Hey guys,
I just got done replacing the valve cover gaskets on my 1974 corvette and have an extra wire. I'm unsure if it was connected prior to me working on it or not and not too sure on where the wire goes. Can anyone give me some clues?




(next picture) Also the previous owner I'm guessing replaced the upper radiator hose with an incorrect part and was using cardboard to fix the problem. Is the hose the problem or the item coming out of the intake manifold? Is that the water temperature sensor?



Any help ya'll can provide will be great. Thanks a lot!

 

AC throttle increase solenoid, attached to the drivers side front top on the Rochester carb.

 

I would venture to guess that it is the temp sending unit against the hose as it is installed in the water jacket of the intake. I would also venture to guess that it is not the right t-stat housing. You might try and see if there is a part number on the housing and cross reference it to the correct part.

 

Could this be it? this is where it is routed on my 73!

 

I don't know about the wire, but you should have at least wiped the grease off of the valve covers when you had them off.

 

Looks like the wire in question to me, which looks like it is going to the idle solenoid. I may be wrong?

 

Temp sensor should be in the head not the T-stat elbow.

Gary

 

Ummmmm, I think he got a little over zealous on the grease removal and took the paint off with the grease.

 

I don't know, if you look at the pic with the temp sensor gouging the upper radiator hose, there is grease chunks on the covers, pretty nasty.

 

That's my answer too (drivers side cyl hd).

The t-stat housing looks like the factory piece but having a temp sensor screwed in manifold next to t-stat housing, it's interfering with the upper rad hose. Someone noticed enough to put the cardboard between them to keep from chafing into the hose.

Wire was intended for connection to the idle solenoid on the orig Q-jet.

 

I think I'm missing something... more pics! (Going from Driver Side, Front, Passenger Side, Rear)






In your picture you have a "doohickey" I don't. ("doohickey" is a technical term)



Work in Progress! I replaced the water pump AND valves cover gaskets today... not too shabby for the day if you ask me.



I think she's pretty... need to figure out why the headlights wont go down.... but I think she's hot stuff!

I need to head to class for the night but will be back tomorrow. Thanks for everyone's help, you're great!

 

According to this picture I found on Eckler's the '74 Rochester Quadrajet doesn't seem to include a idler solenoid.



As well, I cannot find an idler solenoid for a '74 corvette. (via Eckler's, at least)

Would this connection be included on the vehicle even if the vehicle possibly did not come with an idler solenoid? (Doesn't seem correct to me)

EDIT:
As for the t-stat elbow / water jacket / t-stat housing / doohickey / whatever it is that is jabbin' my upper radiator hose... would you remove it and find a plug to fit it? What are your suggestions there?

 

Does your temp gauge work? Do you have a (green?) wire breaking out of the short harness that goes to the alternator and leading off under the exhaust manifold between the 1 and 3 exhaust ports?

If so then your temp sender is in the correct place and working and you could remove whatever that thing is in the manifold and plug the hole.
I don't know what your mystery wire is though.

 

Tonic,
The others are right. The temp sender should be in the block and have a GREEN wire from it that goes into the loom near the alternator. The wire in question IS for your idle solenoid, but the carb has no provision to mount a solenoid. Therefore it is the wrong Qjet for your car.

The sender in the manifold tells me that the manifold is incorrect for the Corvette, as there is no provision for one in that place on a Corvette manifold.

All up, I believe that the manifold and carb do not come from a Corvette. If they are right for that ENGINE, then the engine is from a truck or sedan.

You need to buy an AIM, a Workshop Manual and a Black Book. Once you have deciphered the casting and stamping codes on the engine, you will know what you have.

My guess is that the PO blew up the Corvette engine, and bought a runner from a wrecking yard that "looked right" for the job and shoved it in, letting the wires fall where they may.

A nice clean looking car, let down by a filthy ( and incorrect ) engine.

BTW, you should have a long hard look at the fuel line from your pump to the carb. We on the Forum DO NOT RECOMMEND any rubber fuel line in this area. It is a fire just waiting to happen.

Do some investigation, and let us know what you have. We;re here to help.

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn
11 days to go

 

Yep, I have the temp sender in the correct place, I'll remove that and plug the hole. Thanks!


I need to whip that old man's ***.

Thanks for the information... though it's bad news for my apparent "numbers matching" 1974 Corvette. I've got a little research to do.

Thanks for everyone's help, you've all been great.
I'm going to go sulk now.

 

Dont get pi$$ed or anything but unless the original motor was something special, like an L-82 or a big block car , if the motor in there now is from a truck then it most probably is a 4 bolt main block which is actually more suited to hi-performance mods, beside that all this should have been checked before any dollars changed hands and the price adjusted accordingly, you cant always ( and never should ) take what the seller says as fact, they are like lawyers and politicians, you know they are lying when you see their lips moving . Have fun with the car, drive it ! Peace,,,Moosie