The question I have is do you half to run the kick down linkage from the tranny to the carb linkage on a 75 C4 ?? I have been told both way's.. That you do and that you don't.. I don't plan on running it if I don't half to..
I am one who say's u can run w/o the kickdown; I have been running my car 5 1/2 yrs w/o the kickdown. Can't speak for anyone else - that's the way I been rolling - many miles. I have not experienced any negative results to date.
one thing to understand is the "kick down linkage" controls the line pressure in the transmission. the actual kick down is controlled by the vacuum modulator. when you remove the kick down linkage your are running your transmission at low line pressure. this is fine when cruising around. once you start putting power through it, the trans will start to slip and burn up the clutches and bands. if you dont want the linkage then wire the kick down lever to the full throttle postion. that will give it full line pressure and help the transmission have a good long life.
Sorry, wrong answer, C4 ain't a AOD which absolutely has to have the TV cable/kickdown in operation... Tie a C4 kickdown in full throttle position and it not gonna upshift till engine reaches 4000-4500 RPM(don't believe me? Go try it)... Modulator does control line pressure and will firm up shifts somewhat if adjusted inward till shift points become higher without moving kickdown lever...
I know this is an older post but I just put a new 302 in my Grabber and I don't know what to do with my kick down rod. I tied it up at the moment but it shifts at about 4000 RPM's. Edlebrock has bracket adapters but I don't know which one to get. I have a 500 CFM performer 4 bbl Carb. Can anyone help with this issue?
I fought with the Holley extension on mine, wound up having to bend the rod to extend it slightly till it finally worked(otherwise throttle did not fully close)... Problem stems from the aftermarket intakes being taller, plus the front throttle bores are moved forward vs being centered on intake...
no kick down on either one of my mavericks either. trans shifts hard, chirps the tires on the 1-2 shift
Assuming your carb has the attachment for the std Ford kick down rod, this is all you need... I have heard of some installations needing double extensions, but with a little tweaking of the rod mine works fine... https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/carburetor_components/brackets_and_linkage/parts/20-41
The Linkage hook up from throttle to the C4 trans is not simply a kick down setup. It will delay upshifts when heavy throttle is applied. This linkage also raises the main line pressure and the increased pressure is used to over-ride the command for an upshift to a later road speed, working in tandem with low vacuum the modulator is seeing with heavy throttle applied. If you still drive like a punk teenager, you know who you are and I'm not saying that's necessarily a bad thing, and ALWAYS manually shift your C4 and NEVER put it under a heavy load in high gear then you don't need to worry about using the "kick-down" linkage. BUT.. if you climb hills without shifting down to 2nd, maybe you have 800 lbs of passengers stuffed in this little car too, drive at 30 mph or slower in drive, or ever accelerate hard from 25 or 30 mph without downshifting?.. then you need to and should hook up the linkage and properly adjust it. If you have a manual control valve body then you can drive most any way you want - the line pressure is always at maximum pressure but with a stock or basic shift-kitted valve body you NEED the kick-down linkage to raise line pressure when it is needed to compensate for added load. I've run them both ways and they ALWAYS run better with the kick down linkage hooked up and working in tandem with an adjustable vacuum modulator.
Wonder how come I've never been able to tell a difference without the kick down connected? Years ago I ran a C4 with no linkage in a '69 Ranchero that I loaded to capacity(and then some) hauling wood, never a issue... Same on my Comet that I just connected the linkage approx six weeks ago, no difference in part throttle shifts... Yes I gag the throttle at every opportunity...
