TH400 Shift Early & Soft / No KickDown

[85k10383]

Heres to killing oneself with new-found power LOL All the wiring for the turn signals is cooked and brittle so I'm gonna re-do everything from the panel to the grill, save having to do it again later. Back on topic for a moment. I still don't really have kickdown, should I replace the solenoid? Is there a quick way to check that thing for function (ie jumpering the terminals to see if it actually works) ?

 

[HotRodPC]

No, you don't really have kickdown, YOU DON"T have kickdown at all. Th400 is a good about downshifting itself via governor when slow down, say to turn or corner or something of that nature, but NO, you DO NOT have kickdown. You can either hook it up OEM way by changing a couple item, which is my preferance, cuz I like things much as possible espeically something this simple, OR you can buy an aftermarket kit for retrofiting to Th400 convesrion for about $40-$50. I think its to much personally.
No, I wouldn't change your solenoid. Lets get it hooked up first, then if it don't work, you can drop the pan and find out why its not working, whether it be a bad solenoid, which is very rare, or it has come disconected from the plastic/metal connection to the outside of the case. Which direction you thinking you might want to go? OEM or Aftermarket? Did you see those pics I posted above showing the kickdown gas pedal switch and what is involved there? If your pedal assembly is set up like that, then all you need is the switch and add it. If its not, then you need to change the bracket that mounts the gas pedal to the firewall, so it will accept the switch. Actually very easy but it is PITA. Only 3 bolts holding the whole assembly to the firewall.

 

[oneluckypops]

No, you don't really have kickdown, YOU DON"T have kickdown at all. Th400 is a good about downshifting itself via governor when slow down, say to turn or corner or something of that nature, but NO, you DO NOT have kickdown. You can either hook it up OEM way by changing a couple item, which is my preferance, cuz I like things much as possible espeically something this simple, OR you can buy an aftermarket kit for retrofiting to Th400 convesrion for about $40-$50. I think its to much personally.
No, I wouldn't change your solenoid. Lets get it hooked up first, then if it don't work, you can drop the pan and find out why its not working, whether it be a bad solenoid, which is very rare, or it has come disconected from the plastic/metal connection to the outside of the case. Which direction you thinking you might want to go? OEM or Aftermarket? Did you see those pics I posted above showing the kickdown gas pedal switch and what is involved there? If your pedal assembly is set up like that, then all you need is the switch and add it. If its not, then you need to change the bracket that mounts the gas pedal to the firewall, so it will accept the switch. Actually very easy but it is PITA. Only 3 bolts holding the whole assembly to the firewall.

Wouldnt any momentary type switch work?

 

[HotRodPC]

Sure, he could put it on a push button if he wanted to. Squarebodies, use the gas pedal switch, older cars even used a switch at the carb, that when you hit full throttle, the end of the carb linkage hit the switch, so there are several ways to do it. Its very basic and simple to do. Just depends, does he want, OEM, aftermarket or jerry rigged? Can go about it many ways. I like OEM best as said above, Not that it matters, but I'm just a bit OCD about having things the way are they supposed to be.

 

[85k10383]

I would also prefer OEM as that is the way it was designed to work in the first place. And I agree the aftermarket kits (like Lokar and B&M) are rather overpriced. I will double check what is still in the truck and be ordering the needed stuff from LMC or go down to NAPA and get it for even cheaper.....