Mike, the C-4 (among others) are much easier to install a kickdown because you can use a cable. Lokar has a kickdown cable kit for the C-4. That's what I am running on mine, no problems.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Thanks for your thorough explanation MontyRay.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

MontyRay, thanks for the info. I knew the C-4 needed a kickdown but didn't know the why, thanks for splannin' it.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

MontyRay-Welcome to the site.Always good to have someone with knowledge of automatics.Good info you just gave us.

  

Regarding the question about a kickdown rod for an automatic, as was previously stated, the Fordomatic style automatic transmission without a modulator requires a kickdown rod. The '80-'92 automatic overdrive requires a kickdown rod. Without one, your upshifts will be very soft and it will burn up the clutches and bands if you use anything other than very light throttle. Regarding the transmissions that use a modulator, cruiseomatic, C-4, C-6. A kickdown rod is not necessary IF you never go over approximately 1/2 throttle, but since most people don't drive that way, a kickdown rod is necessary for two things: (1) to make the transmission downshift at wide open throttle and (2) also to increase the line pressure to hold the bands and/or clutches applied.



If you have no kickdown and you go to wide open throttle, you get soft mushy shifts which will burn up the clutches or bands. The reason is that the vacuum modulator will increase your TV (throttle valve) pressure to a certain point, but the kickdown rod supplies additional line pressure to hold the clutches and bands applied at heavy throttle. If you were to manually shift it without the kickdown rod at heavy throttle, you will have insufficient pressure to keep the clutches and bands applied. An example of line pressure (and this varies from engine and transmission application) for a C-6 transmission in a '68 Ford, with the engine at idle (PND21) the pressure would be 55 to 60 pounds. In reverse, 70 to 85 pounds. At wide open throttle stall test, the line pressure will go between 160 and 190 in the forward gears and 240 to 300 in reverse. Without a kickdown rod, the line pressure in a stall test would be less resulting in clutch and band slippage.



A kickdown rod is required for the proper operation of a Ford automatic transmission unless you drive like Grandma. I worked in Ford dealerships specializing in automatic transmission from 1965 until I retired in 1995 and I've seen a lot of transmissions burned up from lack of a kickdown rod.

Marc, yes my wife and I are retired, slaved to the farm/ranch.

314, it looks like a C4 has a modulator valve according to the search results.  Good. 

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

Mike -



Still in the future. I'll be coming down Thurs. 6/23 and I'll have that manifold and carb. Are you home during the day?



Marc

Marc

'54 Merc ragtop

Pt Townsend, WA   

                                                                                                                                   

anything with a modulator valve doesnt need a kickdown rod.

Marc, if I ever go to the trouble and expense of doing an automatic, I want it to be a C4 also.

A guy gave me a rebuilt one free three years ago.  I checked it out and it is the preferred model, but dont remember all the details.

Hey Marc, did you make it to Medford already?  Or is the event still in the future? 

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

Mike -



I've experienced exactly what John is talking about in terms of throttle pressure. A small adjustment in the rod made a big difference. BTW, I've got a rebuilt MercO from a '55 (I think) that was in my Merc. It has never been run because I decided to go to a C4. It was done locally here in the Seattle area by a guy who was very familiar with these trannys.



Marc

Marc

'54 Merc ragtop

Pt Townsend, WA