacing on the big block bracket is 3 5/8" center to center. The 63-67 small block accelerator return spring bracket mounting holes are about 2 3/8" a part, center to center, do you possibly have a small block bracket? The small block bracket has 2 spring holes that are forward of the bracket mounting holes, the big block bracket has just 1 spring hole and it is between and above the the 2 mounting holes. If possible, I'll try to post a photo of the bracket here later, I'm not real good at that stuff.

c42no06

gbvette62,

I take a picture of my manifold #3937797 today and post it. Thanks.

JohnZ

The bolt pattern never changed on any big-block manifold or cylinder head - if the bracket you have won't fit under the 3rd and 4th bolts from the front, you have the wrong bracket. See photo below.

c42no06

I just checked again on on manifold. Guess what,......I'm am the ultimate vette ameteur! Now I see what you guys are reffering to. Thank you all for your patient's and help! Will try not to make an ameteur move like that again.

jbbeans

My 1969 Corvette 350/350 lost its gas pedal while driving. To my surprise the rod which connects the gas pedal to the throttle cable was severly bent. I ordered a replacement rod, but to my dismay it didn't work as it appears the cable is too short to work properly.

My problem now is what to do about it. It appears I have the pedal, rod and bracket from a 69 with cable from a 68...end result is the bracket simply bent while driving.

Can anyone help or advise the best route to take as our local Corvette store refers to the set up for my 69 as a 68. The 68 is a three piece unit the 69 isn't.

Thanks

Bob