Introduction oversight

[Seeburg220]

Thanks for the intro. Nice looking coach you have there! When we picked up our coach 20yrs ago, we experienced the same " it won't get out of its own way" syndrome. Many others have experienced the same issue and there is a simple solution should the following exist. Open the engine hatch, and take the air cleaner off. Look down the throat of the primary and secondary throttle bores. Have a second person press the gas pedal to the floor and observe the throttle plates. They should open fully. If they don't, grab the throttle petal and bend the throttle arm up. Observe the throttle plates and bend the arm some more until the throttle plates open fully. Somehow over the 40 some odd years of use, that arm gets bent a little at a time until it no longer has enough swing to fully open the throttle plates, making it seem like it " it won't get out of its own way". This may not be the problem, but considering the cost of making this repair, it is worth checking out. JWID

Well, sure enough, the primary butterflies were only opening about a 1/3 of the way when the pedal was to the floor. After several small adjustments to the accelerator pedal rod, they now open fully, or very close to it! Thank you so much for the tip - I would have never thought to look at that. I can't wait to test drive it and see the results. I guess that's something to take a look at every year or so.

 

[rodknu]

Great!!! Let us know how the road test goes....

 

[LarryW]

Well, sure enough, the primary butterflies were only opening about a 1/3 of the way when the pedal was to the floor. After several small adjustments to the accelerator pedal rod, they now open fully, or very close to it! Thank you so much for the tip - I would have never thought to look at that. I can't wait to test drive it and see the results. I guess that's something to take a look at every year or so.

You speak only of the primaries. The primaries have a direct progressive linkage to the secondaries. Make sure you open the air valve on top the secondaries and observe that the secondaries are also opening fully. The primaries are approximately half open before the secondaries begin to open. About the last 1/2 of full pedal travel the linkage is progressive so that both primary and secondary are fully open at the same time, and full throttle.

 

[kbeefy]

You speak only of the primaries. The primaries have a direct progressive linkage to the secondaries. Make sure you open the air valve on top the secondaries and observe that the secondaries are also opening fully. The primaries are approximately half open before the secondaries begin to open. About the last 1/2 of full pedal travel the linkage is progressive so that both primary and secondary are fully open at the same time, and full throttle.

I always thought the secondaries were vacuum actuated. I just double checked and my secondaries do Crack open at full throttle, but not more than about 20%. I'll have to look I to that.

 

[Seeburg220]

I drove to the gas station for a top-off of ethanol-free gas. Pricey, at $4.89 gallon, but so be it.

As for the test drive, it's much better. Definitely peppier. I was able to also hear the secondaries kick-in, aka the Quadra-bog, a term from high school 40 years ago. Flooring it out on the highway, revealed that my alternator belt isn't tight enough.

I do think I might have tranny issues, though. From a standstill, when you first start, there's a little bit of slippage/chatter for just a second or two. Steering/suspension could be a lot better, all in good time.

I hadn't driven it in months, so I'm pleased I wasn't stranded on the 10-mile round trip. Baby steps.

 

[Ken B]

I too thought they were vacuum operated. When I could hear, I know that I could hear them open at full throttle.

 

[tmsnyder]

I too thought they were vavuum operated. When I could hear, I know that I could hear them open at full throttle.

Oh yeah, you can actually hear the gasoline flying down its throat.

 

[Matt Colie]

Oh yeah, you can actually hear the gasoline flying down its throat.

This is why people used to refer to "Flushing" the Quadrajet!!
Matt

 

[boybach]

I have a 77 Palm Beach with a 403 ..I have no idea what final drive I have in it but it goes along pretty good and roars up hills so no plans of doing any engine/trans/final drive mods.

Larry

 

[Randy Van Winkle]

Based on your pictures of your Palm Beach showing the paint scheme, I believe you have a '78 model.

 

[Seeburg220]

Based on your pictures of your Palm Beach showing the paint scheme, I believe you have a '78 model.

The stripes are not original. My VIN shows it's a '77.

 

[Randy Van Winkle]

The stripes are not original. My VIN shows it's a '77.

Sorry, looking closer at your pictures, I see that the refrigerator vents are the type used before '78.