Newbie Questions

[Marlin F.]

Mecum just came to Kansas City and I bought a 66 convertible with a 327/350. Until I drove this home, I hadn't driven a 'vette in nearly 35 years. I have a couple of issues with which I hope someone will be able to offer some help.

1. What do I feed this beast? I'd presume premium unleaded will do the trick but do I need to add some sort of lead or lead substitute?

2. The accelerator pedal linkage binds under full throttle! It was all I could do to disengage the clutch and turn the key off before she blew. It was quite surprise. I had to pull the linkage up from the carpeting by hand. Is this a common problem? I sure hope it's an easy fix.

Any comments, tips, or help is deeply appreciated!

[Joe L.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Mecum just came to Kansas City and I bought a 66 convertible with a 327/350. Until I drove this home, I hadn't driven a 'vette in nearly 35 years. I have a couple of issues with which I hope someone will be able to offer some help.

1. What do I feed this beast? I'd presume premium unleaded will do the trick but do I need to add some sort of lead or lead substitute?

2. The accelerator pedal linkage binds under full throttle! It was all I could do to disengage the clutch and turn the key off before she blew. It was quite surprise. I had to pull the linkage up from the carpeting by hand. Is this a common problem? I sure hope it's an easy fix.

Any comments, tips, or help is deeply appreciated!

Marlin------

1) You will likely need to use premium unleaded in the 91 to 93 R+M/2 (yellow sticker on the pump) octane range, depending on what's available in your part of the country. As long as you experience no significant detonation or "pinging", you're fine. You do not need to add any lead additives;

2) I've not heard of the accelerator binding problem, but it may be more common than I'm aware of. I'd disassemble the pedal and all attached linkage and determine what is causing the binding. There really aren't all that many parts in the system. Just inspect them carefully for wear, damage or corrosion.

[Mike M.]

Re: Newbie Questions

lubricate the back side of the throttle pedal and check to see if the white plastic sheet is still attached to the back of the pedal.mike

[Don H.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Welcome to NCRS. You have just received advice from some of the best, yea what they said. Good luck, Don H.

[Marlin F.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Thanks to all. Great support!

[Paul Y.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Check the motor mount. Sometimes when it is broken the engine will lift and bind the throttle and the clutch linkage. If you open the hood and start letting the clutch out while holding the brake, you may see the engine lift. If that happens the motor mount could use replacing. The carpet down by the throttle pedal needs to be away from the pedal also for free movement. Welcome to the midyear vette world.

[Clark K.]

Re: Newbie Questions

I bought my first Corvette two years ago, a '65 coupe with the 365hp engine. Your engine has the same compression pistons as mine.

When I first got the car, I was told by numerous "experts" to only use avgas, etc. After agonizing over the octane, I finally drove it with premium unleaded (93 octane) pump gas. The car has run fine ever since. That is, once I got the carb rebuilt and the intake gasket leak fixed!

These cars can have numerous problems caused by inattentive and/or careless previous owners. My car's previous three owners were all speculators, investing nothing to make my car drive better, just doing cosmetic stuff to make it more attractive to the next buyer.

If your throttle cable is sticking and you are not sure how to fix it, just take it to a Corvette shop that is recommended by your NCRS chapter members.

Congratulations on your vintage Corvette purchase. Drive it with pride and welcome to the brotherhood.
-Clark

[Michael J.]

Re: Newbie Questions

On your throttle sticking, be sure to check the breather tube that connects under the air cleaer base and goes to the back of the block. If that tube is off, it will bind the throttle lever, it has happened to me when the air cleaner has been removed and not properly reinstalled. Good luck and welcome.

[Michael W.]

Re: Newbie Questions

When I first got the car, I was told by numerous "experts" to only use avgas, etc. After agonizing over the octane, I finally drove it with premium unleaded (93 octane) pump gas. The car has run fine ever since. That is, once I got the carb rebuilt and the intake gasket leak fixed!

Yes, it's unfortunate that myth, misunderstanding and rumour on the avgas subject (and now E10) cause owners to make some bad decisions.

