65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

[Blake W.]

My accel swivel/stud unit (attaches to the FI plenum) has quite a bit of play/wear. I've rotated the stud a bit to change position of the highest wear side but this just doesn't seem to cure the problem. I've looked at the current vendors and these 2 parts apparently are not available. Suggestions for repair or would one of the FI guys out there have these pieces for sale?

thanks, Blake

[Dan H.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

Blake, I'm sure Paragon or John Degregory can supply with an over size stud, worked well on my 380 unit!
Dan

[Jim L.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

If the hole in the bellcrank is worn to the point that an oversize stud won't take up the slack, consider contacting Gary Hodges. He has a few NOS bellcranks and might let one go.

Jim

[Dan H.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

Jim, wish we could create a bellcrank with a 'sleeve' to act as a wider bearing area, maybe a bronze insert?
Dan

[Blake W.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

I've looked online at paragon, CC, and LICS and none of them show either piece available. an oversize stud might just do the trick but I'm not sure just how much wear there is on the bellcrank. Definite wear on the stud though. So what now?

[Jim L.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

Jim, wish we could create a bellcrank with a 'sleeve' to act as a wider bearing area, maybe a bronze insert?
Dan

Dan, I've seen bellcranks that have been so modified. One had the hole enlarged sufficiently to allow a shoulderless bronze bushing to be pressed in. Another had a steel sleeve welded in place.

Either solution solves the problem permanently since the stud no longer "sees" just the edges of the bellcrank metal. Wear is now more uniformly distributed along the length of the stud.

Next time I wear out a bellcrank and/or stud, I'm installing a sleeve.

Jim

[Rick G.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

A good friend informed me that John DeGregory will sell a good repro bellcrank with a stock size hole, a standard size reproduction stud, or a .010" oversize stud.

[Tom P.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

Jim, wish we could create a bellcrank with a 'sleeve' to act as a wider bearing area, maybe a bronze insert?
Dan

Do you mean like this?









It is totally, completely, 100% NON-correct for NCRS, but it sure eliminates a sloppy FI bellcrank! Of course, most everything on my 56 is incorrect!
I did this years ago to the bell crank on the FI on my 56. I drilled out the holes in the bell crank to accept a piece of brass rod that I had lying around, then drilled a hole through the piece of brass to make a nice slip fit over a stock diameter stud and then had the piece of brass brazed to the bell crank.
I pulled the bellcrank away from the FI plenum just slightly so that I could get a better picture.

[Jim L.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

Tom, yep, that's a great, permanent solution to the sloppy bellcrank problem.

That's a nice FI unit you have on your '56.

Jim

[Dan H.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

Tom, that's the bomb! Great solution for a car that's driven, someone should make these!
Dan

[Richard G.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

On can purchase Oil-Lite bushings in almost any size from local industrial supply houses. My local hardware / grocery store even has some sizes. A slight overbore (by drilling) and then reaming the arm and press in the bushing. Drilling along will not be accurate enough for a proper press fit, but it could be done tht way. I would suggest using a reamer the correct size. Oil-Lite bushings have oil impregnated into the bronze and should last a lifetime in this type of usage. Another option would be to ream oversize and use the oversize stud. This might be slightly more difficult for the judges to identify. Just search Google for Oil-Lite bushings one will find the sizes and sourcing online easily.
Rick

[John D.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

A long time ago old Dale Pearman wrote an article for "The Restorer". I don't know the name of the article but it was about Dale putting a bushing in a woreout bellcrank. Dale did that for Varoom so that he didn't have to worry anymore about bellcrank wobble on his 62.

Well that was a wonderful idea and my pal Tom Parsons wild hot rod 56 FI unit (I really love Toms work) has nice bushing in the bellcrank but.....

If you plan on showing your FI car the eagle eyes would spot the repair and ding you for it. Solution is nice oversize bellcrank stud. Once installed most will never tell it's an oversize one unless they use a mic on it and that's impossible.
Not allowed to sell parts on here as don't want to get deleted.
90% of the bellcranks (pulled the number out of my er hat) can be saved with an oversize stud.
Standard bellcrank studs you see in various catalogs are a total waste. I mean I haven't been able to use a standard stud in a resto for an eon.

Rick has the best idea above for a driver. JD

[Tom P.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

For original bell cranks, I always buy oversize studs from John D. That seems to be the optimal solution (unless of course, you want to buy a new bell crank and std stud).
BUUUUUUUUUT, since my 56 won't even/ever Third Flight, it doesn't matter what is and what is not NCRS correct. Thus, over the years, I've made numerous changes and mods, such as the sleeved FI bellcrank. It has totally eliminated the sloppy bellcrank syndrome-------and works great!

[Blake W.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

thanks Tom and everyone else who have replied. All of the imput has been very helpfull. Just talked to Mr. DeGregory and he as offered a solution without giving up the cars originality. Hope it works. reguards Blake

[Bruce B.]

Re: 65 FI 380 throttle stud and swivel

Tom,
Nice fix on the bellcrank.
Is that a 62 air meter on you early finned plenum FI unit?
Bruce B