Gas pedal works backwards now

[Mrturner1]

I pulled the engine, rebuilt it and put it back in, and now my gas pedal doesn't push Dow to open throttle. Instead, when I grab the metal arm behind the plastic pedal and lift, the throttle opens and closes fine....any ideas? I'd love to start this thing today

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mrturner1

I pulled the engine, rebuilt it and put it back in, and now my gas pedal doesn't push Dow to open throttle. Instead, when I grab the metal arm behind the plastic pedal and lift, the throttle opens and closes fine....any ideas? I'd love to start this thing today

You need to have the throttle rod (or cable depending on what year your truck is) on the top of the throttle arm on the carb. It sounds like you might have it on the bottom (below center).....

More information on your setup would be nice, or a picture of the carb & linkage....

LockDoc

[snipescastle2]

Did you remove the gas pedal from the inside of the cab or? Reason I say this is, because I took mine out to powder coat it black, and it had a locating pin inside the two halves that the arm pivot on, (mine is a 71 with cable throttle) I believe this is the same problem I am having, not enough pedal travel to open the throttle. I probably got the locating pin in the opposite direction, in other words, at the bottom of the two pivot halves locating hole so it will only travel an inch or so, and my pedal is damn near the floor. I'm gonna look at this tonight, hopefully I can get a few pictures showing what I am trying to describe. My cable has way too much slack in it for the pedal arm to fully pull the cable.maybe the pedal arm is backwards, I don't know I'm really curious now....
Ben

[Mrturner1]

Mine has enough travel because when you lift the pedal arm it opens and closes the throttle all the way. I think LocDoc is onto something, thanks guys

[Mrturner1]

Wow, I think I figured it out by taking the pic lol the return springs are wrong. Am I right?

[truckdude239]

Rod needs to be in the top hole

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mrturner1

Mine has enough travel because when you lift the pedal arm it opens and closes the throttle all the way. I think LocDoc is onto something, thanks guys

Spring is OK, rod needs to be moved. If the ball stud is not removable you will have to find a bushing to fit in the large hole and put the rod there.

LockDoc

[davepl]

Looking at it from the side, it rotates clockwise to open. So your return springs are pulling counter-clockwise, which is right, because they close it.

You have the arm on the bottom, which is going to pull the throttle counter-clockwise. It goes on the top, so that when you push the pedal the rod pulls the whole thing clockwise.

A good reason for lots of "before" and "as I took it apart" photos!

[Mrturner1]

So the rod and the top hole aren't the same size, top hole is bigger than bottom. How do I keep the rod in the top hole?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Mrturner1

So the rod and the top hole aren't the same size, top hole is bigger than bottom. How do I keep the rod in the top hole?

See my post #7.... There is a rubber grommet and a plastic bushing for that.

LockDoc

[hugger6933]

Unbolt the ball stud from that hole. If it doesn't unbolt then you need to go to the parts store or speed shop closest to you and ask for a throttle arm bushing. The stud right under that big hole should be threaded with a nut inside so you can remove it. Remove that ball stud and place the throttle arm there and your good to go.

[Mrturner1]

Took out the ball stud but had to drill one size bit bigger to fit my throttle. Thank you guys very much, it's gettin close!

[firedemon]

don't forget to put those springs back where they were

[davepl]

Originally Posted by firedemon

don't forget to put those springs back where they were

And make sure the throttle linkage doesn't get caught in the plug wires - they need to be tied out of the way so you don't get "unintentional cruise control" or worse!

[El Dorado Jim]

looks like you used bolts to hold down the carb to manifold, you should use studs with nuts and washers especially when using an aluminum manifold, the bolts will strip out the threads in the aluminum really easily.....

[toolboxchev]

You may also want to have a spring on each side of the carb return to prevent uneven wear of the throttle shaft assembly.

Which eventually create a vacuum leak.

[Mrturner1]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

You may also want to have a spring on each side of the carb return to prevent uneven wear of the throttle shaft assembly.

Which eventually create a vacuum leak.

A spring on the opposite side of the carb?

[snipescastle2]

I believe he meant the front side of the throttle arm, basically pulling the throttle arm in the other direction (same side the other springs are on) to balance the strain on the bushings in the throttle plate.
Ben