I have a 70 Buick Skylark 350-4. I noticed my throttle cable is not coming all the way open, what is the best method to adjust this? Thanks in advance Charles
The best way is to get the right cable and/or throttle cable bracket. One or both is wrong. Alternately, you could fab up something to move the cable bracket, but the better way is to get the right parts. BTW, you are posting in the transmission forum.
Pull the slack out of the cable above the gas pedal and use a few lead clamp on fishing weights to keep it there.
Thanks - After 45 years of use they seem to stretch a bit. I will work with the lead weights option, I would believe it to be factory original. They do stretch right? Thanks - Charles
Ive done the fishing weight option... doesnt last, I found them on the floor after some time. You could do the same with zip ties and it will last longer.
Is the carb not opening all the way? Isnt there and adjustment on the carb for that? I had that issue with my GS-350 and I adjusted the linkage on the carb so the secondary throttle blades opened fully
Jason, No, not opening all the way, seems the cable is out of adjustment or part of linkage may be. I don't see a adjustment on the carb which would improve this, however I could be wrong, do you have pictures? Larry - also, do you have pictures or a way to show me the correct linkage? I looked on google and the forum and not sure how to validate the difference between 2 and 4 barrel cables and brackets without success. You are correct, not the original owner, so should not "assume." However I would be really hard pressed to understand how or why someone would replace a matching numbers Qjet, 4 barrel intake and a factory correct air cleaner on to a plain Jane 350 Skylark. Stranger things have happened, but going with old and worn out from many years of repetitive use. I will ensure to validate these items, because you do have a point. I like the ideas on the zip ties, weights, and bending, I will utilize these to attempt to correct this. I would assume the correct method would be to purchase a new cable, however assume they are expensive or difficult to locate NOS. or was there a method from the old Buick service department? Thanks for the help and apologies for the silly questions or thoughts, I just weighing the options and seeing what are the best methods. Charles
If you look at the picture, the screwdriver is pointing to a tang on the carburetor linkage that needs to be bent/ adjusted accordingly. That tang hits the secondary linkage arm and opens the secondary throttle blades. With the ENGINE OFF, have someone go in the car and mash the gas pedal to the floor and keep it there. Look down the secondary air flap and see what position the secondary throttle blades are. They are likely only half way or three quarters open. Take a long needle nose and bend that tang until the secondary throttle blades are vertical. Hopefully you can make out what Im talking aboutt
Before you make the secondary air valve adjustment, be sure to verify that the primary air valves don't go past vertical. People have been tromping on the pedal for decades, so it is entirely possible. Make that adjustment first, then the secondaries.
This has nothing to do with the linkage. There are several throttle cable brackets and different cables. What Jason is talking about is the linkage of the carburetor being out of adjustment. That is the least likely cause IMO, but not out of the question. It is very easy to check this though. All you need to do is operate the throttle lever by hand. It either opens the secondary throttle blades or it doesn't. If the throttle cable is too long, or the cable bracket is the wrong one, you will have problems. I once fabbed up a flat piece of metal to move the bracket on the intake to take up slack of the cable. I would post a picture of your current set up. Maybe someone can tell from a picture. Lots of things happen to a 45 year old car along the way.
Just throwing this out there Throttle cable brackets and cables go together. They cannot be mixed. As an example on the 455 take a look here and you'll see the difference http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/Buick455ThrottleCableBrkts.htm
Larry, Understood and thank you, below are some pictures, the CABLE is not opening the butterflies to WOT by about 1/4 inch. If it did, they would fully open secondaries, so no adjustment would be needed to the Qjet LINKAGE. I could not find 350-4 cable BRACKETS or CABLES, so do hope someone can confirm the picture as such.
To me that looks like the right throttle bracket that should take up any cable slack. Maybe its just stretched?
Charles- when you have a friend pushes the pedal to the floor, do the primary throttle blades open all the way? If you look at the pictures below. the pencil is pointing to a machined "stop" for the primary throttle blades. Does the pad hit the stop when you mash the pedal? If so, all you need to do is adjust/ bend that tang I referenced to get the secondary throttle blades to open fully. I think we're really overcomplicating a simple adjustment
