Thanks for the great description and videos Kent!

"FREE SAMPLE"

years ago put my govoner in backwerds, woud not shift into high atall,turned around worked ok. if you do eventualy int high ,it was in corectly 
stickey or gasket incorect

my screwup was a 57merc and removed tailshaft and turned the whole asemblyaround,was my1st crack at a auto trans,that worked,found out later could axcess threw the cover,tho in my case just turning govener may not have worked

Great work, you nailed it.............


64F100 57FAIRLANE500

While I'm waiting on my valve body part, I wanted to try to get the linkage set the best possible by the book. I can't get the accelerator pedal height up past 3" and the book calls for 4 7/8" on a '57 thunderbird.

As a consequence of this, when you floor the pedal, you do not get full throttle engagement. When you work the 'grasshopper' under the hood by hand to full throttle, the rod pops out of the back of the accelerator pedal. Obviously there's something wrong here.

I've locked the 'grasshopper' in place with the 1/4" drill bit and the threaded rod that sets the pedal height is extended as long as it will go. 3" is all I can get out of the adjustment.

I went ahead and removed the piece of linkage from the accelerator pedal that goes through the firewall and measured and took a few pics. If anyone has one I can compare mine to, that would be great. Not sure if the curve in it is correct or not — it doesn't appear bent to the naked eye. I don't want to flatten that curve in a vise if it is indeed correct and the problem is elsewhere. Tip to tip is 5 7/8"
72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge
72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge
72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge
72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge
Nothing else in the setup looks bent or twisted.
Thanks!

Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird

What did You need for  the Valve Body?

72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge  72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge

Forgot to update. I made an error in filing off that 'tab' on the end plate that was blocking the throttle valve. According to the book, (which I missed) you're supposed to push the valve out past the first land then install the plate. It acts as a stop to keep the valve from over travel and prevents it from fulling returning inside the valve body. Amateur mistake.

Luckily, Dad has a couple extra in his parts stash that we can scavenge. I'll be sure to update the thread once corrected and installed for future reference.

In the meantime, Getting the accelerator pedal height correct and having everything in the linkage work as it should is my next hurdle.

If anyone has another threaded rod they could check total length when fully extended, that would help me a ton. Mine measures 5 1/4"
72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge

If this is too short and incorrect for a '57 thunderbird, that would explain the issue. If not, looks like I'll end up having to 'tweak' my firewall rod.

Thanks!

Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird

1/4x20 rod and coupling from a hardware store like ACE can help. It’s how I made the carb linkage when I change to 2 carbs. Good luck

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

After looking at pics on here and my friend's '57 and comparing setups, the conclusion was my double-L rod on the firewall was bent... slightly. I removed it from the car and mounted it on my workbench. Was expecting a battle to get any bending action, but it moved surprisingly easy.

72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge

Got lucky as I bent it it just the right amount the first time. Verified 4 7/8" pedal height with the 1/4 drill bit in the bell crank. Adjusted the rod going to the carburetor and presto — everything works as advertised. No more binding, and I get full throttle with the pedal — at least everything up top is moving the way it should... we'll see how it goes with the throttle rod once the valve body goes back in.



Now it's just a matter of getting the valve body back in the transmission and verifying throttle rod travel and getting pressures set correctly.

Thanks to all who've chimed in and helped. I'll keep y'all posted on how this turns out.

Kent — Round Rock, TX
'56 F-100  | '56 Crown Vic  |  '57 Fairlaine 500  |  '57 Thunderbird

Any new Updates?



72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge  72% of original size (was 704x19) - Click to enlarge