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Old Aug 16, 2003 | 10:50 AM
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nzabka
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C6 shifting question

Ok, I started noticing that my tranny wasn't kicking down when it was supposed to. So, I pulled out the hayne's book and started investigating and found that the kick down rod had come disconnected from the throttle lever on the carb (4 barrel/351w). So I stopped and got an e-clip from my buddies at NAPA to hold the kickdown rod in place.

This corrected my kick-down problem and it feels good where it's shifing down. But it changed my up-shifting points consideralbly. It now needs to run clear up to 2500rpm taking it easy to up-shift, and if I get on it moderately (not racing like) it'll go clear up to 3000 plus rpm's to up-shift. It acts like I'm pulling a heavy trailer and is trying to work too hard to get to a shifting point.

My question is:

Does the kick-down rod have anything to do with shifting up? Or is this all controlled by the vacuum modulator. I think mine probably has the original in it. Or am I going in the wrong direction thinking it could be the vacuum modulator?

Your help is much appreciated.

Thanks!
 
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Old Aug 16, 2003 | 04:56 PM
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nzabka
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C6 shifting question

Well, I put in a new vacuum modulator and no help. ??

Anyone?

Another thing, what is the thermactor looking thing that would be behind my carburator and attached to the intake manifold. Mine is just there without a hose or plug or anything attached to it. It's just there in the air. I can't find any extra or unattached vacuum lines that need a home.
 
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Old Aug 16, 2003 | 05:25 PM
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C6 shifting question

More info...

I disconnected the kick down cable from the carb mount and now it shifts like it did before. Nice smooth upshifts, doesn't down shift.

I got to thinking, I took the tranny out a month ago to replace the rear main seal and I remember getting snagged on the kickdown rod while trying to back the tranny out. I wonder if I ruined that mechanism. Would anyone out there have a pic of their working kickdown rod mechanism?
 
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Old Aug 16, 2003 | 06:35 PM
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Txquadhunter24
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C6 shifting question

by what You've stated I'd say you did bend the kick down rod, Just the smalliest bit of extra Pressure on the kick down rod will mess with the shifting of the tranny. When I burnt 2nd gear out of my bronco with a C6 I unhooked the kick down so it wouldn't kick down when Hammered. When I first unhooked it I let it hang on it's own for a bit and it changed my shifting. After I tied it up it went back to shiftinglike it should. After I had my tranny rebuilt I had to adjust the Kick Down so it'd shift as it should. Try to adjust the kick down if you can, If not Just go to a wrecking yard and pull another.

If your Talking about what i think you are behind your carb? It's what chokes and releases the choke on some older carb'd motor's.
 
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Old Aug 16, 2003 | 09:03 PM
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nzabka
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C6 shifting question

You're right. I bent the kick down rod.

I didn't understand exactly how it was supposed to work until I seen what it was doing when it was connected and disconnected at the carburator. I had the wife move the kick down rod and disconnect/connect it at the carb while I layed undernieth the pickup and watched.

(Think I'll keep her )

The kick down rod was bent, causing the "switch" on the tranny to think it was supposed to be kicking down when connected to the carb/throttle linkage. Until I watched it it wasn't registering in my head, but makes sense now that I've seen it.

Back to the thing behind/underneith the carb, If that has something to do with my choke, then that'll maybe help explain why my truck won't start worth a darn. It's just back there without a plug or vacuum hose attatched to it. I guess I should try plugging it and see if it starts better. ??
 

Last edited by nzabka; Aug 16, 2003 at 09:06 PM.
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Old Aug 16, 2003 | 11:31 PM
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Txquadhunter24
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C6 shifting question

if your having trouble starting the truck that'll be it. it keeps the choke shut on the carb til it comes up to temp then allows the choke to open, most are done away with now for elc. chokes.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2003 | 06:19 PM
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C6 shifting question

Sooo....Should I plug it or is there a vacuum hose that goes to it? I'm not too keen on the vacuum stuff.
 
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Old Aug 17, 2003 | 08:11 PM
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Txquadhunter24
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C6 shifting question

I'm just going by what I can remember about ot, But I don't remember a Vac. Line used to run it, If i remember Right it used like a lil chain to pull/release the choke. If I was in your case I'd ditch it and add a Elc. choke. They have kits out to swap them over or If your in need of a carb rebuild I'd get one with a elc. choke. BTW. What year truck/motor is it?
 
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Old Aug 18, 2003 | 10:47 AM
  #9  
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nzabka
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From: Lincoln NE
C6 shifting question

351w HO, '85 F150, 4 barrel Holley.

I don't think we're talking about the same thing. Your talking about the choke on the drivers side of the carb. This thing is attached to the intake maniold below and behind the carb. It looks like a big thermactor and is pointed up at a 45 degree angle toward the firewall.
 
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Old Aug 20, 2003 | 10:58 PM
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Dee C.
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From: Plainwell, Mich.
C6 shifting question

That's your EGR valve behind the carb.(Exhaust Gas Recirculation)
I have the same engine as you in my truck.The egr valve has a vaccuum hose hooked to it.Or at least it should.Couldn't tell you exactly which hose or from where as I've removed most of that garbage from mine.I don't know what effect it has on how your engine runs.It's a diaphram that opens and lets a certain amount of exhaust gas into the intake charge for emission purposes.
As for your kickdown rod,your doin' better than I am.I just finished putting a B@M Transpack kit in my trans. to aid when I'm towing.Something went wrong though and I get no kickdown and second gear is screwed up.Never know when it's going to shift into second or if it even does sometimes.Bangs into drive at 20 mph.It won't even manually down shift to second.Tomorrow I pull it all back apart to see what's going on.Wish it was only a shift rod.
 
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