Joined: Wed Oct 14 2009, 07:20PM
Location: Florida
Posts: 151
This may be a stupid question for people that are mechanically inclined...unfortunately I'm not. I was looking at Bouchillon Performances website and was wondering about this kit. Can anyone explain what this thing does? I read the website but am still uncertain if this is something that would be advantageous to anyone or is only something that you need if you are missing a part or having problems etc. Thanks....it sure sounds cool:) I have a 68 Newport with a 383. (Please read my post on the second page. I am wondering if I need to get this now.) http://bouchillonperformance.com/BPEtkdc.asp <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited ]</span>
It replaces a damaged or missing mechanical transmission kick down linkage (see pic). It is not needed if your linkage is there and operational. Kits like these are for use when swapping different engines into a car and the required parts are not available (like when putting a 383 in a Dart to replace the slant-6).
Joined: Fri Oct 07 2005, 12:03PM
Location: Central Ky.
Posts: 1575
And yes, the Kickdown linkage is necessary just so you know.
It controls trans line pressures for upshifts & kicks the trans down a gear when you floor it. Without it your trans would self-destruct in short order.
Joined: Thu Mar 19 2009, 06:52PM
Location: MA
Posts: 73
Think this may have contributed to my transmissions death a few weeks ago. When I bought my car The guy I bought it from didnt have the kickdown linkage hooked up, it was just hanging there. I hooked it back up immediately, but I'm sure this didnt prolong the transmissions life by any means...
The same thing happened to me when I bought my car. The kickdown wasn't hooked-up so it burned out my third gear from shifting into 3rd gear way too soon. I guess if it's not hooked-up you are supposed to shift it manually to save your trans.
If it's not hooked up, shifting manually isn't going to solve the problem-you MUST have a kick down mechanism!
The "kick down" does a lot more than just kick the trans down when you floor it: it controls the valve body, which controls the amount of hydraulic line pressure that is applied to the bands, which controls the shift points. For example, if you open the throttle a 1/4 of the way the linkage will up the line pressure from the valve body - and the speed at which the trans shifts up to the next gear increases. If you crack the throttle 1/2 way open, there is a larger rise in line pressure, the bands clamp tighter, and the shift speeds go way up.
If you are just shifting it manually without a kick down mechanism to control the valve body, you are driving it with minimal line pressure, so the bands will slip, overheat, and burn up. Needless to say, without a kick down, or if yours is not adjusted properly, your trans will eat itself very very quickly.
Joined: Thu Mar 19 2009, 06:52PM
Location: MA
Posts: 73
I wonder how long the guy I bought my car from had it disconnected. I also noticed When I bought my car, a reciept under the seat for a bottle of transmission additive.... smells fishy... >>
The problem is most people have no clue how a car works, so things that break or come loose that don't cause the car to stop dead in it's tracks are ignored, simply because they don't know any better. The guy you bought your car from was adding that stuff to keep the trans from slipping, when all he needed to do was hook the linkage back up.
My father (who suffers from Alzheimers) unhooked the kick down linkage in his '64 Buick Electra 225 convertible because he didn't know what it was - he thought it was just extra unnecessary parts of the carb linkage! Good thing I caught him in the act, because he was about to toss the parts in the trash!
If I have a functioning kickdown mechanism, but still choose to shift manually, (start in Low 1 and move to Low 2 and then Drive) will I still be running with minimal line pressures, or does the kickdown linkage still up the line pressure with throttle position?
I used to manually shift my green Monaco for years, just for fun. Never had a problem, but then I had a good working kickdown linkage and I'd upped the pressure internally anyhow....
As long as your kick down is hooked up and properly adjusted it will up the line pressure as you press down on the gas pedal. However, with the stock valve body it is better too let the trans do it's own thing MOST of the time. If you want to shift yourself, install a "full manual" valve body that has full line pressure all the time.