TH400 Kickdown solenoid

[pseudomike]

Does the TH400 kick down solenoid really need to be connected? The truck seems to be kicking down fine with the modulator vacuum alone? The trans. is transplanted into one of my friends trucks behind a TBI. Where would the switch go if he needs one?

 

[onetonbb74]

All it is is a wide open throttle switch. You dont NEED it, but it helps when your floored. The switch is located on the top of the gas petal bracket bolted to the floorboard. The switch just hooks to 12v from the fuse panel and goes to the switch, then the other wire from the switch goes to the drivers side of the tranny on the electrical terminal.

 

[pseudomike]

Yeah, it's not really a WOT type of rig.....I could definitely see it as useful in a vette or something. I'll pass it along and tell him not to loose any sleep over it. Thanks for the help.

 

[4X4HIGH]

As said already it's not really needed but it is impossible for the trans to downshift into a lower gear when the gas pedal is mashed if you don't have the switch in place and working.

 

[dyeager535]

Kind of annoying if you are trying to get through a light or something, since it won't downshift. It will stay in 3rd until your speed drops enough to downshift.

But no repercussions other than that. I drove my car that way for a long while, luckily it was console shift so no big deal. Column shift would have sucked.

 

[pseudomike]

He has steep gears and a lot of torque so mashing the pedal down without downshifting still boogies..but I will mention it to him. Where can you find one of this pedal mounted switches anyhow?

 

[dyeager535]

Any truck that had a TH400. Not sure about vans. I believe Jeep products did too. Not sure if switch mounting is different based on the vehicle.

I *think* a lot of cars mounted the switch on the carb, which can be an option. Plenty of TH400 cars in the wrecking yards.

 

[onetonbb74]

under any dash that came with a th400 stock, iirc 1977 and newer 3/4 tons, 1 tons, burbs, etc.

 

[phreddei166]

LOKAR th 400 kickdown kit http://www.jegs.com/i/Lokar/625/KD-2400HT/10002/-1

 

[1bgsub]

Keep it simple and just use the lever on the column to manually down shift when needed.

later
Trey

 

[dremu]

The modulator, remember, only changes the firmness of the shifts when they occur, it doesn't make the tranny downshift under acceleration. That's the job of the kickdown cable/solenoid/whatever.

My experience with the switches is that they are barely adjustable and you have REALLY floor the pedal to get them to actually switch. I ended up zip-tying a piece of fuel line around the pedal linkage to make the switch kick earlier, and I may have to zip-tie another chunk around that one, as I still have to stomp the skinny pedal so hard my teeth hurt.

Obviously YMMV.

-- A

 

[phreddei166]

The LOKAR switch is adjustable. You set the cable length which sets the amount of throttle it kicks down at.

 

[wayne]

6 years with no kickdown with no problems.