C4 kick down

I haven't run the C-4 trans before. Will it hurt the trans to not have the mechanical kick down lever hooked up?

 

Depends.............I think the "kick down" may also be a throttle pressure valve up to the point travel reaches the downshift detent. If you have it in the lowest pressure position, such as very light throttle application would produce, upshifts will be too 'soft' for positive application of clutches/band and slippage could easily result.

On the other hand, if you position it at the max pressure point to avoid the above, be prepared for harsh shifting at light throttle upshifts.

Neither condition is desirable for "all the time"...but of the two, the higher pressure is likely to do the least damage because it won't be slipping.

But why would you not want to connect it properly in the first place and have it operate as designed?

Ray

edit: OOPS.......forgot these are modulator controlled....Dang! I hate it when that happens

 

No, pressure is controlled by the modulator, you just won't have the kickdown
feature.

 

Ran an FMX without one. I couldn't locate one to fit the application (It was in a Bricklin...) I didn't care for it. felt like a touring car moreso than a sports car.

That said.. My Fairlane (C4) kickdown is broken.. I had the same question as you...

 

Just means you have to downshift it for a passing gear.

 

You will find that with the kick down disconected that first will shift very quickly at a low speed. I know these are modulator controled so I don't know why this would be, but I have had it happen with two cars. I found it allot better to just manually shift because of it. I think I would just spend a bit and hook up the kickdown and tune it where I like it. Just did this on my O/T car a couple of weeks ago it makes all the difference in the world.

 

I have to trim some of the firewall for the mechanical linkage to fit then find the actual linkage.

 

My 54 didnt have room to connect it. Like the fellow above said, at less than full throttle, it shifted to second very soon. Other than that, it worked well for years. It never needed to kick down, the 54 was light enough that it passed OK in high gear.

 

You could fit a cable control to operate the trans lever.....not very difficult to fabricate that.......

Ray

 

Lokar c4 kick down cable

 

I personally wouldn't use anything but the Lokar stuff these days. The stock lingage is double ugly.

 

Lokar on all of my stuff no problems

 

I asked the local auto guru if I needed a kickdown set up on my c4 ,he said no and it works just fine .Saved a lot of stuffing around to put linkage on the edelbrock carb.

 

It will work fine without it, but will drive better with it. I also recommend the Lokar stuff.

 

What Animal said.....

 

Thanks for the info guys.