Q. re 1974 Q-Jet Throttle Cable Ball Fitting

[Paul L.]

This is a #7044206 Q-Jet for a 1974 L-48. The ball fitting for the throttle cable is in the lower hole as shown. Is this correct or should it be in the upper hole?

[Michael G.]

Re: Q. re 1974 Q-Jet Throttle Cable Ball Fitting

Paul, It is in the correct position. If you try it in the upper location you will not be able to achieve full throttle draw. Mike

[Paul L.]

Re: Q. re 1974 Q-Jet Throttle Cable Ball Fitting

OK, I'm the fool. The pic shows a #7044202 carb (Chevelle) that was on the car during the 2009 driving season. Note where the ball fitting is located. This is a NAPA rebuild that never has worked very well. Their rebuilders put the fitting in the upper hole. So I went with that. The first pic shows a #7044206 that has been rebuilt by a Q-Jet specialist (Viton internals, etc.) and will be used in 2010. He put the fitting in the lower hole. Hence my question.

I do not drive aggressively (what can you do with an L-48?) but once in awhile I would try a WOT. Not much happened and I did not sense the secondaries were kicking in. Soooo...perhaps I now have the reason.

[Michael G.]

Re: Q. re 1974 Q-Jet Throttle Cable Ball Fitting

Paul, If your a fool then so am I. Previous owner of my 71 350/270 had a rebuilt carb put on for the sale. I too had low expectations for performance and assumed this is all It's got. Only after I started to wonder where the distinctive "wooosh" of the secondaries was hiding I started to check things out. After checking vacuum controls, flapper spring tension, etc.. I finally realized that the cable end (shield) was bottoming out against the cable mount flange. I even attempted to adjust the mounting position of the cable which did make a difference but not quite solved.
You should be pleasantly surprised at the new found power. Have fun, Mike

[Paul L.]

Re: Q. re 1974 Q-Jet Throttle Cable Ball Fitting

Paul, If your a fool then so am I. Previous owner of my 71 350/270 had a rebuilt carb put on for the sale. I too had low expectations for performance and assumed this is all It's got. Only after I started to wonder where the distinctive "wooosh" of the secondaries was hiding I started to check things out. After checking vacuum controls, flapper spring tension, etc.. I finally realized that the cable end (shield) was bottoming out against the cable mount flange. I even attempted to adjust the mounting position of the cable which did make a difference but not quite solved.
You should be pleasantly surprised at the new found power. Have fun, Mike

Thanks Mike,

I will see my car again in mid-April and make things correct.

The 1974 gas cable is not adjustable. One of those year-only things. In 2009 mine had a slack feel: looseness in the gas pedal. If you look carefully at the mounting of that fitting I think I have found the looseness. Looks like about a 1/4" difference.