Found my loss of power!

jrolstin · jrolstin's Garage

So I found where my loss of power is coming from! But I havn't fixed it... My throttle pedal at WOT would only give me like 20 degrees of butterfly!!!! unbelievable... I looked closer and a screw was jamming at the linkage on the throttle body. I back it out and sure enough it can go to true WOT now. However with the Pedal on the floor it is still only at 20 degrees... I think something might have got bent? How can I adjust this??

Oh Haha · 07-11-2011, 05:14 PM

Follow the linkage from the throttle body down to the gearbox. you'll see where the linkage fromthe engine bay connects to a bracket on the trans. Have a helper put the accelerator to the floor(engine off!!!). The linkage has threaded rods to allow for adjustment. Use those to get to full opening of the butterflys.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

could be bushings in the pedal assembly.....

jrolstin · jrolstin's Garage

I got all the adjustment out of the foot well area that I needed

I had no helper (well a couple of bricks to hold down the pedal) so it was a slow process. However I just got back from a drive in it and OMG is it ever amazing. It used to run out of breath at 3000rpm, now it pulls stronger to 5000!!! man ive been missing out! And I finally laid into the brakes (since I could finally get some speed in a shorter distance) magnificent. Best vehicle ever designed. Most unique sound ever, I wouldn't trade a thing for it. I will never sell this car and look forward to continuing to improve it. Thanks for the help!

Tyson Schmidt · 07-11-2011, 08:20 PM

99times out of a hundred, with your symptoms on that model it's the bellcrank bushings on the top of the motor below the throttle body. They crumble and fall out aft a few decades.

The adjustments you made can pearly compensate but you should check them out, as they are likely the source of the problem.

jrolstin · jrolstin's Garage

Sounds like a plan. I'll add that to the list for when the engine/trans come out.

Determined · Determined's Garage

I have a similiar issue and will check the same, when I drive my 86 Carrera at times when I step on the throtlle it is slow to take off then suddenly without warning kicks into a rapid increase in speed. I just rebuilt my pedal cluster and noticed that the throttle linkeage that attached to the pedal cluster has broke free from the pin that secures it into place.

Tough to describe without a picture but the part that attaches to the throttle cable has broken free from the shaft it is crimped or welded onto. It still moves freely but instead of the shaft moving in the bearings it rotates the plate instead.