th350 trans and kick down cable

I ran without for ten years on my 37, when it came time for a rebuild I hooked it up along with a shift kit . It made the car much more of a pleasure to drive especially at part throttle and my 2.79 gear.

 

I thought the kick down on a T350 was full throttle only, so leaving it off only effects that. I know on Torqueflites for certain you will blow it up not having a correctly adjusted kick down and it will just shift up two gears by 30 mph, and I think Fords are the same. Run a 904 or 727 too long without it and you will fry the clutches because the line pressure doesn't ever build high enough to hold the packs from slipping.

The vacuum modulator on GMs is what controls part throttle shift points I thought (and it makes lovely white smoke come out the tail pipes when the diaphragm is ruptured).

 

Never had any issues with shifts with the cable off whatsoever. After many tweaks and tests I always fell back on using the small can adjustable modulator and the stock governor to get the shift spacing normal in D and then with the B/M transpak on level II I would manually shift up from 1-2-3 when racing. Never had any issue with "lazyness", 1-2 shift would chirp the tires in D. I beat the **** out of many TH350s behind high RPM 396s and never broke one. Just my experience, build it as you want to.

 

I seem to be missing something in several of these replies, how can a cable that does not move except in the last few degrees before WOT affect part throttle shifting?

 

Ed Zachery!

 

I run mine hooked up...$10 manifold bracket, hook it to the Holley, adjust, and it's done...no cutting the cable or rolling it up and hiding it... simple to do.

Is it needed, no.
Tom

 

so the bottom is the outlet

 

If you are putzing along at 30 mph in drive and 3rd gear and need to get the hell out of some clowns way so your rod doesnt get flattened. You will need a full throtle down shift. that's why that detent cable and valve is there. Do the right thing. **** happens. Hook it up.

 

wanted to kno the outlet because i want to add a cooler after it comes out of the rad on it's way back to the trans.

 

So, you would consider running a stick a safety hazard?

 

yep

 

I am reading this thread because I have a Turbo 350 with kickdown hooked up.Mine has about an inch of free play on the cable at the throttle linkage and I guess that is so that it will drop down when you hit the throttle hard it will pull back on the cable and activate the gear change.

Also what is "WOT"

 

Wide Open Throttle

And yes. That's how they work.

 

Another effect is, if you floor the thing from a dead stop or slow roll with the cable disconnected, it will shift into third at a lower rpm than the 1-2 shift.

How much lower? No telling.

 

You forgot your meds this morning didn't you. When I putz along at 30 with the 5 speed, I'am all ready in a lower gear, 2nd or 3rd. "Chill out Francis" I think you might be a safety hazard. "Paul Harvey, --- Good Day"