56 Pontiac Shifting Issues

Just changed carburetors on my 316, went from the old 4GC to a new Edelbrock. Had a lot of vacuum leaks that we have tightened up with the new setup. However, since then the tranny is shifting hard out of second gear like we put in a shift kit or torque converter. Are the 2 connected? And, if not, what could be the cause of the shifting change? Thanks for any suggestions and help! By the way, the new Pertronix and Edelbrock have made a great improvement to the car!!!

 

Sounds like the trans to carb linkage.

 

Should have mentioned that it is an automatic.

 

rod from carb to trans controls shifting of trans...you have to get it just right...don't know if the new carb has the correct setup for this

 

If it is the early(Dual-Range)Hydro,there is an adjustment on the throttle linkage where it connects to the carb and the trans.There is a hole that needs to line up in both bell cranks by putting a 1/4" dowel(or drill bit)through the holes and adjusting the linkage.I don't have a scanner or I would scan the page in the trans book to show you.

 

Thanks for all the info guys! I will check the alignment of the linkage!

 

The rod works like a TV cable, so you may be able to hook up a pressure gauge to set it right presuming you can scare up the info on what the pressure should be.

 

Safariknut, we had to extend the throttle rod adjustment to the new carburetor so I assume we will need to adjust the throttle linkage that goes to the tranny. I do not have the early tranny as mine has park, so it's the later strato model. How difficult do you think it will be to adjust this linkage to a satisfactory shift? I have the shop manual with pictures on cd and have checked out the photo. Looks do-able?

 

Too late now, but I would have marked on the trans, where the lever was at idle, and at half and full throttle. Then after the carb was swapped, make mods to mimick what the linkage used to do at what position.

You can get it, by studying the manual, and a lot easier than Olds, because Olds runs backwards, and I am 99% sure Pontiac is not, and also it has a much simpler bellcrank setup than olds.

 

We didn't adjust the throttle linkage to the carburetor a whole lot, so I think we should take that back to stock and then extend the linkage to the carburetor another way. If not we will delve a little further...

 

Adjusted the linkage and I'm back in business! Thanks guys!!