- Moderator
- #1
KANE
Moderator
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2002
- Messages
- 3,244
- Location
- KY
- Corvette
- Dark Blue 1982 Trans Am(s): Polo Green 1995 MN6
For anyone who is planning a TPI swap- I have a great tip for the accelerator cable. As many of you know, I've been working on this for fits and spurts for months. This is the second foray for me into C3 swaps. I think I figured out most of the kinks and this time around I'm focusing on using what I learned the first time around.
On my 78, I modified the firewall to accept a shortened version of an Fbody cable. It was a tedious task and the results were decent but nothing I'd brag about.
I didn't want the look of Lokar cables (too much... bling) the last time or this time.
I decided to try something else. I decided to combine the elements of each in a customized cable.
As you can imagine, the carb's cable is not long enough nor configured right at the far end for the TPI.
Fbody throttle cables are correct on the far end, wrong at the firewall end and too long to work without being binding.
The solution: combine them.
1.) Cut both the cables and remove the firewall end of the OEM cable by working it out of the socket. Cut the TPI cable's sheath with a dremel to the appropriate length- but ensure the cable is puled out first!
2.) Next, use a drill with a bit the same diameter as the TPI cable and enlarge and clean out the OEM cable's now empty socket. Don't drill too far as the backside is still important to leave intact.
3.) Use progressively smaller bits to ensure all the debris is out and that the cable can slide through the sheath.
4.) Measure the length of the old cable against the complete customized cable and tighten a cable stop at the right length.
End result: a TPI cable that fits the TPI on the throttle body side and the C3 firewall on the other end.
OEM firewall mount custom fitted to the TPI linkage!
On my 78, I modified the firewall to accept a shortened version of an Fbody cable. It was a tedious task and the results were decent but nothing I'd brag about.
I didn't want the look of Lokar cables (too much... bling) the last time or this time.
I decided to try something else. I decided to combine the elements of each in a customized cable.
As you can imagine, the carb's cable is not long enough nor configured right at the far end for the TPI.
Fbody throttle cables are correct on the far end, wrong at the firewall end and too long to work without being binding.
The solution: combine them.
1.) Cut both the cables and remove the firewall end of the OEM cable by working it out of the socket. Cut the TPI cable's sheath with a dremel to the appropriate length- but ensure the cable is puled out first!
2.) Next, use a drill with a bit the same diameter as the TPI cable and enlarge and clean out the OEM cable's now empty socket. Don't drill too far as the backside is still important to leave intact.
3.) Use progressively smaller bits to ensure all the debris is out and that the cable can slide through the sheath.
4.) Measure the length of the old cable against the complete customized cable and tighten a cable stop at the right length.
End result: a TPI cable that fits the TPI on the throttle body side and the C3 firewall on the other end.
OEM firewall mount custom fitted to the TPI linkage!
