C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

'81 E4ME Qudrajet Choke Linkage

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-28-2016, 11:02 PM
  #1  
64roadster
Burning Brakes
Support Corvetteforum!
Thread Starter
 
64roadster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,060
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07

Default '81 E4ME Qudrajet Choke Linkage

I am in the final stages of rebuilding my '81's Quadrajet but did not take enough pictures of the choke linkage. Can any of you tell me if the part in the second pic is in the correct orientation, in the first pic?






Any good detail pics of the choke linkage would also be appreciated.

Gordon
Old 01-28-2016, 11:25 PM
  #2  
Kid Vette
Melting Slicks
 
Kid Vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2003
Location: Niles, MI
Posts: 2,765
Received 230 Likes on 142 Posts

Default

Its in the wrong position.


The following users liked this post:
64roadster (01-28-2016)
Old 01-28-2016, 11:36 PM
  #3  
64roadster
Burning Brakes
Support Corvetteforum!
Thread Starter
 
64roadster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,060
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07

Default

Originally Posted by Kid Vette
Its in the wrong position.


Thanks Kid Vette


Old 01-29-2016, 12:29 PM
  #4  
Kid Vette
Melting Slicks
 
Kid Vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2003
Location: Niles, MI
Posts: 2,765
Received 230 Likes on 142 Posts

Default

Old 01-29-2016, 01:48 PM
  #5  
64roadster
Burning Brakes
Support Corvetteforum!
Thread Starter
 
64roadster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,060
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07

Default

Originally Posted by Kid Vette
Thanks Kid Vette, now I just have to figure out the orientation of the small choke rod lever that mounts inside the float bowl case, and which side the choke rod connects to the lever. Should have taken more pictures!
Old 01-29-2016, 08:49 PM
  #6  
cardo0
Le Mans Master
 
cardo0's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2002
Location: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Posts: 7,098
Received 373 Likes on 356 Posts

Default

I just have to figure out the orientation of the small choke rod lever that mounts inside the float bowl case, and which side the choke rod connects to the lever.


50/50 chance to get it right.
Old 01-29-2016, 10:04 PM
  #7  
64roadster
Burning Brakes
Support Corvetteforum!
Thread Starter
 
64roadster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,060
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07

Default

Originally Posted by cardo0
I just have to figure out the orientation of the small choke rod lever that mounts inside the float bowl case, and which side the choke rod connects to the lever.


50/50 chance to get it right.
Getting the choke rod lever installed in the carb body is a pain. I'm trying to do it with tweezers but darn, it's the most difficult part of this build.
Old 01-30-2016, 12:28 AM
  #8  
Shark Racer
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Shark Racer's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: San Jose CA
Posts: 12,399
Received 241 Likes on 200 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by cardo0
I just have to figure out the orientation of the small choke rod lever that mounts inside the float bowl case, and which side the choke rod connects to the lever.


50/50 chance to get it right.
I've gotten pretty good at it but I've rebuilt 10-15 Q-Jets at this point.

The shaft on the choke body is keyed to the bottom part of that lower choke link. The upper holes are round.

What I do is attach the lower link to the upper link and fish it into the groove in the float bowl, then gently introduce the choke body while rotating the choke shaft (cap off lets you rotate it inside the choke housing). While rotating the shaft you can raise and lower the link to try to get the keyhole lined up. You put gentle pressure inwards on the choke housing to keep the lower link from slipping out of the groove.

HTH.
Old 01-30-2016, 09:13 AM
  #9  
jnb5101
Le Mans Master
 
jnb5101's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2006
Location: charlotte north carolina
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 0
Received 100 Likes on 92 Posts

Default

Attach the choke lever to the rod and drop it into the carb body. Then support the carb so that the choke side is straight up. Use a small screw driver to move the lever into position so that you can see the slot where the choke slides into it. Use a #2 Phillips screwdriver to rotate the lever so it lines up with the choke . Remove the screwdriver and drop the choke into place. It takes about a minute to do.
Old 01-30-2016, 10:49 AM
  #10  
7T1vette
Team Owner
 
7T1vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Crossville TN
Posts: 36,599
Received 2,713 Likes on 2,271 Posts

Default

Put the choke rod lever on the choke rod and use a long, thin piece of duct tape to hold the position of the lever where it needs to be. Insert that assembly down into the cavity and install choke. If the orientation of the lever is correct, it will seat properly and you can put a screw in to hold it. Then, pull out the duct tape. Pretty easy, once you get the hang of it.
Old 01-30-2016, 10:58 AM
  #11  
lars
Tech Contributor
Support Corvetteforum!
 
lars's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Posts: 13,652
Received 4,919 Likes on 1,929 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by 64roadster
I am in the final stages of rebuilding my '81's Quadrajet but did not take enough pictures of the choke linkage. Can any of you tell me if the part in the second pic is in the correct orientation, in the first pic?



