I make reproduction kickdown rods for all the Ford trucks and have run into a problem that I have not yet been able to figure out. In particular, I have many kickdown rods out that are made to fit a 73-85 F250, F350 with the 460 engine. It is 3 inches longer than any of the other kickdown rods that I make which sets it apart from all the rest. I have had 2 customers return their 460 kickdowns because they have claimed that they were too long. In one of the cases, it was claimed to be 3" too long. Very often, with the help of the customer sending me photos of the install, I can figure out what the problem has been. In some cases it was the wrong transmission kickdown lever. In others it was the customers attempting to connect the rod at the carb with the kickdown lever at idle position which is incorrect. 2 out of the some odd 30 rods that I have out for that application claiming to be too long, I've drawn a blank on troubleshooting why. The only thing that I can ascertain is that there is some difference in the C6 transmission that's been installed in their truck. The basic question is: are there any C6 transmissions for trucks out there that are different with regard to the location of the transmission kickdown lever/shift lever location? Like farther forward on the transmission, for example, which would make the kickdown rod too long? Or perhaps is there a particular C6 with a shallower bellhousing which would then make the rod too long?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!
John

 

As I recall from prior posts: The general "rule" is the shift arm points up in car applications, and points down in truck applications.

If you can, check a few. That may or may not apply to all models in all years.

 

Thanks for your reply. I repop all of the transmission kickdown levers that there are for cars and trucks that apply to the tubular type, (and copied them from OEM levers) direct connected (carb to trans) kickdown rods that I make. That said, all of them position the rod connection pin (.250"dia) forward of the kickdown shaft and in the case of the C6, it is positioned at the 9:00 to 9:30 clock position such that a PUSH action moves the lever down turning the shaft CCW about .500" approx. The C4 levers position the pin at the 7:30 to 8:00 clock position. The levers that pointed up were for the pre 68 bellcrank type kickdown assemblies that had a downrod from the bellcrank and a short cable (6"-8"long) that reached back to initiate a PULL direction for kickdown.
There must be something "larger" going on to make the rod be 3" too long where 99% of those out there fit perfectly. The query continues but again thanks for your input.
John