On my 81 I have a th350 and I would like to get rid of the kick down cable, I perfer to find my gears manualy when its time to play. What are my options on removeing this?


I was told I can chop the cable and housing off down low near tranny and then pull cable out and put a hose clamp around it to hold the cable in the always kick down postion. I know on ford transmissions this will stop it from shifting from first to second until about 40mph. I dont want that to happen I would just like it to be like it was never there what can I do without hurting the life of the transmission.



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81 Z28
Like a rock.... It sits.
http://home.cfl.rr.com/thefiledump/Car2-7.JPG

The kickdown cable doesnt control upshifting, the modulator and govenor do that. All the kickdown cable does is manually move the shift valve when you hit WOT or close to it. Ford uses a TV cable or rod which does control all shifting much like a GM 700r4. Yes you can leave it unhooked, no problems will come from it, though you will have to downshift the car yourself when going up a hill or when passing. I would suggest that you just tuck the cable into the tranny tunnel, instead of cutting it, so that way if you ever want to hook it back up it will be there intacked.

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70 Camaro Sport Coupe 350cid balanced, blue printed and running smooth. The 70 (http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/joekoul)
74 TA under construction 400cid bone stock.
Save a cow, eat a vegetarian

The kickdown cable most certainly does have alot to do with upshifting. If you modify the cable so that it is always extended, then the transmission will only shift at the RPM the governor tells it to, which is usually between 4500 to 6000 RPM. the kickdown cable is there to override the vacuum modulator when it is extended. Without the kickdown cable, you'll notice much earlier shifts, as early as 3000 RPM or so, whenever the vacuum level is correct for the modulator. Leaving it disconnected will not hurt anything, but I think you'll find the car not as enjoyable to drive, try it for a while and see what you think, I wouldn't remove it, just tuck it somewhere where you can't see it.

Yes you'll never get WOT upshifts at high rpm, they will be around 3000-4000 rpm.

I usually leave them hooked up for the increase in line pressure with a real motor the clutch packs may need this pressure to keep from slipping.

Well ive always find the kick down to be annoying. I live in florida there is no hills http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif


On another note. Keeping the cable pulled 100% of the time good or bad? Will the tranny shift normaly under light throttle?




[This message has been edited by Tunedup (edited November 15, 2003).]

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Tunedup:
Keeping the cable pulled 100% of the time good or bad? Will the tranny shift normaly under light throttle?
</font>

No it won't shift until the engine is about redlined that way.

Im confused, I dont have my kickdown connected and my transmission shifts correctly both at WOT(govenor), and at part throttle (vacuum). The only thing it doesnt do is downshift when i floor it which is ok since i have enough power to pass people in 3rd.

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350: 10:1/Sportsman II/XE274/performer RPM intake/eddy 750/1 5/8 headers/3000 stall/TH-350

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by purple81:
The kickdown cable most certainly does have alot to do with upshifting. If you modify the cable so that it is always extended, then the transmission will only shift at the RPM the governor tells it to, which is usually between 4500 to 6000 RPM. the kickdown cable is there to override the vacuum modulator when it is extended. Without the kickdown cable, you'll notice much earlier shifts, as early as 3000 RPM or so, whenever the vacuum level is correct for the modulator. Leaving it disconnected will not hurt anything, but I think you'll find the car not as enjoyable to drive, try it for a while and see what you think, I wouldn't remove it, just tuck it somewhere where you can't see it.</font>

The kickdown cable if left alone and unhooked will not affect upshifts. Every th 350 will shift earl with or without the kickdown cable attachted under light acceleration, thats normal, most will shift from 1st to 2nd @ well under 10 mph under lite throttle acceleration. Even with the cable unhooked the car will shift normally even when its floored, but once its in a gear it will have to be manually downshifted unless the car comes to a complete stop.

If the cable was left fully extended I doubt if he would even beable to drive the car, it would always want to be in 1st or 2nd gear, depending on speed.

Like I said before just leave it unhooked but dont mess with the cable, I dont think a hose clamp would beable to hold the cable extended anyways, you would need something like a vise crip to hold the cable.

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70 Camaro Sport Coupe 350cid balanced, blue printed and running smooth. The 70 (http://camaroz28.cardomain.com/id/joekoul)
74 TA under construction 400cid bone stock.
Save a cow, eat a vegetarian

I had mine misadjusted so that it was not fully extending at full throttle, and it would shift at less than 3000 RPM at full throttle. It was incredibly annoying so I adjusted it correctly. I guarantee I can go outside right now and disconnect it and my WOT shift points will fall from 6000 RPM to less than 3000, and the shift won't be nearly as firm, either. I have had many TH350s with and without kickdowns, and I do remember having one that would still rev fairly high at WOT without the kickdown, but I figure that must have something to do with a different modulator. Even that one shifted softer without the kickdown hooked up.

I'm no transmission expert to know what piston the kickdown is pulling or how it relates mechanically with the governor, but I've adjusted countless kickdowns in my day and I know how they respond.

purple you are ABSOLUTELY correct.

a TH350 without a detent cable will not upshift at the proper WOT shift points.

Around 4000 rpm with a heavily modified governor is all I've ever obtained. Hook up the kickdown cable and 6800 rpm here we come...