I put an Edelbrock 1411 carb. on my 69 472 and never hooked up the kickdown. At lower speeds when putting the pedal down I can feel the tranny downshift. Is this really the tranny "kicking down" or some kind of tranny modulator shift due to vac. change? Doesn't seem to kickdown from third to second at higher speeds. What is the normal speed that the tranny will kickdown in highway operations. 70 and below? 60 and below? Has anyone ever installed a 1411 carb and hooked up the kickdown? I think Edelbrock makes a kit for this but have not researched it yet. Thought I'd post here and see what others have tried. Thanks.

The vacuum mod will do some downshifting, but the electric switch kickdown is what is needed. I don't know if they did it underhood on the Cad or on the pedal (my 76 Olds was on the pedal, as was the 70-76 Firebirds with a THM400).

I recommend figuring out a way to get the kickdown working, it is much more enjoyable to drive.

I put an Edelbrock 1411 carb. on my 69 472 and never hooked up the kickdown. At lower speeds when putting the pedal down I can feel the tranny downshift. Is this really the tranny "kicking down" or some kind of tranny modulator shift due to vac. change? Doesn't seem to kickdown from third to second at higher speeds. What is the normal speed that the tranny will kickdown in highway operations. 70 and below? 60 and below? Has anyone ever installed a 1411 carb and hooked up the kickdown? I think Edelbrock makes a kit for this but have not researched it yet. Thought I'd post here and see what others have tried. Thanks.

Come on Guys (and gals)! Nobody on this board has successfully adapted the stock kickdown to work with an Edelbrock Performer Series Carb? Inconceivable! I read posts on here about all kinds of crazy modifications and replacing this with that and trying to find a 19xx thingamajig so your car will do whatchumacaller, but nobody has suggestions for this? Fess up, I know there is a MacGyver here.

The truth is out there.

Those cars didn't have kickdowns, they have THM400's, they kickdown is an electric switch. No linkage. In the 70's Olds and Pontiac put it on the gas pedal, not underhood.

Those cars didn't have kickdowns, they have THM400's, they kickdown is an electric switch. No linkage. In the 70's Olds and Pontiac put it on the gas pedal, not underhood.

Exactly. Its the electric kickdown switch to the TH40 that does not fit in the stock location with the Edelbrock carb. I'm sure somebody has rerouted that switch after swapping carbs.

I put an Edelbrock 1411 carb. on my 69 472 and never hooked up the kickdown. At lower speeds when putting the pedal down I can feel the tranny downshift. Is this really the tranny "kicking down" or some kind of tranny modulator shift due to vac. change? Doesn't seem to kickdown from third to second at higher speeds. What is the normal speed that the tranny will kickdown in highway operations. 70 and below? 60 and below? Has anyone ever installed a 1411 carb and hooked up the kickdown? I think Edelbrock makes a kit for this but have not researched it yet. Thought I'd post here and see what others have tried. Thanks.

I did it! Well, almost. Guy at shop made me one, but he had the switch too high and it made my accelerator pump linkage get stuck. After almost crashing through a Sonic Drive In (that would have given new meaning to Drive in), I figured I had to mount it lower. I cut a piece of Aluminum and used it to lower the switch on the bracket. Here's a pic. I figured it would make more sense to take the pic while it was on the car so there would be some perspective.

One side connects to the front carb bolt and the other one to the coil bracket bolt (which those with HEI no longer use). I ran the wire for the Elec choke behind the carb along the firewall and quick-spliced it to the orange-black wire that goes to the kickdown.

Oh yes, and the bad news, the SOB at the shop cut and welded the original bracket to fashion the retrofit. So if I decide to put the Q-Jet back on, I'm googling for parts. There goes my resale value.

So, here's the pics. If you need more info, please let me know.

Those cars didn't have kickdowns, they have THM400's, they kickdown is an electric switch. No linkage. In the 70's Olds and Pontiac put it on the gas pedal, not underhood. Great application Colt. Anyone know how the ones that were located at the pedal with Olds and Pontiac worked? This may be a viable option as well. Thanks.

Great application Colt. Anyone know how the ones that were located at the pedal with Olds and Pontiac worked? This may be a viable option as well. Thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-69-70-71-72-Pontiac-Gto-TH400-Kickdown-Switch_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34208QQitemZ4569 480123QQrdZ1

Here is one on Ebay from a GTO. The pic includes the gas pedal which gives a good indication of how it works.