Hi,
I'm having a problem with a loss of throttle pedal. The throttle cable sheath slips thru the aluminum ferrule that sets the cable position when the engine compartment is hot. Car is an October 69 350/350, 4speed, with correct L46 carburetor, correct 69 intake, correct 69 cable bracket and clamp at the carb. Happened on 2 new 68-73 cables (both have slipped). Engine runs at a solid 165-170 degrees. It was 90 degrees outside today and my wife the human thermometer complained that her feet were roasting so the engine compartment was really hot when it slipped today.

I installed the second cable today. I checked to make sure the ferrel was tightly crimped to the plastic covering of the metal spring sheathing, the crimp was solid and there was no movement of the sheathing even If pulled hard. initially the aluminum ferrule on both of the new cables will line up correctly to get the correct throttle movement but both cables are under tension on the pedal side of the clamp because they are about an inch too long. When I drive for about 60 to 80 miles I start to loose speed and throttle pedal movement. When I check the cable the plastic covering of the sheath has softened substantially so the crimp on the aluminum ferrule no longer holds and the plastic covered wire sheathing in position and it shifts towards the carb linkage through the ferrule about an inch or so due to the cable tension on the pedal side of the ferrule. When the sheathing shifts the end acts as a throttle stop since it is now closer to the carburetor so less pedal.

Anyone else have this experience? Any one have a Fix to recommend? Can I relocate the ferrel to the original position and crimp it more solidly?

Thanks
Tim

 

did the cable come out of a GM package?

 

Not sure about the first it was put on when I had the engine rebuilt. The second was sent as a replacement for the first and there was no GM sticker on the bag..

 

So an update and a solution for others with this problem.

Cables are corvette America part number 42773. For those that have good luck with them Great but I can't recommend the current batch.

Rather than chasing another cable today I decided to experiment with the first defective one. I repositioned the cable and ferrule to their original position and used my small oval ferrule compression tool normally used for wire cable ferrules and was able to put a nice solid re-crimp on the fire wall end of cable's ferrule. The crimper splits in half so I could do the 2nd one that shifted in place since it is still installed and success as well. The ferrule is tightly crimped (360 degrees vs at 2 points). It is thru the vinyl/plastic layer and solidly affixed to the the wire sheath.

 

I had the same problem with a cable sourced from a vendor in southwest Michigan. Probably the same manufacturer though.

The fix for me was to locate a good original cable. Luckily a friend had just switched to a universal adjustable throttle cable on his '72, so I took his original.

 

Thanks for the supporting info I was feeling a bit like I was the only one to experience the problem. I have just gotten the car sorted out and it runs and drives great and it was painful not being able to drive it with the nice weather. I tried the crimper to see if I could get back on the road until I could locate an OEM cable. Luckily I've located one and while it's on the way although I'm not in a hurry to change the current one since it is now working just fine.