Do I need my kickdown linkage hooked up?
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 673
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From: San Diego
Do I need my kickdown linkage hooked up?
Hello friends,
I have heard differing opinions about my kickdown linkage. When I purchased my truck, it had the bottom end, and tranny in it already. I have a 78 Mercury 302, and a c-4 tranny (I think). My question is: If my kickdown linkage isnt hooked up, will I eventually fry my transmission? And are there any benefits to having this not hooked up, or are there disadvantages? Also, how is one of these hooked up? I have no idea what this is for.
Thanks in advance!
I have heard differing opinions about my kickdown linkage. When I purchased my truck, it had the bottom end, and tranny in it already. I have a 78 Mercury 302, and a c-4 tranny (I think). My question is: If my kickdown linkage isnt hooked up, will I eventually fry my transmission? And are there any benefits to having this not hooked up, or are there disadvantages? Also, how is one of these hooked up? I have no idea what this is for.
Thanks in advance!
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 80
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From: Temperance USA
Do I need my kickdown linkage hooked up?
I had a '70 429/C6 out of a wrecked police car in '72 F100 Sport. Because of the complexity of modifying the linkage to fit it, I drove it for about a year without the kickdown hooked up. I didn't have any mechanical problems, but with just the vacuum modulator to guide the shifts, you get short shifts and no auto downshift from full throttle. I finally solid mounted the engine, which simplified the 'engineering' and got everything hooked up with simple rod linkages and the tranny shifted like it was supposed to.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,955
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From: Mesa
Do I need my kickdown linkage hooked up?
The only thing the kickdown does if force a 3-2 downshift or keep 2nd gear longer at WOT. I tried many different rod combos on my 73 F350 with a transplanted 460 and Carter carb. Most wouldn't clear the firewall and the back of the block. My solution was a Lokar cable kit. Very nice, good quality. Anyone with kickdown rod issues should get a Lokar cable. www.lokar.com
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: San Diego
Do I need my kickdown linkage hooked up?
The only thing I notice, is I am in 3rd gear by 15 mph. I have been manually shifting and getting more power, so i just do that. Is this bad for my tranny?
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Do I need my kickdown linkage hooked up?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Jun-02 AT 09:33 PM (EST)]A properly adjusted kickdown will not change that you hit 3rd gear by 15 MPH unless you take-off with the pedal to the floor.
I was told that not having a kickdown on a C6 will not do any damage (I never had one hooked up on my truck, and I like it that way.); but for a C4 it is a different story. Supposedly, the system pressure is regulated in part by the kickdown on the C4; but on a C6 it is only regulated by the vacuum modulator.
Here are some hydraulic system schematics for the C4 (top) and the C6 (bottom) that I got from my '69 Ford Truck Shop Manual. Maybe someone who can "read" these can verify my theory above.
Note that on the C4 there are three lines at the downshift valve with one connected directly to the throtle boost valve, yet only two lines at vacuum diaphragm. On the C6, it is almost opposite. There are only two lines at the downshift (none of which run to the throttle booster) and three lines at the vacuum diaphragm which they call the "Throttle Control".
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=5939&.jpg
I was told that not having a kickdown on a C6 will not do any damage (I never had one hooked up on my truck, and I like it that way.); but for a C4 it is a different story. Supposedly, the system pressure is regulated in part by the kickdown on the C4; but on a C6 it is only regulated by the vacuum modulator.
Here are some hydraulic system schematics for the C4 (top) and the C6 (bottom) that I got from my '69 Ford Truck Shop Manual. Maybe someone who can "read" these can verify my theory above.
Note that on the C4 there are three lines at the downshift valve with one connected directly to the throtle boost valve, yet only two lines at vacuum diaphragm. On the C6, it is almost opposite. There are only two lines at the downshift (none of which run to the throttle booster) and three lines at the vacuum diaphragm which they call the "Throttle Control".
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=5939&.jpg
Elder User
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: LAT 46.55501° & LON -122
Do I need my kickdown linkage hooked up?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Jun-02 AT 09:36 PM (EST)]https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=5938&.jpg
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