Throttle Plate- To Bush or Not to Bush

[Gerard F.]

That is the question;



Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer;
The leaks and looseness of just replacing the shafts with the original teflon tape (on the left);

Or replace the tape with the new teflon bushings in the little bag on the left (Thanks Mike McCagh);
Thus preserving the originality of this 3810 thottle plate;

Or shall I ream and use the bushings from the Barry Grant bushing kit (above);
Thus ruining the originality of the throttle plate;
But it might work better with no vacuum leaks;
And it is hardly noticeable;

Or shall I cut and use the valve guide bushings on the right (Thanks, Tim Barbieri);
But they may not fit right without some reaming;

Oh decisions, decisions, my Holley soliloquy for today

Actually, didn't do much today but work around the house. Since my wife was away with the grandson in Disneyland, I thought I'd at least get a start on the throttle plate with a preliminary cleanup:



Used the Potscrubber cycle

The picture is just for laughs, it really doesn't do too much for the throttle plate except take off any heavy grease. The real work on refinishing will be tomoorrow with a dremel, scotch bright pads, and lots of elbow grease.
Then, on to planing the top and bottom.

So I don't have to decide on the bushings until tomorrow PM. Therefore I can keep repeating my sililoquy til then.

Any advice is welcome.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Throttle Plate- To Bush or Not to Bush

Jerry,

In my opinion the secondary bore should be fine with the new teflon bushings because it's usage is not like the primary shaft.. Install the new teflon bearings and feel the shaft, I think you will see that it feels nice..

I would bush the primary shaft, try that reamer and one of those bushings that came with the set.. The original base on the 3810 I am working on is done this way.

I still used a old teflon bushing on the drivers side groove in the new style primary throttle shaft. Also, on the other side I flatened the middle slot and used another teflon bushing, you can't hardly notice the bushing..

[Gerard F.]

Re: Throttle Plate- To Bush or Not to Bush

Tim,

How did you get your throttle plate so clean looking. It almost looks brand new.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Throttle Plate- To Bush or Not to Bush

Jerry,

This plate came to me that way but I am sure it's been through a tumbler with ceramic stones. The throttle shafts have been changed and primary bore bushed like I described above.

If you have the patience use some brass steel wool and it will shine up very nice.

[John D.]

Re: Throttle Plate- To Bush or Not to Bush

Jerry,

I would boldly bush where no man has bushed before.....

Seriously though thanks for the info. Where can the teflon bushings
be purchased ?

[Gerard F.]

Re: Throttle Plate- To Bush or Not to Bush

Jerry,

I would boldly bush where no man has bushed before.....

Seriously though thanks for the info. Where can the teflon bushings
be purchased ?

John,

On the Teflon bushings, I have a set from Mike McCagh from a few years ago. Nice curly ones.

If you look on ebay and search Holley bushings, there are a few carb outfits which sell the flat ones to bend around the shafts.

Also you can try this website with a phone order:

http://chicagocarburetor.com/carburetor-parts.php?c=2353

Yes, that is Chicago Corvette with a new website as Chicago Carburetor. Their whole carburetor catalog is online but you have to phone in the order. They have the secondary teflon bushings (the curly type). You could probably use the secondary kit for the primary also.

With all the stuff I've heard about Mztercarb, I have to say I got very good service from Chicago Carburetor on two recent orders of numerous small miscellaneous carburetor parts by their part number. Even called on a Saturday morning, and they were Fed-exed to me, and received them by the following Wednesday here in California. Great delivery service.