[Amc-list] Howell TBI in a 63 Classic...

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

OK, it's not a weekend job. It's a TWO weekend job.

Haven't got to the point of starting it yet. Today, I spent ten (10) 
hours making the throttle linkage. The Classic's got a floor pedal that 
drives a rotating shaft, that's parallel to the ports on the head; the 
TBI throttle rotates 90 degrees off (along the front axle line) and 
about 10" away.

I hate (hate) hanging gas pedals with cables, they feel crappy and 
late-model. So I made a two-bellcrank, three-lever system out of steel 
stock, which though it took me a whole long day I'm quite happy with. 
It's very pretty. I had to also fab up the transmission throttle 
pressure cable linkage, and get all the strokes correct (idle to WOT, 
bottom trans and TBI).

The TBI also has two humongous return springs on the shaft itself, and I 
managed to peel one out with pliers. I want a feather-light, 
floor-mounted old fashioned pedal. Pressure now isn't what it was (I 
mean, how can you beat a pedal driving one lever rotating a shaft that 
is directly inline and connected to the single butterfly of a one barrel 
carb?) but should be OK.

The 82 intake manifold fits fine, though I had to do a lot of detail 
work to plug up holes and find water nipples and plugs etc.

The exhaust was not directly compatible. See, this is why I always rant 
about 'but have you done it?' because though we all know that the head 
manifold/port pattern was unchanged from 1964 through mid 1980's, it's 
not true. Like an 82 head in the 70 Hornet, the exhaust manifold doesn't 
*quite* fit.

The two outer ears, that attach to the short studs, are further out on 
the 82 manifold, hit the water pump and don't fit over the studs. I had 
to clip off the outer part of the "O" to make a "C" and use a large, not 
a small, cone washer. No big deal, but no-go without the fix.

Ports line up fine.

I put some Right Stuff along the outer edge (pushrod side) above and 
below the steel gasket. Not anywhere near the combustion chambers. That 
edge is a chronic leak source. I hope this fixes that!

I did the head bolt grindy business even though there was no crud in 
mine. Oil changes do matter! I hope that bolt doesn't break ...


The Howell docs say to install the fuel pump along the frame rail in the 
FRONT of the car, but I got paranoid, what about going up a steel hill 
with an empty tank? Then the pump will be 12" or more above the tank. So 
I put it inside the frame rail in the rear, where the leaf spring would 
go if it had one; nice big protected space. Filter before the pump, and 
the big one up front.


The wiring harness works, a few runs were short but workable. I'm 
putting the computer under the glove box (eh, doesn't make me happy, but 
the under dash A/C takes up the other good space). Greenlee'd a 2" hole 
for the harness below/left of the fan. Under hood looks OK, but the fuel 
pump relay and the two dangly fuses are beside and under the wiper 
motor. The MAP sensor I ended up cable-tying (ugh!) to the driver side 
tower brace, that part of the harness is too short to put it mich futher 
away, and actually, that brace is a perfect spot.

I am giving up on the vacuum wipers, I suspect they'll make the Howell 
kit angry. Plus fewer hoses.


I took some photos, so I'll document it soon.
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