Thread: kickdown cable

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I run a 4 barrel quadrajet, and I like the carburetor. I have ran them on 4 previous rods. If the engine builds power alright under gradual acceleration, but bogs when you put your foot in it, there is possibly a gasoline starvation problem. Hold the chokeplate open, with the engine off, and open the throttle wide open, quickly---you should see a spray of gasoline into the carburetor. If you don't, chances are good that the accelerator pump is not functioning properly, and should be rebuilt.
Another cause of "leaning out" with a quadrajet, is the float set at the incorrect height, and if you are running dual exhaust, you should really go 1 or 2 sizes larger on the main jets. (this is best done by a carb shop, if you are a novice.)
If you are running a turbo 350 transmission then the kickdown operation is totally different than a 700R.---all the kickdown does on a turbo 350 is to drop the tranny back into second gear when the accelerator pedal is pushed all the way to the floor.
It only takes about 2 minutes to adjust this kickdown cable, but it is damn near impossible for me to describe the technique over the internet. Go to a tranny shop, get an older guy that knows the difference between a turbo 350 and a 700R, and he will probably adjust it free. I danced this dance last summer with the kickdown on my roadster pickup with a turbo 350 in it---I had 3 kids at a transmission shop all screw around with it, trying to adjust it like you would a 700R, and none of them were successfull. Then an older guy come into the shop, told the kids they were all nuts, and adjusted it in about a minute.--no charge.