Woohoo! My puzzle box is here! (2+ questions...)

[Hodgepodge]

Today I picked up and hauled home a sweet '74 Chamonix 2002 that is an older restoration in really good shape.  It is a pretty hot car, with a 38/38 Weber, a 292 cam, a Getrag 245 5-speed and a set of original Panasport wheels.  This will be my puzzle box/driver while I'm restoring the '75 Polaris 2002.    

  

And that equipment difference is what my questions are about.  The car has two annoying issues that I think will be pretty easy to fix.  It idles low when cold and the shift linkage is very loose.  

 

Questions: 

Low, rough idle when cold.  About 500 rpm.  The 38/38 Weber appears to have an electric choke that I'm guessing either isn't working or is set incorrectly.  I have the big Weber manual but have not yet had a chance to dive into it.  Does anyone else with a 38/38 have any suggesstions?   

 

Loose shift linkage.  This is a 5-speed transmission but I'm guessing that the shift linkage underneath is basically a shorter version but the same as the 4-speed, correct?  So I should be able to get under the car and tighten up the bolts holding the linkage to the transmission housing, right?   

 

Oh, one last question.  All of the center hubs are missing from my wheels.  Current panasport hubs are 66mm.  These older ones are about 58mm.  I've seen some crappy 58mm hubs on eBay, but does anyone have any suggestions on where I can find a decent set? 

 

Thanks in advance for your responses! 

 

Scott

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Simeon]

Nice looking car, well done!

 

As for the choke, remember that you need to set the choke by pressing the pedal down. This should close the choke flaps and kick in the fast idle cam. Take the air filter cover off when it is cold and watch what happens when you pull the throttle open before starting. Check the fast idle screw gets in contact with the cam and this opens the throttle linkage slightly from the normal position. I am guessing that this fast idle might need adjustment after making sure that the choke flaps close fully. If they don’t you can adjust by loosening the screws around the plate that holds the choke mechanism and rotating the choke housing to close the plates against the spring. Once that is all working run the car until it is warming up. The bimetallic spring in the choke uncoils a certain time after the ignition is turned on. As the throttle is blipped, generally by normal driving, the fast idle cam will step down as the bimetallic spring allows. 

 

After you have checked the choke operation, get on the dwell, timing, lean best idle path to glory. 

[Hodgepodge]

Thanks, Simeon!  Your explanation and suggestsions will probably save me a couple of hours of trying to decipher the Chilton Weber manual.   

[02Les]

Good pedigree, once owned by Tim "Timmer" Romeo; faq board member way back at the beginning.

[Mike Self]

9 hours ago, Hodgepodge said:

Loose shift linkage.  This is a 5-speed transmission but I'm guessing that the shift linkage underneath is basically a shorter version but the same as the 4-speed, correct?  So I should be able to get under the car and tighten up the bolts holding the linkage to the transmission housing, right?   

Sounds like you have the problem pin-pointed.  Not only do the shift platform bolts work loose, but the metalastic mounts that the bolts pass through deteriorate (the rubber turns into black goo); that will also cause a floppy shifter.  And while you're under there checking things out, have someone move the shifter through the gears while you observe the linkage to see if the pins, washers and sleeves have play in them.   A little play at the base of the shift lever translates into a lot of play at the knob end.

 

mike