Accelerator lever movement range on 66

[Jeremy R.]

I'm working on the accelerator/throttle linkage on my 66 and attempting the linkage adjustment per AIM UPC6 D3, but my results so far are not quite what the AIM says to do. It says to depress pedal (check) and the lever at point D should touch the dash panel at X, but it doesn't. Its about an inch away from the firewall.


I did notice that the AIM's picture of this looks more like a 63-65 accelerator lever, and was wondering if that is the reason my 66's isn't touching. Anyone one else out there with a 66-67 have the same results of their accelerator lever not touching the firewall? Is this normal or is something screwed up?

Its hard to tell in the picture, but the lever is not hitting the battery cable or the clip on the firewall right behind it.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

67 AIM has same page with no updates noted.
Steps I'd take:
1. Disconnect rod from accelerator lever. Determine that the lever will touch the firewall at point X. (Mechanism installed correctly/Not bent etc.)
2. Reconnect rod to accelerator lever. Check that with full throttle the carb is completely open with the accelerator pedal completely depressed.
3. Adjust swivel on rod to give you full travel of the pedal with the lever close/touching the firewall as the carb goes to full open.

This adjustment insures that you have full pedal travel related to the carb opening position.

This assumes that the correct carb is installed with the correct linkage on the carb throttle shaft

[Timothy B.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

Funny thing with this thread is on my early 63 coupe I have the exact same issue. The lever is correct along with the other parts but it seems the angle of the lever hits the firewall before the raised portion contacts the firewall. Because of this the gas pedal at rest sits higher than normal.

I have checked everything and even posted here in the past but it did not seem anyone had the same issue. I am sorry I can't offer help, at this point to me it seems like the location of the tube that's riveted to the firewall tunnel is not exactly where it should be.

[Jeremy R.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

After looking at my setup more closely, only things I can see causing this is either the pedal rod is twisted (very doubtful) or my pivot point through the floor is riveted slightly off. So I'm with you Timothy thinking the later.


The linkage can move enough to close and fully open the throttle so I'm not too concerned, its just something that was off so I figured I would ask.

[Jeremy R.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

Well I'm a glutton for punishment and took off the lever and the pedal rod. All the bolts were not tight as they could be so that may have been a small contributing factor of sloppiness, but what I really noticed was the pedal rod support that bolts to the firewall/trans tunnel is all types of bent up. I've sourced a original one in good shape and will see if the lever then touches the firewall when all bolted back together.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

Jeremy,

Thanks for posting that, I will be curious what you find out.

[Jeremy R.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

Follow up on this.

Found a pedal rod support that wasn't bent up like mine and installed it to see if it helped any. I believe just the tightening of all the bolts helped with the sloppiness, but the lever still can't touch the firewall at WOT. There might have been "a little" I could of moved the support around or bent the flange to increase movement, but since its a fulcrum, anything I adjusted to get the lever further back toward firewall would only make the rod to hit the floor sooner inside the cabin. As Timothy suggested earlier, I think the mounting flange just got riveted too far forward at the factory.

I have the full range of throttle movement, so I am going to let this one rest.

[Duke W.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

I looked at my '63 AIM and just to be clear, with the carb throttle lever against the WOT stop on the carb, the linkage lever touching the dash at X, rotate the swivel to line up with the hole in the linkage lever, THE TWO MORE TURNS TOWARD THE CARB and make the connection.

This means that with carb throttle lever against the WOT stop there should be some clearance, between the linkage lever and dash. I would be nice if they specified a minimum clearance, but I guess they figured the two additional turns of the swivel toward the carb would ensure sufficient operating clearance.

The linkage lever should never touch the dash in service.

Duke

[Timothy B.]

Re: Accelerator lever movement range on 66

Jeremy,

I appreciate you posting the results from trying to fix this problem on your car. I have a NOS pedal rod for my 63 and I will make one last attempt to see if I can get it like the AIM shows. Like I mentioned earlier, it's got to be the riveted position of the pedal rod support, I am surprised no one else has ever experienced this issue. It may be a little while but I will let you know my thoughts when I put fresh eyes on the problem.