Installing the AFS press on Ford throttle pin

AirFuelSpark
Aug 27
3 min read

Time for a tech tip.

The original Ford 2x4 carbs used very unique throttle pins.

For a little while they were absurdly difficult to find if you didn’t have the original throttle shafts.

I did the logical thing and spent a ton of money having several thousand of them made.

I made three types.

One is the stock add on pin. This is the same style pin used by Ford when adding a pin to the primary carb for progressive usage.

It is the pin with a threaded back end.

It is easy to install in the preexisting hole at the top location. You literally insert it and install a locking nut. It only works in the top position tho. If you install in the stock lower position it causes interference issues.

That brings me to the second one I made. I internally threaded the pin itself from the backside. This allows a low profile headed screw to be used.

It does require drilling the throttle lever.

The last kind I had made I call “the press on” style.

I considered having it made several ways, I ended up making it somewhat hollow on the back side so it could be retained by expanding the piece sticking into the throttle lever.

The idea was to do this with the basic hand tools available to most folks. If I made it requiring a press or something like that, it would have made a nicer install but would have been outside the realm of the home builder.

Detailed in the photos are a quick and dirty how to on installation.

Picture 1

Tools required

Picture 2

Stock position is 3/8in from center of existing upper hole. Ideally this needs to be exactly in line of the center of upper hole and center of throttle shaft. Clamp shaft firmly on edge of table.

Picture 3

You will need a fairly good carbide bur. The throttle levers are case hardened. If you try to drill through it, well… you will dull and destroy your drills.

Picture 4

Surface has been broken through. This allows fairly easy drilling.

Picture 5

I drill a Pilot hole. After this I drill the final size. Pins are .190, so a #11 wire gauge drill works perfectly since it is .191

Tap magic or some other appropriate oil should be used.

Picture 6

Drilled to final size. Obviously try your best to get this drilled straight. You have a little wiggle room with the pin but not a ton.

Picture 7

Clean metal with solvent and blow it off

Picture 8

Loctite 648 or some other retaining compound should be applied to throttle pin. You don’t need a ton.

Picture 9

Set pin in vise. You do not want or need to clamp the end, simply provide a flat surface for it to rest.

Smear the retaining compound around so you get good coverage.

Picture 10

Using light hammer taps, get throttle lever fully seated against the pin

Picture 11

Rounded punch to slightly expand the end of the pin. You don’t need to get wild, you are just pressing the metal outwards so it will stay in place. The loctite is going to do most of the retaining here anyhow. You are just making sure pin cannot be pulled out.