Kickdown: Does it Push or Pull

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Oct 10, 2004 | 10:22 PM

stanz

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Portland, OR

Kickdown: Does it Push or Pull

A recent carb swap has rendered my current kick down rod too short. I'm not faced with options of adding extensions to the rod or to switch to a lokar cable.

I'm confused how a cable would work because the set-up I had before the carb swap seemed to be one where the rod shared the same stud as the throttle cable and seemed to 'push' back on the trans lever as the throttle opens.

Obviously, a cable cannot push a lever. Therefore, I presume that the rod should be 'pulling' on the lever on the trans. The edelbrock carb seems to have a spot below the throttle linkage fulcrum that would allow the cable or rod to pull vs. push.

Questions:
1) What is correct? Should the rod push or pull on the trans lever?
2) Any opinions over whether I should try to make the stock rod work over a cable? I imagine the rod will provide firmer, reliable kickdowns where a cable can stretch over time.

Thanks in advance.
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stanz
74 Bronco Sport, 302 Stock
79 F250 Trailer Special, 460 4x4 Extend Cab

Oct 11, 2004 | 10:33 AM

ivanribic

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From: Spokane, WA

The rod pushes the lever at wide open throttle. I switched to a Lokar cable when I replaced my intake manifold and added a carb spacer as the rod was not long enough. The cables are very simple to set up and can be placed pretty much anywhere so you'll get a tug on them at WOT. If you're not sure how to set it up let me know and I can try to post some pictures tonight when I get home.

Oct 11, 2004 | 11:55 AM

stanz

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From: Portland, OR

Thanks Ivan- I could definitely use some picture of the cable at the carb and at the trans. I'm still confuse how the cable pushes without binding up.

Thanks for your help.
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stanz
74 Bronco Sport, 302 Stock
79 F250 Trailer Special, 460 4x4 Extend Cab

Oct 11, 2004 | 12:34 PM

460me

More Turbo

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I had to use the Lokar cable set up also,works great.

Oct 11, 2004 | 05:32 PM

ivanribic

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From: Spokane, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanz

I'm still confuse how the cable pushes without binding up.

If you use a cable setup it will pull, but the stock rob pushes. I was just trying to explain which way the lever is moving on the tranny. I'll snap a couple pics tonight and post them up. My largest challenge was finding a place to mount the cable to the C6 but once I got that figured out the rest was cake.

Oct 11, 2004 | 10:37 PM

ivanribic

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From: Spokane, WA

Okay, these pics aren't too great because it was getting dark but here's the cable at the tranny. I remember now that I had to remove the shift arm and flip it around 180*. I mounted the bracket to the goofy little flange on the C6. This way the cable pulls the lever toward the back of the truck.

Below you can see the cable at the carb. I mounted the bracket to the intake and then secured the cable to the carb linkage. I'm using a holley carb but the old Carter (same setup as the EB carb) hooked up pretty much the same. Hope this helps you out a bit.