Adding Part Throttle Kickdown to a 68 valvebody

[indirect_connection]

It looks like I can get a kickdown assembly from A&A transmission, or get a 71and later valve body to rob parts from. I have an early 68 904 with the 18 spline input shaft. Would there be any benefit in swapping out the entire valvebody for a later unit? I’ve already been through the trans and it does have a shift improvement kit.

 

[AJ/FormS]

I would not swap out the VB just to get a PT KD.
AFAIK the PT KD retrofits to any 66up VB.
But I gotta tell ya, why bother, you can do the same thing by manually downshifting.

 

[indirect_connection]

I would not swap out the VB just to get a PT KD.
AFAIK the PT KD retrofits to any 66up VB.
But I gotta tell ya, why bother, you can do the same thing by manually downshifting.

I hear ya. That was the thought when I installed a ratchet shifter. But I think this will make the car more enjoyable to drive.

 

[RustyRatRod]

If you have a shift kit in your valve body now, then just swap on the part throttle kickdown valve assembly. That will be nice.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I hear ya. That was the thought when I installed a ratchet shifter. But I think this will make the car more enjoyable to drive.

You can manually downshift, but it won't quite be the same. In other words, since the transmission "knows" when to down shift with the part throttle valve, it does it at the right time and with the correct amount of throttle pressure. If that makes sense. If you just manually down shift with no part throttle valve, you may not have adequate throttle pressure.

 

[lemondana]

I highly recommend it. It will be one of the best things that you do for yourself. It makes it so much more enjoyable to drive around town and such.

 

[lemondana]

That "I will just manually shift it" has been what I've heard so many times, when someone has no kickdown or screwed up kickdown linkage. I've tried to help so many people like that, a lot accept the help, others just say-I just manually shift it. You tell them their trans won't last long-they just shrug their shoulders.

 

[indirect_connection]

I figured it would be best to use my existing valvebody, but I didn't know if the later valvebodies had other improvements besides ptk. Quite a few of the modifications outlined by the shift kit didn't apply to my valve body.

I may make a wanted add to see if anyone has the parts or a valvebody core.

 

[lemondana]

The rooster combs are different between early and late trans. Add the A & A kit to your 68 valvebody.