Kick-down linkage - where it oughtta be?
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=4949
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 5:41PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Kick-down linkage - where it oughtta be?
Posted By: Turbo301
Subject: Kick-down linkage - where it oughtta be?
Date Posted: 26-January-2011 at 2:06PM
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My Cougar has never downshifted when I hit the throttle, which of course doesn't help its slug-like performance :). I've been reading over all kinds of information on carbs, throttle linkages, etc., and learning a lot!
One thing that really stands out at me - now that I know what I'm looking at - is how far away the kick-down linkage screw looks to be from the little tab that is on the throttle bracket. Not so much in terms of how the screw is positioned, but how the entire kick-down bracket (the black one, below) is positioned!
 The little grease stain on the back of the throttle tab suggests that it has hit the kick-down screw a few times in its life; however, it looks to me like, even at WOT, it will never reach it now! I didn't want to open up the throttle and test in case that's not good for it (will it hurt if the engine's not running? Should it be running to check this?). What does everyone think? If it is too far away, how do I adjust this linkage, and/or bracket, and will the spring on the front of it need changing? It definitely looks like the original spring that's on there...
Also, when setting the kick-down screw, the manual says to open the carb to WOT (but it doesn't say whether to have the car running or not), hold the kick-down rod past a detent in the transmissino, and set the screw to .010 to .080 away from the tab on the carb. Is that "detent" a noticeable notch feeling in the transmission? Can I push through this detent without hurting anything, and again, does the car need to be running or not?
Thanks as always for any help! ------------- 1977 Cougar XR7 1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
Replies:
Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 26-January-2011 at 2:19PM
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To set the kickdown CAR OFF! Hold to WOT. grasp the kickdown rod and slide toward the rear of the car. adjust screw so that the rod is as far back as it can go when the car is at WOT. Try that. You want it so when @ WOT, the rod is as far back as it can go. ------------- Paul 77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD* 78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1 79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1 'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500 |
Posted By: Regul8r
Date Posted: 26-January-2011 at 2:57PM
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YUP! ------------- Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME! 1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae" 97 Suzuki Intruder 1400 US Army Retired |
Posted By: Turbo301
Date Posted: 27-January-2011 at 12:44PM
Okay, sounds good, I'll give 'er a go! I've never held the throttle mechanism back to WOT, but I guess it will get close to reaching that waaaaay far away screw on the kick-down bracket? It just looks sooo far to go! ------------- 1977 Cougar XR7 1980 turbo Trans Am 2009 Pontiac G8 GT |
Psquare75 wrote: