I am a new member looking for help. I have a 1970 EC with a 396 motor and TH 400 trans. The trans shifts up well using the vac modulator but will not downshift because all components relative to the transmission controlled spark harness are missing. I would like to have downshift or kickdown capability for obvious reasons. Short of replacing all these components or installing a new 700R4 trans,(which is in the future) does anyone have any solutions to this problem so I can kickdown the trans by the gas pedal and without using the gearshifter.

Is your 70 Elky all original, is it an SS 396?

Mike..........thanks for the response. Yes my EC is a 1970 SS with, as far as I know, the original 396 engine. Have you had this problem or does your EC have all the right shifting stuff?

Hey Russ, I'll quote from the bible to see if it helps to adjust the detent switch...The detent switch (downshift switch) is located by the throttle lever. Pull the detent switch driver rearwards until the hole in the switch body aligns with the hole in the driver. Insert a pin (0.092 in diameter) (try a drill bit) into the holes to a depth of 3/32-inch to hold the driver in position. Loosen the switch mounting bolt. Depress the accelerator fully and then move the switch forward until the driver contacts the accelerator lever. Tighten the switch bolt and extract the alignment pin. Guluck! 8)

Ike............Thank you for your information. Trouble is I do not have any of these components on my car to use much less adjust. But trust me, I am certainly holding on to the information that came from you and the bible if and when I do get a detent switch to adjust. At this time is there any other way to wire this trans to work. Can I utilize a detent switch along with the relay on the firewall to do the job without the vac switch on the intake manifold or the temperature switch on the engine? Can you tell me what book you get your information from so that I can better understand how all these components work together and what their individual functions are. Again, thank you for your articulate response.

Russell

I want to thank Darrel Vance for the following information. As I have no components to downshift my TH400 trans, Darrel suggested an electric kickdown kit he found in the Summit calalog. It is made by Lokar and is comprised of a detent cable to the carb which operates an electric switch that sends power to the trans to downshift. According to Lockar, this design eliminates mounting unsightly electrical switches on the caruretor, manifold or the gas pedal, (kickdown switch). There is also a bracket for the carb and a return spring that can be ordered. It sounds like the fix that I am looking for and others might be too. Again, Darrel, thanks for your attention to my problem.