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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: l.neidlinger on April 11, 2016, 07:36:02 am

Title: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: l.neidlinger on April 11, 2016, 07:36:02 am
Hello all,

I have an 82 GMC c1500 with a 305/TH350 in it. After the third "professionally" rebuild quadrajet sucked a gasket I got a smoking good deal on a brand new Holley 4175. Probably a bit of overkill for a 305, but it runs very good and my pinging problems are gone now. However, now I have a problem with the trans.

The trans doesn't want to kickdown anymore, and it is short shifting. I checked the throttle movement, and it goes full throttle. I also checked the trans kickdown, at full throttle, I can't pull the cable out any further.

The only thing I can think of is that the vacuum modulator is receiving a different vacuum signal now causing the early shifts and no kickdown. Could an adjustable modulator fix this?
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: l.neidlinger on April 11, 2016, 08:04:22 am
Thought I would add, the short shifting happens at WOT and hard acceleration only, otherwise, shift points are normal.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: LTZ C20 on April 11, 2016, 10:09:24 am
Is the modulator hooked up to manifold or ported vacuum?
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: l.neidlinger on April 11, 2016, 10:14:08 am
Is the modulator hooked up to manifold or ported vacuum?

It's tapped directly into the manifold.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: mcintyrederek on April 11, 2016, 07:02:53 pm
I would start my double checking the vacuum line.  If it's rubber/vinyl towards the modulator end, I've seen them "suck shut" and cause it do to strange things.

Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: l.neidlinger on April 13, 2016, 06:56:54 pm
Turns out there wasn't enough adjustment left and it wasn't pulling the kickdown cable far enough. I spaced it with a ziptie (heh) and it kicks down and winds out just as far as it use to.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: philo_beddoe on April 13, 2016, 09:02:36 pm
Isn't there a range where the kickdown or "passing gear" as we used to call it, will work? In other words, if your going to fast it will not kick down? Mine kicks down up to about 30 mph i guess, wont kickdown at 40 mph.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: l.neidlinger on April 14, 2016, 11:26:17 am
Isn't there a range where the kickdown or "passing gear" as we used to call it, will work? In other words, if your going to fast it will not kick down? Mine kicks down up to about 30 mph i guess, wont kickdown at 40 mph.

Yes. This is where I noticed the problem. With the old carb, it would do a 3-1 kickdown up to about 35 MPH, but I couldn't even get it to kickdown to first at all after I swapped carbs. I guess the clip for the kickdown on the Holley is a bit further back than the Quadrajet, so I had to space the cable with a zip tie for now until I can properly space it.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: philo_beddoe on April 14, 2016, 03:10:15 pm
Vile mentioned something about that on my truck, but i cant remember what he said. I'm not really sure how a kickdown works.  Where is this clip/cable?
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: VileZambonie on April 14, 2016, 06:41:45 pm
You have a detent solenoid which is activated by a switch on the accelerator. The TH350 uses a detent cable for that purpose.
Title: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: philo_beddoe on April 14, 2016, 09:20:58 pm
Ok, thats that switch then just above the gas pedal.
Got it. Thanks.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160415/81fb2a6bbd446b7fbbbf265d5035bfa9.jpg)
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: VileZambonie on April 15, 2016, 03:59:50 pm
Yes the switch is adjustable
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: philo_beddoe on April 15, 2016, 07:55:35 pm
Ok,,,so what does adjusting it do? Do i need to adjust mine?
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: VileZambonie on April 16, 2016, 07:03:38 am
Only if you want to change the downshift points
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: philo_beddoe on April 16, 2016, 07:34:45 pm
I do, it needs to downshift at higher speeds.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: hatzie on April 17, 2016, 01:11:20 pm
Ok, thats that switch then just above the gas pedal.
Got it. Thanks.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160415/81fb2a6bbd446b7fbbbf265d5035bfa9.jpg)
If you have a kickdown switch, and it's hooked up to the transmission, it's a TH400 not a TH350.

The TH350 uses a cable to control the kickdown.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: VileZambonie on April 17, 2016, 06:56:00 pm
Hatzie, he is not the OP. The OP has a TH350 Philobeddoe knows he has a TH400
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: philo_beddoe on April 17, 2016, 07:25:07 pm
Yup, what VZ said.
Title: Re: Turbo 350 no kickdown after changing carb
Post by: hatzie on April 18, 2016, 09:49:21 am
Hookay...  I missed that.  ;)