Need picture of 70 choke rod

[Kurt France]

I need a picture of a 70 BB QJet choke control rod, can anyone please send me a photo. I am looking for one, but may have to make one instead.

Thanks
Kurt

[Joe L.]

Re: Need picture of 70 choke rod

Kurt-----

There were actually TWO different choke rods used for 1970 Corvettes with LS-5. The first was GM #3967472. This rod was used for LS-5 WITHOUT NA-9. The second was GM #3967469. This rod was used for cars WITH NA-9. The only difference bewteen them was that the 3967469 was about 1/4" longer to accomodate the carburetor insulator gasket used for NA-9 applications.

I don't have either of these choke rods in the collection (surprise; it does happen, though). The 3967472 was discontinued in December, 1981 and the GM #3967469 was discontinued in March, 1981.

In order to fabricate a completely FUNCTIONAL rod, even without a known-original example to use as a model, is really quite easy. I recommend using 1/8" aluminum welding rod or hobby shop aluminum rod. The originals were steel, but they don't need to be steel. The aluminum rod is plenty strong enough for this application and, most importantly, it's easier to bend and form to the shape you want. If you want, you can use steel rod, but it will give you a lot more difficulty in forming it to the correct configuration.

Observe the choke thermostat (with the cover removed, of course) in the COLD condition. In this condition the choke will be full-on. Set the choke to the full-on position using the drill gauge between the lower edge of the choke valve and the carb air horn (0.100", in the case of your engine). Now, simply observe and measure the configuration of the rod that would be necessary to connect the loop in the choke thermostat coil end to the hole in the carburetor's choke lever. Fashion a rod of this configuration. I'll bet that you'll come up with a rod that's pretty close in configuration to the one the factory originally used. In any event, you'll have a perfectly functional rod and choke system.

You will need to use some sort of retainer for the carb end of the rod. You can cut a tiny, circumferential groove in the rod and use a "C" clip or you can use a push-on retainer available in auto parts or hardware stores specialty fastners section.