projectheaven

I am having trouble with my car shifting.It shifts to late.I have a cable thats below the accelarator cable that comes from the firewall and and goes into the transmission.Is this the detent cable and if so how do i adjust it?I have a 350 tranny by the way and my car is a 1972 cutlass supreme.
Thank you joe for your input.I will definitely look into it.

Oldsguy

I think that cable is the kickdown function for full throttle 3 to 2 downshifts, not upshifts.

projectheaven

Which cable controls upshift?

W30post

The modulator valve and vacuum control the upshifts. A pinch in the vacuum line or a bad modulator could be causing this late shift.

joe_padavano

An improperly adjusted kickdown cable would make the trans think the throttle was floored and would inhibit upshift.

projectheaven

There are 2 wires going into the top of my accelerator pedal.I know one is the kick down.What is the other one? I have a 72 cutlass supreme with a 350 rocket and 350 tranny.

joe_padavano

Do you mean "wires" as in electrical or cables as in throttle and kickdown?

Goose

Actually, the inner governor weights dictate upshift at wide open throttle, teamed up with the vacuum modulator. You can get a kit BY B&M and adjust the shift points. Works great. Works for the 350, 400, and 700r4 trannys. Was the 350 trans a transplant? If you have wires on the a switch mounted to the gas pedal bracket, that's for a 400 (electric detent).

88 coupe

We have another knowledgeable addition to the site.

Welcome Goose.

Norm

Sunshn

Picking up an old thread. I was under the hood of my 350 olds rocket Sunday and noticed what appears to be the vacuum tube which goes into the valve cover was not connected. I connected the two. Took the car out tonight and is suddenly shifting very, very late. Immediately disconnected the hose, but still shifts late. Any thoughts? Was shifting perfectly before this...

oldcutlass

Are you talking about the PCV valve? Did you disturb the modulator line?

Sunshn

I might have. Trying to identify that now. Not certain what to look for .... under air cleaner I assume

oldcutlass

Theres a rubber hose that connects to a small metal line that runs to the transmission connected through another rubber hose to the modulator.

Sunshn

Amazingly, it was the small rubber hose that connects from the small metal line from the transmission, near the carburetor end (see picture, does that seem right?).

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...psnpllugzs.jpg

I say amazingly, because – full disclosure – I don't know this engine that well (I've had the car a total of 27 days). I was pretty surprised to find that such an innocent-looking, small rubber hose could be the culprit of such monstrous proportions (*relatively speaking).

I am further surpassed that it is not clamped on, along with the other two hoses that connect to this triple-tree. Should it be?

oldcutlass

No, generally vacuum hoses are not clamped. Glad it was something simple.

Sunshn

Same here, now I just open I didn't create any damage to the tranny or engine by driving it with that issue for so long (about 45 minutes).

the tranny was screaming as it winded out first gear to 50+ mph!

oldcutlass

Probably not

droldsmorland

If you have the OEM steel line check it for restriction. Also pull the governor and make sure there isnt any burrs on the shaft or the bore and it spins freely and everything's intact. Use fine emery if any burrs are found.