My B intake and a new Edelbrock, all plumbed for fuel, distributor advance, and PCV is sitting atop my 292 - looks great, starts great, and runs good. I have a linkage problem. I have installed a 4 barrel Fordo linkage from a 56 passenger car, including the bellcrank, firewall pivot, and Fordo kickdown road (all different from my 55's old 2 barrel setup).

I still have too much free travel with my accelerator pedal - almost 1"! before the butterflies begin to open on Edelbrock - surprised at the performance I have with only 1/2 throttle when the pedal is on the floor. Is my bellcrank spring just wore out? Anybody ever use a Lokar setup for this application - even with the kickdown?

I did follow AZ28 advice about lining up the holes, adjusting the kickdown rod, pedal height, etc. - all that is fine....just won't go to WOT.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Daniel:

I ran into a situation like that.  There was a return spring on the carb lever that was so strong that the bellcrank went into kickdown mode as soon as you stepped on the throttle.  The '56 originally did not use a return spring on the carb lever, there was a spring from the bellcrank to an anchor point below the bellcrank, which resulted in the bellcrank pushing the carb throttle closed.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

John,

It's late, and I just got back from doing a little tinkering myself - I looked everything over again and it came to me - like you say. Fact was, I was missing that return spring on the back of the bell crank (where that skinny arm sticks up) and was trying to mount a return spring forward of the carb, with an anchor point near the front most intake manifold bolt. After looking through a box of goodies, I found a return spring that was good for length and tension, and mounted it to those attachments point that you spoke of. After an adjustment or two, I got WOT with a full return to idle.

I took it for a test drive. Can I say - it was a little unnerving at first? The previously mounted 2 barrel was good, but not this good. I could burn rubber with the 2 barrel, but with this 4 barrel...The response now is utterly awesome. How does a Fordo hook up that good? I do believe I have to adjust my kickdown rod a little more - seems that when I got out on the highway and nailed it, she stayed in second gear a little too long. If memory serves, I need to "lengthen" the rod by adjusting the clevis receiver up, correct? I know it will take some trial and error, but it should work. One other thing I noticed, is that on the road when I went to full throttle, she took a full second to come back down after I let off the pedal. I assume this is because I painted the entire bellcrank (were they painted from the factory? I don't think...) After a little lubrication, it was already working better.

The pcv setup that I installed was one - a snap, and two - really sealed up oil seeping as far as I can tell. Do those things really make that big of a difference? I used a valley pan that had the threaded hole and baffle in the rear, a pcv adapter (I guess from trucks in the 60's?) that had a 1/2" spout on it, an inline pcv for a 302 small block, and a metal line also from a truck motor that brings the pcv from the rear of the pan to the front of the carb (looks stock, anyway). I think it works very well.

thanks for all of your bits of wisdom. One of these days I have got to get up to Columbus!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Preacher becomes a speed DEMON? A little self control here, please! you're setting a bad example for the rest of us kids!

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

55 Brodie - thanks - I will adjust tomorrow.

Pegleg - touche! This is one preacher that isn't "out of touch" with the real world - some would be surprised of the number of people that I talk to that take an interest in the car. It is a great conversation starter. Eventually, I have opportunity to give them one of the gospel tracts that I have written - and what is on the cover? Y block info and pictures! full color, nice and professionally done. If you are interested I can send you a couple...

PM with your address and I will send them out to you.

You are not going to believe this, but I have big dreams of one day using a supercharged Y, all decked out, on an engine test stand, Huge banners in the background, large screens showing vintage commercials and racing footage, helpers decked out in the white coverall suits and hats that the FoMoCo service technicians used to wear, etc. ....All for the opportunity to talk to some one about my favorite subject - Jesus Christ. For a preacher, it can't get any better. The church wants me to come up with how much this is all going to cost, give them a synopsis of how this is going to get done, PAY FOR IT, and turn me loose on Saturdays at local car shows at first. Talk about a first rate Y block education!

didn't mean to trail off...but you get the idea - yes, I drive like Jehu!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Dan,

    I drive my F code that you see in the avitar to church several Sundays every year.

  Some of the local Churches here in Indiana have started having "Cruise ins" on Saturdays, in fact I'll be going to one this weekend. Consider that approach and you may find the event to both attractive to kids and a financial boost for the Church. Bet the board will like that thought. You can also have some of the bigger kids help park the cars, take entry fees, and some of the women can bake some items to use as door prizes and the rest sold.

 It's peglegrice@msn.com. same as in the links for Rebop.  

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

The gospel tract pdf files have been sent to your e-mail address - enjoy!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com