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By DANIEL TINDER - 14 Years Ago
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Bad right hip has forced the development of an unusual skill. I have become fairly accomplished at operating the gas pedal with the left foot (easier than converting aftermarket cruise control to 6V/pos. grd.).
This has me thinking about antique hand throttles. Back in the early 60s, a guy in a 40 Ford coupe pulled into the gas station where I worked. He had a dash mounted hand throttle that I mistook for a choke control. This was the one-and-only example I have ever seen. So, I'm wondering if any of the older members could provide some info re: this device? Was it ever an official FoMoCo accessory? How did it function? Since I've never seen one offered for sale, I'm assuming it would have to be gerry-rigged from scratch (if feasible)? Perhaps with a manual hand choke cable, etc. Could easily be installed in the orig. dash lighter location, where it would be handy/accessible. If it doesn't work out, I might still use the cable assembly for a manual choke control if I eventually end up with John's new alum. manifold (no heat riser or 6V elect. choke).
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By crenwelge - 14 Years Ago
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The manual throttles were either to operate a PTO on a truck or to warm up the engine. Driving with one is very awkward and you really risk rear ending someone. I think the best setup I have seen for someone in your situation is a lever with a cable much like the caliper brakes on a bicycle.
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By stlroken - 14 Years Ago
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Daniel, I think if you check with a company or auto dealer that has a list of handicap accessories available you'll find what your looking for. We added hand throttle and hand brake to a customers pickup....it works great and is very safe and can be used with cruise control. Of course it might take a little "twinking" to make it work on an older car but it seemed likea pretty simple system.I don't remember the name of the company but you probably have one close or like I mentioned check with your local new car dealer they probably have infor. Hope this helps
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By DANIEL TINDER - 14 Years Ago
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Turns out the country's largest (?) van conversion outfit is only a few miles away. I should just drop by and nose around.
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By 55Birdman - 14 Years Ago
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I bought a '53 Ford pickup in '71 that had a throttle pull on it. It was cool for about 2 trips on the highway. Took it out. I thought at first someone used the choke cable and rigged one up but this had a hole in the dashon the left side of the radio. Only one I have ever seen.
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By paul2748 - 14 Years Ago
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Early Fords (30's) had both a hand choke and a hand throttle. I'm not sure when these stopped.
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By Park Olson - 14 Years Ago
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FORD's had pull out hand throttle's in cars up to '48, trucks at least into the '50's. Intended mainly for fast idle warm up.
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By Bob's 55 - 14 Years Ago
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Yes I had a '38 PU with a hand throttle and hand choke. Not to change the subject, but it also had a locking steering column... And yes it was stock.
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By Joe 5bird7 - 14 Years Ago
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I have a 70 Bronco that has a factory hand throttle in it. It was for using the winch and wouldn't work well in my opinion for driving the rig.
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By yehaabill - 14 Years Ago
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Y-Guys: My grandfather told me a lot of the trucks, back in the day, had a dash mount or ? throttle that a farmer could use to put the vehicle in "granny" low, pull the throttle out a "fuzz" and he could walk behind the truck and throw out hay or whatever for the cows... Also as mentioned earlier, a lot of vehicles had pto's to run pumps etc... Bill
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By Park Olson - 14 Years Ago
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Bob's 55 (5/1/2010)
Yes I had a '38 PU with a hand throttle and hand choke. Not to change the subject, but it also had a locking steering column... And yes it was stock Ford cars had locking columns 'till '47.
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By Unibodyguy - 14 Years Ago
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My 52 F-2 pickup that I got from my Grandpa had a hand thottle on it from the factory, I used it a ferw times for loading up hay bales as mentioned in an earlier post. And also to hand pick sweet corn too.
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By 46yblock - 14 Years Ago
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My 54 1 ton had a dash mounted hand throttle. I used it as an ancient cruise control. Problem was max. highway speed. 45 mph and around 4500 rpm.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 14 Years Ago
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46yblock (5/4/2010)
My 54 1 ton had a dash mounted hand throttle. I used it as an ancient cruise control. Problem was max. highway speed. 45 mph and around 4500 rpm.
Still curious about it's operation: Ratchet & twist-release? Friction hold? Any drag on the carb. linkage? If not, what mechanism was used to hold position and avoid drag?
