idle speed adjustment mods

[DRettie]

hello all... as a new member i first of want to say what a great site this is. . i followed it in the past, but took the membership plunge to get the "full meal deal"... anyway, i noticed there was a posting regarding looking for a high idle modification, from the charging system thread... anyway, i thought i would throw this on as a new thread to better help others looking for a mod like this... i have done this mod on three trucks ( the first two got stolen, but thats another story), all were / are 1991 4x4. the first was auto, the past two stick... anyway, i didnt like the lack of control in the idle speed, mostly in cold starts or when idling for longer periods... living in the great white north, cold happens once in a while... . the mod is using a vernier cable system on the dash, controlling the throttle independant of the foot throttle. the part i have used is (brand name ) "papco push pull control, part number 310-216" from the napa stores in canada (and i assume in the us as well ). list price is 70 ish canadian, but you will not likely pay that, as discounts are the norm. i use the hole left by relocating the cargo light to another place ( i last used the spot near the mirror control, a spot i dont really recommend as i requires some hacking and wiring. ) you have to pop off the instrument facia and use a large washer on both sides for support ( the large washers behind window cranks on most domestic vehicles works well, or similar ) and carefully route the cable throught the dash bulkhead to come out in line with the throttle linkage... you will have to trim the cable sheath and i zap strapped it to the same bent metal part that the throttle cable bolts to. for there, the cable itself goes around the lateral pin close to the front, bent into a long skinny "U shape" to allow for free pedal travel, and then bent around itself to form a closed loop. on the front end of the skinny cable loop, u give it about a sixteenth of an inch freeplay from the pin, and put a washer on both sides, with a "hairpin" on each side to locate on the pin. with this set up, i can manually adjust the throttle, and bang it in to factory idle by pushing in the red knob in the center ( i will try to post photos, but i am having trouble including the files ). on long trips across the prairies, i sort of does a half assed cruise control, but you kinda have to remember to push it in if your going to hit the brakes!!!... sorry, a bit wordy, but... i really is a decent mod, and your truck will keep up a decent charge with a load , or keep it from harm due to extensive idling in the cold, as they are not capable of getting really warm unless working with a load... good luck ... cheers darren

 

[DRettie]

photos from my earlier posting

 

[ARedetzke]

If you don't like the big red knob, you can get a hand throttle from Rubicon Express, or save yourself some money and go down to the local bicycle shop and get a gear shifter lever and cable. Make sure it has some sort of way to adjust tension so you can lock it on. I have one on my jeep and it works great for rock crawling, mounted it right on the stick shift. Never thought of putting one in the truck for the winter, I usually just shove my CD case between the transmission hump and the go pedal. Great idea DRettie, and welcome to TDR.

AJ

 

[tugboatphil]

Darren,



Very clean installation. Welcome Aboard!!