Homemade 904 kickdown linkage?

[Drake]

Anyone here ever made their own 904 kickdown linkage? We've got the top/manifold rod and pivot on my '74 Duster 318, but we're missing the down-rod and tranny pivot that hooks to the kickdown lever at the bottom; I know Lokar makes a cable, but was just wondering if me and my dad could make a mechanical kickdown setup ourselves, using threaded rods and other goodies from Home Depot or Ace...anyone ever done this?
Or, does anyone have a pic or a link reference?
Thanks,
Drake

 

[fishy68]

You can probably do it but it needs to be precise or the trans. won't shift right and may even burn up the trans. The "kickdown" as you referred to is not really a kickdown as much as it is a throttle pressure sensor. It does cause the trans to kick down when the throttle is pressed down but it also regulates hyd. pressure throughout the range of throttle. The Lokar cable is only about $60. I'd think about the time you'll spend making something that looks tacky and may not function correctly. If you want to stay with stock type linkage find the original pieces. I may even have the down rod out in my stuff. If you need it let me know. Then you'd only need the bellcrank (pivot).

 

[Bill Dedman]

If you add up the plusses and minuses, the cable seems to be the smart thing to do.

I will go a bit further and say that the Bouchillon cable setup MAY be superior to the Lokar cable system because it comes with its own throttle pressure "arm" that is the correct angle and length for a more accurate throttle pressure geometry, througout the sweep of the linkage-arm, at the carburetor.

I think it's more money, but as usual, it seems you get what you pay for....

Just my 2-cents.

PS This is not a very good place to try to save money....

 

[the67fish]

Im making the linkages now, already had the top from the manifold to the carb and the bell crank on the trans so the rods can easily be made using all thread, I slipped 1/4 inch alum tubing over the all thread to make it look like a solid rod. From the bell crank to the pressure valve I used steel brake line tubing over the all thread so it could be bent without breaking. Ace hardware has the ball swivels you will need, use the 10/28 thread and pick up a 3 foot piece of 10/28 all thread and the tubing can be found at an automotive store. It saved me from buying the cable and gave me the satisifaction of making it myself, I have like $23 bucks tied up in it. I found this article on how to adjust it once you get it done >> http://www.powerwagonadvertiser.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-2877.html of course all this means you need to come up with the bell crank on the trans or you could make that also with a little determination. I will get some pics of it and post, I have it all mocked up on an old block, heads and intake.

 

[the67fish]

here is a pic I found of the linkages, I think they are for a hemi/727 but am also thinking they are all about the same or close at least.

 

[Drake]

Thanks for the tips, guys...

Fishy68: I would be interested in the down rod (because at heart, I'd like mine to look stock), but if I can't find a pivot, it won't do me any good....let me see what I can find on the pivot...

67fish: Your pics didn't show up...I'd really like to see what you've done. My dad has a '74 Monaco 440 that he's going to need linkage on, also, and he's really keen on building it himself, if possible...

If all else fails, the Lokar cable will probably be what we use on the Duster...

Drake

 

[fishy68]

Thanks for the tips, guys...

Fishy68: I would be interested in the down rod (because at heart, I'd like mine to look stock), but if I can't find a pivot, it won't do me any good....let me see what I can find on the pivot...

Drake

I'll take a look tomorrow and see if I still have it. I don't think I got rid of it. I'll let you know tomorrow night.

 

[the67fish]

http://i13.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/9a/90/4c6f_1.JPG oops sorry about that, I may have just forgot to put the pic on. These are the ones I think are for a Hemi/727 but close to the same just the down rod would be longer probably and I think the BPE @ http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/BPEalternators.asp may have a bell crank that will work, if not its very simple to make and I will keep looking for where I saw one or just google bell crank 727 transmission and see what pops up.

 

[the67fish]

If all else fails you could probably find the whole set up in a junkyard real easy or at least the bell crank. I got bored and googled "bell crank 727 transmission" and came up with even more adjustment instruction (illustrated at that) http://books.google.com/books?id=Ij...resnum=1&ved=0CA8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false

I know you need for a 904 and if this isnt the same procedure then google for a 904. I will have pics of mine posted this week sometime.