302 swaps w/o body lifts (throttle cable)

[Captain Ledd]

302, 1984 Ranger.

Never did the 3" body lift because it was in such bad shape I decided I'd just beat the floor in to make it fit. the engine is in, runs, moves and everything. Except an issue with the throttle cable. The throttle kind of sticks and is very hard to depress.

the plastic tube in the engine compartment is broke off at the firewall and is still twisted into an "S" shape There's just not enough room between the firewall and where it mounts on the 302. Now is shortening it really as easy as breaking off the piece thats attached to the firewall (what would hold the plastic tube cover on the firewall), feeding the tube through the hole and securing the end taught on the pedal?

Anyone know of anything to pinch on the cable to keep it positioned right on the pedal?

 

[Totalled]

Is this a carb'd motor? Mine's carbed, my original cable is in an S shape, and it doesn't bind. Maybe yours just needs some lubrication? Or is it obviously kinked?

 

[Captain Ledd]

it's pretty well S bent. It worked sort-of ok with the 2 other carbs that I had (they didn't work well, but a friend just pulled one off another engine that ran good, it seems to work the best so far, still haven't tuned it) so yeah it's carbed.

the tube is broke right were it goes into the firewall (it was broke before the conversion in actual seriousness) it may just be kinking there. So if I just get a new cable even if it's all bent up still it should work fine?

I don't have a pic with me, and the truck is still at home (I'm at college). I'm trying to figure stuff out/buy stuff so I can get right to it. Do you have a pic of yours?

I'll go see what a new cable costs tomorrow morning..

 

[Totalled]

What I got up right now..

clicky

 

[Bruce]

We put a 302 fuel injected in our 2 wheel drive and didnt do no body lift, we used the throttle cable out of the donor vehicle(because cable was shorter) its got a pretty good bend in it but it works.

 

[Captain Ledd]

HAHAHAHA, nice pic. I can relate to the feeling.

Yeah mine is at least twice as bad as that. My cable probably goes out to where it is about even where it hooks to the bracket on the intake then bends back and just looks twisted. It really is an S shape. I'd almost go as fas as thinking my carb is farther back than yours is. I had issues getting a air cleaner that would fit and not hit the firewall.

Never did get to Autozone yesterday. Professors seem to get these crazy ideas that I'm just itching to do homework and take exams. I got time after my next class today though for sure.

I'm almost thinking to just replace it anyways, since it's broken and it'll be a dedicated off road rig, I'm just paranoid something will get in there and make it stick.

Bruce, what was the donor vehicle?

Anyone else have suggestions for a shorter cable?

My 302 came out of an '82 T'bird, but apparently it never came with a 302 in them that year, just the short lived 4.0L V8. Casting number says it's from a 1980 Galaxie, again, supposedly not made. but I've still got the stock Ranger cable for the 2.8L. I can tell it's been apart several times (or once after a catastrophic failure), but the latest build seems fresh, very little wear.

 

[Bruce]

Bruce, what was the donor vehicle?

The donor vehicle was a 1989 Lincoln town car.

 

[red85]

Take a look at Lokar for cables. I use one of their throttle and kickdown cables and they work great. They are a little expensive but they are worth it as you can tailor the length to exactly what you need to make it work how it's supposed to.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Allright, after a solid weekend of searching they make cables for the 4cylinder, but not the V6, at all, anywhere. but they can all order the 89 Lincoln Town car cable, so I think thats what I'll be going with.

Thanks for you help everyone, especially Bruce since I'd be kind of stuck since I couldn't just get a new replacement.

Red85, if I had no other options I'd have looked into them, but this isn't exactly a pretty swap lol. And one thaty I'm getting very tired of putting yet more money into. Though this will definately not be my last project though and I'll keep that company in mind, thanks as well!

 

[superdave1984]

http://www.mre-books.com/ranger.html
Worth a look.
Here's a phone number for another possibility.
Total Performance, in Michigan. 586-468-3673

 

[baddad457]

Go order a cable for an 85 Mustang GT with the 5.0 4 bbl at your local Ford dealer. Fits perfectly.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Wish I would have heard of that a little earlier Baddad... oh well.

Update:

got the new cable and stuck it on. I'm waiting to some silicone to dry in a vacuum tube because I lost the plugged on that was on there (had a vacuum gage hooked up). seems to work good so far.

I had to make another mount for the cable to slip into that was about 3/4" farther back that bolted to the stock retainer. In the stock retainer location the spring was pretty much bottomed out. Also the firewall hole the cable was secured in wasn't the same, but nothing a drill couldn't fix (2 bolt holes as opposed to a single plastic snap in clip). All in all I think it should work pretty good, still just as twisted because I had to move it back a bit, but it seems to move freely enough. Thanks for all your help again everyone!