Engine in, now a new problem

[1965T5]

Swapped 66 318 poly for 68 318 LA in my 66 Coronet wagon. Runs great now, but the gas pedal is half way down to the floor without touching it - ie: not much tension from cable. Because of this, I can't achieve even half open throttle. I kept the same accel. and trans linkage and now it appears that the accel cable is too long (by about 2") and there is slack in it. I played with it a bit with springs, etc and they don't do it. The cable just appears too long, but the 318's are so similar. Both engines are stock 2 bbl.

Are there different accel cables for the small blocks? Are there adjustments for this? Any thoughts? Thanks!

[dodger1]

You might get lucky with a later model cable - say one from any 70's 318 for instance. Measure yours and hit the junkyards - or just bring it with you and compare. Otherwise Lokar will sell you a nice shiny one, and I believe Bouchillon will have one as well.

[pishta]

if the cable is 2" too long and the pedal is already 1/2 depressed, you need to extend the throttle arm on the carb. Can you loosen the cable in the cable bracket and slide it back toward the firewall to remove the slack? You need to have no slack at no throttle obviously. what carb was on the 318 poly? If you cant remove the slack in the cable, you can reposition the cable on the throttle arm closer to the throttle shaft so you have more action with what cable pull you have.

[1965T5]

The carb on the 318 poly was a 2 bbl Stromberg #3-259. I put this one on the 318 LA. I have the cable sleeve pulled as far back as it goes in it's clamp, but still have slack. From moparts.com, I learned that there are over 10 different cable lengths available, so I'll measure tonight.

I'm thinking that the poly engine is taller than the LA 318 and/or the carb base is farther from firewall on the poly.

[pishta]

If all else fails, I believe you can pull the cable through the accelerator pedal and put a new stop/end closer to the pedal arm, effectively shortening the cable on the pedal side. Or you can find the correct throttle cable but if it was never offered,motor/body/carb you may not find a suitable OEM replacement.

[daredevil]

Sounds like it needs to be lenghthened Just extend the carb linkage

[dwc43]

Originally Posted by 1965T5

The carb on the 318 poly was a 2 bbl Stromberg #3-259. I put this one on the 318 LA. I have the cable sleeve pulled as far back as it goes in it's clamp, but still have slack. From moparts.com, I learned that there are over 10 different cable lengths available, so I'll measure tonight.

I'm thinking that the poly engine is taller than the LA 318 and/or the carb base is farther from firewall on the poly.

Looks like your on the right track now.

[DAHEMIKOTA]

DWC, You missed your chance to tell him to put a TQ on it. That would take up the slack...

[dwc43]

Not only that, but it would have more hp and torque as well as better throttle response. He'd have to go buy a Weaind 8007 intake though. That would also cure his other problem of intalling the temp sender since there is no place to install it in that high rise single plane 2bbl intake.

[TK]

Huh?

Bahhh

Just a quesion, how is a longer cable going to fix the problem? You can run it to the trunk and back, and it will still move the same distance.

I have moved the ears on the throttle kickdown bracket (also a throttle cable bracket) to get the desired movement.

And dw like those action plus manifolds because they say 007 on the end.

[1965T5]

turns out the brackets between a poly and LA 318 are different + are mounted in slightly different locations on intake. Of coarse, its never easy - the mounting holes for intake are different, so a welded bracket was the fix.

Despite this, the relative dimensions between the carb, carb linkage and back of engine are the same between the 2 engines.

Thanks guys.

[1965T5]

Originally Posted by DAHEMIKOTA

DWC, You missed your chance to tell him to put a TQ on it. That would take up the slack...

Whats a TQ? Probably an intake.....

[dwc43]

Originally Posted by 1965T5

Whats a TQ? Probably an intake.....

A stock Carter Thermoquad carb. Best carb ever built.

[daredevil]

Originally Posted by TK

Huh?

Bahhh

Just a quesion, how is a longer cable going to fix the problem? You can run it to the trunk and back, and it will still move the same distance.

I have moved the ears on the throttle kickdown bracket (also a throttle cable bracket) to get the desired movement.

And dw like those action plus manifolds because they say 007 on the end.

Ithought the pedal was only half way up due to not enough travel cable to short