kick down linkadge

[ovmman]

hi guys back with another one, coming down to the home stretch with the cuda. 1st, can i test drive it for a few miles with no kick down linkadge with out tranny damage. 2nd, built the engine from a milk crate of parts, but want to keep it looking as original as possible. It's a 440 four barrell. I have seen 2 kick down linkages advertised for big blocks. One is small that uses 1 bolt on the manifold and the other is about 6 inches longer and uses 2 bolts on the manifold. One is a solid rod and the other is a 3 piece rod. I am trying to keep it looking original. Big block cuda automatic 727 trans. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[John Kunkel]

You can drive it for short distances without the throttle pressure linkage as long as you don't lean on the throttle too hard.

A '70-'71 Cuda with a 440-4 would have 3-piece linkage.

[cudabob496]

I wouldn't. Will burn up tranny I'm told, but I ain't an expert!!!

[DJM]

I wouldn't. Will burn up tranny I'm told, but I ain't an expert!!!

John is, he has forgotten more than most of us have ever known on torque flites.

[crisser]

John is correct. Not only is it the "kickdown" linkage, it also controls line pressure. So, if you drive it any length of distance without it hooked up, you will roast the clutches due to low oil pressure with higher engine output.

Like John said, short trip and little throttle.

[ehostler]

The few times that I have driven without the linkage connected, I always crawled under and tied the lever back. Yeah, the shifts were hard, but it caused less damage than to leave it forward.

[pishta]

without the kickdown youll be in 3rd before you hit the crosswalk and the shifts will be like buttah. The 1 piece was for vans or trucks as all I found were 1 piece units. If you got the room, you could try it, but the 3 piece is compact.

[moparwedge6]

But A Lokar Cable Kit My Buddy Used one and they are Slick But For A Test Drive wire the Lever On Trans all the Way Back And manually shift it.

[cudabob496]

Don't hard shifts make the tranny last longer. I love the reverse manual valve body on my Cuda. All the benefits of a manual tranny and the quickness of an automatic!!

[65TerrorCuda]

Those hard shifts will make you spill your beer. They don't tell you that when you're buying a performance tranny. The lokar cable setup is okay but it needs frequent adjustment vs the stock linkage doesn't. The lokar just attaches to the carb, pretty convenient. Just don't cut the cable too short like moi.