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NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE

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Old May 12, 2002 | 05:26 PM
  #1  
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Default NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE

it seemed to me that i didnt have quite the power that i should have when getting on the throttle...
popped the hood and had my girlfriend hold the throttle to the floor and sure enough...i could grab the throttle linkage on the carb and still twist it a little more...
is this the thickness of the carpet causing this? does it even with the floor mat removed...
where do i adjust this to make sure that im getting WOT when i want it?
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Old May 12, 2002 | 06:11 PM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (SIGNGUY)

That's a common thing to have happen on these older C3's. You need to bend the bracket under the dash. It.s pretty easy... Just a PIA. :D


[Modified by silvervetteman, 4:12 PM 5/12/2002]
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Old May 12, 2002 | 06:31 PM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (silvervetteman)

bend which bracket? the gas pedal bracket? is there not an adjustment for this without bending a bracket? please excuse me saying so but isnt that a little "babba_ish"?
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Old May 12, 2002 | 07:23 PM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (SIGNGUY)

If you still have the stock Q-Jet and throttle bracket have someone floor it but do not force the accelerator. There is a 3/16" bolt and bracket holding the cable housing at the rear of the carb on the bracket. Loosen this and slide the cable housing to adjust. If you replaced the carpet or put in thicker pad you may have a problem getting enough adjustment.
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Old May 12, 2002 | 07:57 PM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (bigvette1)

No it is not Bubba-ish. The gas pedal and or bracket just bends after years of people "punchin'it". The early cars (68-73 )are worse. There is only one way the cable fits in the carburetor bracket. The assembly manual says to put the flange of the cable sleeve against the bracket, There is no adjustment! If the carb will not open all the way and you have no obstuctions like thick carpet or bunched up floor mats, that's what you need to do. Why do springs get weak? Why does metal bend? Who knows.. Just bend it back.... or replace it. :smash:


[Modified by silvervetteman, 6:00 PM 5/12/2002]
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Old May 13, 2002 | 12:42 AM
  #6  
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (silvervetteman)

Another trick is to get one of those football shaped sinkers with the rubber insert that you twist aroung the line. Get one about 1/2" long, remove the rubber insert and crimp the sinker onto the cable between the pedal lever and the end stop that is already crimped on the very end of the cable. Lift the gas pedal to gain the needed slack. ( Just rebending the rod by pulling up on the pedal is a whole lot quicker and easier and works just fine. The gas pedal rod material is acutually quite soft and bends rather easily) :smash:
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Old May 13, 2002 | 12:48 AM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (SIGNGUY)

If you don't want to bend anything, Summit makes an adjustable throttle cable bracket. I had the same problem and am currently using that bracket with good success.
Good Luck
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Old May 13, 2002 | 03:13 AM
  #8  
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (AV76)

Stupid question -- is your accelerator cable in the right hole on the carb?

I had the *exact* same problem in my 73 and got the same suggestions -- all were incorrect.

If you have a Q-jet there are two holes that the accelerator pin can screw into. One is at the top and slightly toward the firewall, the other is lower and back towards the radiatror.

Most people put the pin in the upper spot which may not be correct. I moved the pin to the other hole and, *voila*, problem solved.

Not sure if the later models
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Old May 13, 2002 | 11:31 AM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (SIGNGUY)

I had the same problem with my '69 not too long ago. You might want to check up and behind the gas pedal on the inside of the car. Look for a bolt that attaches to the firewall. I think it was either a 9/16" or 5/8". At any rate, this is the mounting bracket and on mine....worked itself a little loose over the years. I tightened it up several turns and the linkage gets WOT now. Look there first before you start screwing around with other adjustments. You will need a flashlight and it is uncomfortable but once you locate the bolt, it only takes a minute or two to tighten it.
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Old May 13, 2002 | 11:40 AM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (Corellian Corvette)

Nothing stupid about that question. I bet 99.9% of the people with Q-Jets have the throttle in the "standard hole". You can be I will check the throttle opening in both holes. Thanks.
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Old May 13, 2002 | 05:33 PM
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Default Re: NOT GETTING WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (SIGNGUY)

Make sure you look inside the venturi by holding open the air valve butterflies covering the secondary venturis. The throttle plates should be straight up and down...you can still move the linkage so that the plates rotate past that point, but it won't mean that the throttle plates aren't all the way open. The secondaries are actually opened with a spring on the drivers side of the carb...the linkage simply stops preventing the spring from moving the throttle plates. You can adjust the stops on the drivers side of the secondary shaft so that the throttle plates are properly positioned for WOT. So, even if you adjust the cable and linkage you still may not get WOT unless you adjust the stops on the secondary throttle shaft.
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