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'78 Kickdown Cable

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Old Dec 1, 2014 | 07:51 AM
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Default '78 Kickdown Cable

Hi,

Working on a '78 Indy Anniversary with L48. After 240K miles, the mtr was rebuild, but the owner is not satisfied with it's performance. Everthing exterally appears to be completely stock in appearance.

Noticed that the secondaries are not opening all the way, due to the kickdown cable restraining full linkage movement. So there's the reason for the disappointing performance.

Found out that the trans was rebuild prior to having the engine pulled for it's rebuild.

The bracket holding the kickdown cable is seperate from the accelerator cable held in-place by the two rear intake bolts. That appears to be correct, but could someone who owns a similar year with base engine/auto verify?

If the bracket location is correct the remaining question would be either whether his original trans was rebuild with the correct length kickdown cable or a totally different unit installed with a different length kickdown cable? This is to be verified. Could someone point me to the area to check for id numbers on the trans case?

Thanks for any responses.
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Old Dec 1, 2014 | 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by jersey68l36
Hi,

Working on a '78 Indy Anniversary with L48. After 240K miles, the mtr was rebuild, but the owner is not satisfied with it's performance. Everthing exterally appears to be completely stock in appearance.

Noticed that the secondaries are not opening all the way, due to the kickdown cable restraining full linkage movement. So there's the reason for the disappointing performance.

Found out that the trans was rebuild prior to having the engine pulled for it's rebuild.

The bracket holding the kickdown cable is seperate from the accelerator cable held in-place by the two rear intake bolts. That appears to be correct, but could someone who owns a similar year with base engine/auto verify?

If the bracket location is correct the remaining question would be either whether his original trans was rebuild with the correct length kickdown cable or a totally different unit installed with a different length kickdown cable? This is to be verified. Could someone point me to the area to check for id numbers on the trans case?

Thanks for any responses.

Cable length can be adjusted at the bracket
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 05:13 AM
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Originally Posted by jersey68l36
The bracket holding the kickdown cable is separate from the accelerator cable held in-place by the two rear intake bolts. That appears to be correct, but could someone who owns a similar year with base engine/auto verify?
I can check this...may have a photo but will have to look around. Ok, a couple of years ago, I refreshed my engine compartment and posted some photos of the completed assembly work. This photo (link) shows the driver's side...see if this gives you what you need. There are other photos but this may be the best for your needs.

engine assembly top driver's side

Could someone point me to the area to check for id numbers on the trans case? .
I have an L48 auto as you described above. Couple of things to check and confirm the tranny is original or same as that was equipped. Look for both the VIN derivative and the production or date code.

The eight-digit VIN derivative is stamped on the driver’s side, toward the front, bottom edge of the transmission just behind the rubber boot that protects the shift linkage. Often, the broadcast code 5TL, stamped in black ink can be seen on the passenger side. The last five digits of the VIN derivative will match the VIN on the driver's side windshield post.

The production code is stamped on the passenger side in a vertical boss with a six-character code. The image shows how to interpret the numbers.

Hope this helps.



Last edited by hunt4cleanair; Dec 2, 2014 at 05:27 AM.
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 07:41 AM
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Thank you for your help.

Did not think the TH350 cable was adjustable like the way the 2004r and 700 trans were? Suppose there is a tab on the carb side of the cable that gets lifted up?

hunt4cleanair, the picture did not really show the details for the cable set-up, but it clearly showed that the alternator plug is at the 12 oclock position. Another problem under the hood of this Corvette is that the alternator bearings are fried. Seems that sometime prior to the mtr swap the original alternator was replaced, so there is no sense rebuilding the one that's presently there
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by jersey68l36
Thank you for your help.

Did not think the TH350 cable was adjustable like the way the 2004r and 700 trans were? Suppose there is a tab on the carb side of the cable that gets lifted up?

hunt4cleanair, the picture did not really show the details for the cable set-up, but it clearly showed that the alternator plug is at the 12 oclock position. Another problem under the hood of this Corvette is that the alternator bearings are fried. Seems that sometime prior to the mtr swap the original alternator was replaced, so there is no sense rebuilding the one that's presently there
Try these...






Last edited by hunt4cleanair; Dec 3, 2014 at 10:50 AM.
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
Tell me what you need and I can shoot the photo and post. For example, say "i need it to look at xx from the driver's side windshield."
Thanks for your help hunt4cleanair. The pic actually shows that the bracket for the trans cable is correct compared to what I'm working on. I'll be by the car again this weekend, as I have to pull the alternator and I'll have another look at that cable about whether it's adjustable. Just don't recall them being that way, at least not the factory installed kickdown cables.
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Old Dec 2, 2014 | 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by jersey68l36
Thanks for your help hunt4cleanair. The pic actually shows that the bracket for the trans cable is correct compared to what I'm working on. I'll be by the car again this weekend, as I have to pull the alternator and I'll have another look at that cable about whether it's adjustable. Just don't recall them being that way, at least not the factory installed kickdown cables.
There's a tab you lift up, push the gas pedal to the floor and return the tab to position. You can open the throttle by hand at the carburetor but I think using the pedal is preferred as more accurate to the car.
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Old Dec 6, 2014 | 11:26 AM
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Have you located the tab yet?
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