I’m calling this my “idle time project”. Idle hands and all that, going stir crazy.

I found a project that should occupy my idle time, which has been pretty much feeding and taking care of my Autistic/ADHD stepson who’s home 24/7 because of the “plague”, while the wife is still working 60 hour weeks at her “essential” job.

I decided to install the never used Holley Street Avenger 670 that I’ve had in the box since 2001.

I ordered a accelerator cable bracket for a GM setup and return springs, 1/4” thick insulator base gasket and studs, along with some other linkage parts, from Holley because they have free shipping until April 30.

So, with all the parts in hand, I began dry fitting them on the carburetor and noticed first thing that the cable bracket (20-88) from Holley is a POS. There is nothing to prevent it from moving around on the mounting stud. The tab that should stop movement is not close enough to the bolt hole to even touch the base of the carb. I would have to elongate the mount hole and maybe even drill a hole in the tab and carburetor base to pin it. Bending the tab would not seem to solve the problem.

Even if I could get the bracket to stabilize, the return springs that came with it are about half stretched at rest. It takes a lot of force to get the throttle to WOT. Too much in my opinion.

Next observation. The Holley insulator base gasket (108-12) is coated in what they say is “a closed cell foam rubber material”. This Insulator is CRAP, it is pealing apart at the seams with little chunks of rubber everywhere.

I really don’t like the Lokar, or it’s imitations, they are bulky-looking setups, and the cost is hard to swallow.

I came up with a solution that works great and I thought I would share it for anyone that might be interested.

So with the Q-jet still on the Performer 2101 installed on the engine, I took some measurements of the GM accelerator cable.



I called a local wrecking yard where a friend knows someone who works there, and got a early 70’s GM accelerator cable bracket, that is identical to the one on my 75 Q-jet, but without the power brake line support bracket. $5 if I picked it myself and $15 if they did it. I got it and paid $5. Easy! Out the front door and back home in an hour.

It was a bit rusty/oxidized looking but a wire wheel and a little etching primer and black hi-temp paint that I baked in the oven (when the wife was at work), fixed that. I thought about getting it chromed, but not for another $45.

I cut the bracket to get rid of the section that runs over to the passenger side rear of the Q-jet carburetor bolt hole and added another pin stop, to the existing 2, to prevent movement. It slides under the bowl about 1”.


Bottom View


Then I bent the bracket spring tab to add more tension so the springs have a little “stretch” at rest. The spring tab on the Holley linkage is way too short for the springs I have, so I’m using the stud hole on the bottom. Yeah, I could go looking for shorter springs, but this works.

Surprisingly the accelerator cable measurement on the Holley is now identical to the Q-jet measurements. I didn’t plan it that way, but OK, it makes sense. So now there won’t be any slop in the GM throttle cable.



Next step in the “idle time project”.

Because the stock GM Cowl Induction Air Cleaner will not fit on the Holley I’ll need to modify one of the chrome 14” drop base air cleaners I have laying around.

But first I need to take some measurements.

And yes, I’m bored out of my freaking mind!

 

Why would I need that?
My post was how I SOLVED the problem. I guess you did not read it.

 

I did. I wasn’t trying to diminish your accomplishment. I think that was a great piece of fabrication. I was just sharing what I did in a similar situation. I will delete my post. I wasn’t looking to offend you.

 

Not offended, just the end of a stressful day and maybe a little too sharp toned.