For Those With Manual Choke Cables - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LuvNLife · 11-15-2015, 06:07 PM

I know some of you run manual choke cables to your carbs. In my '87 with A/C, I'm not quite sure where the heck I can drill through the firewall without doing any damage to either to the underdash components or the plastic AC housing underhood. Any pics of how you ran your cables would be appreciated...

tucsonjwt · 11-15-2015, 07:21 PM

Just run it through the main wiring grommet near the steering column. I put some silicone in the center of the grommet to snug it up. I mounted the inside bracket to the right of the driver's position under the dash. I ran the cable in a big loop behind the distributor and sprayed silicone down the cable sheath prior to installation. The cable is in a big "S" route under the hood.

You have a carb with an 87? No TBI?

MountainGoat1966 · 11-15-2015, 08:02 PM

On my 84, I drilled a small hole just above the hood release cable/firewall junction. Nice safe place to drill. Mounted the bracket under the dash next to the hood release so I can operate the choke with my left hand while I turn the key in the steering column with my right hand. Just another option for you .......

LuvNLife · 11-15-2015, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainGoat1966

On my 84, I drilled a small hole just above the hood release cable/firewall junction. Nice safe place to drill. Mounted the bracket under the dash next to the hood release so I can operate the choke with my left hand while I turn the key in the steering column with my right hand. Just another option for you .......

I like that idea - it's a pretty benign place to drill, with no wiring or plumbing in the way, then come back behind the distributor and over...

tucsonjwt · 11-16-2015, 01:52 PM

There are two versions of manual chokes - car and truck. The truck version is just a longer cable. I got the truck version, so it is the longer cable - not sure exactly how long but it does have some excess cable looped up behind the distributor. Longer is better in my opinion - less chance for sharp turns and kinks.

I would lay out your 6' cable under the hood and see how far you get. I like the right side of the driver because I am right handed. I set the choke fully closed every time I start the truck cold - even in the heat of summer - then immediately open it fully. I live in the desert. Sometimes, in the sub-freezing winter, I will leave the choke partially open for a few minutes. I have a big block, so it wants a rich mixture to start up.

With a 6' cable I think you can mount it on the right side and have enough length, but you might have a sharp turn into the dash area.

I have my dump conversion control by the hood release, so it is already crowded over there.

LuvNLife · 11-15-2015, 08:25 PM

Correct - no TBI. When I got the truck, it was so screwed up, it wouldn't run consistently. It's unnerving when you're at a traffic light, and it just shuts itself off. Even the tank switch (it was dual tank) had not side rewired to be a kill switch. So, no more electronics whatever; even the tanks are gone, and as the body man says - excised. I went to a between the rails tank. I traded the entire TBI and tank setup for some hours of body work when I had the truck painted, so not a complete loss.

Were you able to use that route with your cable and stay with a 6', or did you have to go to an 8'? I bought the 6' black vinyl coated so it'll disappear.

11-15-2015, 06:07 PM	#1
LuvNLife Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Crossville, TN Posts: 142	For Those With Manual Choke Cables I know some of you run manual choke cables to your carbs. In my '87 with A/C, I'm not quite sure where the heck I can drill through the firewall without doing any damage to either to the underdash components or the plastic AC housing underhood. Any pics of how you ran your cables would be appreciated...

11-15-2015, 07:21 PM	#2
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,189	Re: For Those With Manual Choke Cables Just run it through the main wiring grommet near the steering column. I put some silicone in the center of the grommet to snug it up. I mounted the inside bracket to the right of the driver's position under the dash. I ran the cable in a big loop behind the distributor and sprayed silicone down the cable sheath prior to installation. The cable is in a big "S" route under the hood. You have a carb with an 87? No TBI?

11-15-2015, 08:02 PM	#3
MountainGoat1966 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: northern arizona Posts: 259	Re: For Those With Manual Choke Cables On my 84, I drilled a small hole just above the hood release cable/firewall junction. Nice safe place to drill. Mounted the bracket under the dash next to the hood release so I can operate the choke with my left hand while I turn the key in the steering column with my right hand. Just another option for you ....... __________________ "Off the grid and on the seven day weekend plan" "One person cannot know everything, but between all of us, there isn't much we don't know."

11-16-2015, 01:52 PM	#5
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,189	Re: For Those With Manual Choke Cables There are two versions of manual chokes - car and truck. The truck version is just a longer cable. I got the truck version, so it is the longer cable - not sure exactly how long but it does have some excess cable looped up behind the distributor. Longer is better in my opinion - less chance for sharp turns and kinks. I would lay out your 6' cable under the hood and see how far you get. I like the right side of the driver because I am right handed. I set the choke fully closed every time I start the truck cold - even in the heat of summer - then immediately open it fully. I live in the desert. Sometimes, in the sub-freezing winter, I will leave the choke partially open for a few minutes. I have a big block, so it wants a rich mixture to start up. With a 6' cable I think you can mount it on the right side and have enough length, but you might have a sharp turn into the dash area. I have my dump conversion control by the hood release, so it is already crowded over there.

11-15-2015, 08:25 PM	#6
LuvNLife Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Crossville, TN Posts: 142	Re: For Those With Manual Choke Cables Correct - no TBI. When I got the truck, it was so screwed up, it wouldn't run consistently. It's unnerving when you're at a traffic light, and it just shuts itself off. Even the tank switch (it was dual tank) had not side rewired to be a kill switch. So, no more electronics whatever; even the tanks are gone, and as the body man says - excised. I went to a between the rails tank. I traded the entire TBI and tank setup for some hours of body work when I had the truck painted, so not a complete loss. Were you able to use that route with your cable and stay with a 6', or did you have to go to an 8'? I bought the 6' black vinyl coated so it'll disappear.



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