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By 46yblock - 14 Years Ago
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DANIEL TINDER (5/4/2010)
46yblock (5/4/2010)
My 54 1 ton had a dash mounted hand throttle. I used it as an ancient cruise control. Problem was max. highway speed. 45 mph and around 4500 rpm.Still curious about it's operation: Ratchet & twist-release? Friction hold? Any drag on the carb. linkage? If not, what mechanism was used to hold position and avoid drag? Its operation from inside cab was just like a manual choke. The further you pulled the knob out the faster the engine would run. When pushed all the way in engine idled normally and foot throttle functioned normally. It was a long time ago so cant be much help. Using it as a "cruise control" wasnt very safe, and it took a fair amount of push/pull effort to operate the hand throttle.
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By crenwelge - 14 Years Ago
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The old throttle cables were identical to choke cables in most vehicles. Friction would hold them. They were only made to warm an engine or to drive a PTO. Even at that, they would not hold a constant rpm. On vehicles that required a constant PTO speed we used to install a Pierce governor. They are still being manufactured. A Pierce governor could be used as a cruise control. A cable type throttle like trucks had in the 40's and 50's was actually pretty worthless and thats why they discontinued installing them.
http://www.piercelockcraft.com/speed-control-devices/mechanical-governors.php
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By unibody madness - 14 Years Ago
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The older fords came with Chandler Grove 94 carbs, then with the holley 94, used today for multiple carb setups. I think there were close to 19 versions of this 2 barrel carb.the older ones came with choke ,normal accelerator, and hand throttle.This was set up on the opposite side of the throttle shaft and could be set like a hand choke. the foot pedal could accelerate past the point where the hand throttle was set, but would not cancel out the hand set throttle to lower it. I believe they were in fords in the fourties or even until the early 50's in some truck applications.You can buy new reproduction 94's today for about 150.00
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By montego_gto - 14 Years Ago
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While growing up, my neighbor had a mid-70's, 400M equipped, Ford LTD- actually whatever the low trim level version was called. It was an ex-cop car. It had holes all over the interior where stuff had been previously installed. The car had a cable pull located just to the right of the steering column. When a cop would let the car sit idle with the engine running, they would raise the rpm's to keep it cool. Gary used it as a cruise control only a couple times since it didn't adjust for hills and it wouldn't automatically kick off. Nick
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By Glen Henderson - 14 Years Ago
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Anyone that was in the military (all branchs of the service had them) should remember the M35 2 1/2 ton truck and the M54 5 ton truck. They both had throttle cables, we use to run conveys with the throttles pulled out. Not the smartest thing to do, but who ever said that we were smart back then.
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By glrbird - 14 Years Ago
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One of my friends had a hand control throttle on his car, it was a bar mounted on the steering column with a motorcycle type twist grip at the end and had a rod that ran from it and hooked to the top of the gas peddle. worked great. You just twisted it like a motorcycle throttle and when you let go the carburator return spring brought it back. you should find something at the conversion center.
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By crenwelge - 14 Years Ago
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I have seen quite a few vehicles equipped with hand throttles for disabled persons. However, they return to idle when they let go of them. I have been in Germany the past couple of weeks where cruise control is illegal. My little rent car does about 200 kph on level ground which is 125 mph and I get passed all the time. Cruise control would be a disaster over here.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 14 Years Ago
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I'm wondering if an inexpensive plastic spreader clamp (with release handle) jammed between the throttle & seat might be the simplest solution for low-traffic interstate cruising? You could ratchet it up to speed, keeping your hand on the release at all times (soft seat surface would insure forceful extraction if release fails), and right foot always ready at the brake pedal.
I've also noticed that left foot driving tends to tangle your instincts. Bringing the right foot to bear quickly doesn't always land it on target.
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By charliemccraney - 14 Years Ago
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Find something that can be told electronically to clamp onto the throttle linkage rod and hold it in place which also doesn't release until told to do so. When you're cruising at the desired speed, lock it in place with a toggle switch identified as NO2 or something . Perhaps a switch on the brake and clutch pedals can be used to release it - that way it will release "naturally".
If you're still more technical, you could use an electronic speedo sensor to send a signal to a circuit board, which you have made. Using a servo to control the throttle, it could be programmed to hold that speed. The cruise control end of the electronic speedo sensor might be used with a custom cable to drive the original speedometer, if so equipped. Use the same switches to turn it off.
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