No street driven Corvette needs 'lead'. The engine may need high octane gas as Joe L has stated but that's available at the pump. Some FI engine owners have reported problems with restart in hot weather, but that may be related more to the vapour pressure of modern gas formulations and not presence of ethanol or lack of lead.

Hopefully this won't start yet another controversy.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Marlin,
welcome. I think the left engine mount check as advised is a must as it will cause the most damage.
As for AV-GAS, if you want to feel the original HP the engine puts out and it is still built as it was born from the factory, you have the you mix it 50/50 with the higest pump fuel. The timing will need to be at factory spech also.
There were A lot of high compression engines changed at rebuild to use the lesser octain fuel and the AV-gas doesn't do much for those, but it DOES make the real thing sing.
I would leave my distributer loose enough to turn and hand adjust it to match the fuel I was burning. I would advance enough to get the pinging, then retard about 2 degrees. sounds like a lot of work but it only takes a few sec and a stop or 2 and you get the hang of it.
I have done this since the 70's and it is real.
I have NEVER been able to run on pump gas without a ping in an original factory engine at it's original settings.

DOM

[Marlin F.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Wow! Great advice from guys who apparently know their sh*t! Thanks to all again...

[Donald O.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Marlin,
welcome. I think the left engine mount check as advised is a must as it will cause the most damage.
As for AV-GAS, if you want to feel the original HP the engine puts out and it is still built as it was born from the factory, you have the you mix it 50/50 with the higest pump fuel. The timing will need to be at factory spech also.
There were A lot of high compression engines changed at rebuild to use the lesser octain fuel and the AV-gas doesn't do much for those, but it DOES make the real thing sing.
I would leave my distributer loose enough to turn and hand adjust it to match the fuel I was burning. I would advance enough to get the pinging, then retard about 2 degrees. sounds like a lot of work but it only takes a few sec and a stop or 2 and you get the hang of it.
I have done this since the 70's and it is real.
I have NEVER been able to run on pump gas without a ping in an original factory engine at it's original settings.

DOM

My all original 67 327-350hp does not ping. I use premium gas from Shell or BP. Tune ups are to factory settings.

Does the exhaust smell different with racing or av-gas yeah, but it is not needed.
Just my $.02

As for the OPs question on the sticking throttle, sounds like the engine mount top me has failed.

DonO

[Philip C.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Yes, it's unfortunate that myth, misunderstanding and rumour on the avgas subject (and now E10) cause owners to make some bad decisions.

No street driven Corvette needs 'lead'. The engine may need high octane gas as Joe L has stated but that's available at the pump. Some FI engine owners have reported problems with restart in hot weather, but that may be related more to the vapour pressure of modern gas formulations and not presence of ethanol or lack of lead.

Hopefully this won't start yet another controversy.

Its also unfortunate that everyone doesnt understand, USE ,if you dont use or start your car for months or even years, Than YOU need to use AV-Gas. Phil 8063

[Michael W.]

Re: Newbie Questions

Phil,

Being a native-born life-long resident of the frozen north and having had a collection of summer-only and winter only toys since the late 60s, I'm fairly well versed in storage techniques. We've also had the very evil E10 up here for twenty years or so as compared to the rest of the continent that thinks it's something new.

I simply fill the tanks at the end of the season have never once had a problem starting any of the toys at the beginning of the next season. No stabil or other miracle juice either.

Longer term than that I drain the system dry rather than hope that airplane juice might live up to it's hype. YMMV.

[John H.]

Re: Newbie Questions

2. The accelerator pedal linkage binds under full throttle! It was all I could do to disengage the clutch and turn the key off before she blew. It was quite surprise. I had to pull the linkage up from the carpeting by hand. Is this a common problem? I sure hope it's an easy fix.

Any comments, tips, or help is deeply appreciated!

Marlin -

Check the throttle rod from the firewall lever to the carburetor, and make sure it doesn't bind or hang up on the opening in the upper ignition shield that covers the distributor when pulled rearward to the full throttle position.