Gordon
You have the wrong lever arm attached to your choke shaft - that will not work...

Lars

Last edited by lars; 01-30-2016 at 10:59 AM.
Old 01-30-2016, 11:27 AM
  #12  
64roadster
Burning Brakes
Support Corvetteforum!
Thread Starter
 
64roadster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,060
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07

Default

Originally Posted by lars
You have the wrong lever arm attached to your choke shaft - that will not work...

Lars
Ok, I get the lever installed, facing rearward as much as possible. Then when I connect the rod and air horn the rod travel is too limited to function. I obviously have something wrong.







Old 01-30-2016, 11:40 AM
  #13  
bpassmore
Racer
 
bpassmore's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2009
Location: Alvin Texas
Posts: 437
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Shark Racer has the easy way.

This is slightly different.
As shark racer says gently introduce the choke shaft into the carb, (the choke shaft is tapered slightly on the end). Let the shaft protrude slightly into the choke linkage cavity. Lower the rod & lever down to the choke shaft, letting the lever hang down, you just have to get it close so the shaft so can capture the lever while holding a little pressure against it with the shaft. Move the lever with the rod up and down until it aligns with the keyed shaft, push the choke assembly in. That is it.

In the early days of the Q Jet GM had to recall the Q Jets to replace the fast idle cam, the engine heat caused it to break, in some instances it locked the linkage to a fast idle speed. GM devised a tool to capture the link so that that the defective part could be changed, sometimes the link fell off, hello little magnet. I was a youngest mechanic in the Chevrolet shop, guess who got that warranty job?

Last edited by bpassmore; 01-30-2016 at 11:44 AM. Reason: punctuation error
Old 01-30-2016, 12:14 PM
  #14  
Shark Racer
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Shark Racer's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: San Jose CA
Posts: 12,399
Received 241 Likes on 200 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by lars
You have the wrong lever arm attached to your choke shaft - that will not work...

Lars
Seconded - good eye (as always).

The link you're trying to work with is the one that goes to the air horn.

The air horn (upper link) to intermediate link is the one with the kick-out in it. The lower link is flat. Flip them around.
The following users liked this post:
64roadster (01-30-2016)
Old 01-30-2016, 12:33 PM
  #15  
64roadster
Burning Brakes
Support Corvetteforum!
Thread Starter
 
64roadster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,060
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07

Default

Originally Posted by Shark Racer
Seconded - good eye (as always).

The link you're trying to work with is the one that goes to the air horn.

The air horn (upper link) to intermediate link is the one with the kick-out in it. The lower link is flat. Flip them around.
Ahhhh, no wonder. I had the links reversed. Man, you can't imagine how many hours I have spent trying to get the bent link to work in the lower position. The flat link was a piece of cake and gives all the rod travel I need.

I really appreciate the input of everyone. Pics really help to tell the story.

Last edited by 64roadster; 01-30-2016 at 12:34 PM. Reason: Grammar
Old 01-30-2016, 05:00 PM
  #16  
Shark Racer
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Shark Racer's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: San Jose CA
Posts: 12,399
Received 241 Likes on 200 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by 64roadster
Ahhhh, no wonder. I had the links reversed. Man, you can't imagine how many hours I have spent trying to get the bent link to work in the lower position. The flat link was a piece of cake and gives all the rod travel I need.

I really appreciate the input of everyone. Pics really help to tell the story.
No problem - the part you put the screw through, by the way, is the part that the choke shaft goes through.
Old 01-30-2016, 07:08 PM
  #17  
64roadster
Burning Brakes
Support Corvetteforum!
Thread Starter
 
64roadster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2003
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Posts: 1,060
Received 19 Likes on 19 Posts
St. Jude Donor '07

Default

Originally Posted by Shark Racer
No problem - the part you put the screw through, by the way, is the part that the choke shaft goes through.
Yep, got that right!

Get notified of new replies

To '81 E4ME Qudrajet Choke Linkage




Quick Reply: '81 E4ME Qudrajet Choke Linkage



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:23 PM.