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KICKDOWN LINKAGE

Paul Bucolo

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Feb 4, 2022
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Location
New Smyrna Beach Florida
I have a 1973 Roadrunner, it has 1979 360 with a Holley 650 carb, 727 transmission has headers, It appears it has a 3 piece kickdown linkage , I am missing the middle piece, I tried eBay, looked at cable systems,
The car had not run in a couple of years, and trying to get it to be a daily car, , I have only had the car 7 months, learning bout mopar.
I read that the headers, may get in the way, and may need to modify the piece if I find it
Looking four any suggestions. I have included photos,

B5BE2778-82FE-43B4-8101-10C5F91E18A0.jpeg 724EB395-D078-4C06-8DB7-2D77EC12FB42.jpeg B95D8AF3-1356-4D5F-A3EC-586E3D653E4F.jpeg 06509581-CF5F-4B05-A79D-321F24908B2C.jpeg
 
Greetings from Canada!! :canada: If it was me, I would go for a Lokar Mopar kick down cable. You can get them at Summit Racing for a reasonable price. They are super easy to set up, and more important they work. I would take a guess that some one ditched your missing part(s) to maybe get the headers to fit, etc... Who knows? Even if someone has your missing part, ( and on this site someone will ) reinstalling it will likely show you why the part was removed in the first place, taking you back to square one. Lokar also do a set that includes a new TH. cable as well as the kick down. Perhaps change both. Just my 2 cents worth. Best of luck with your car and again, WELCOME!!
 
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Welcome from Alabama, I can't help you with your problem, but TCI may be able to provide a cable system that will work for your application.
 
The picture of your linkage doesn't make sense or even look like the correct linkage. Looks like an aftermarket shifting cable.
Need better photos that show the entire linkage connection to the carb. Looks like more than 1 piece is missing.
Everything looks pretty dirty/grimy there. Have you ever driven this car ? If so, did the tranny work properly with the exception of the kick down. The reason is, if the fluid level is too low and the car was driven for any period of time without the kick down connected. You like will need to rebuild this trans mission as the kickdown controls the transmission internal hydraulic pressures and without the kick down hooked up, the transmission doesn't get enough pressure and the fluid/clutches overheat and burn.
 
The picture of your linkage doesn't make sense or even look like the correct linkage. Looks like an aftermarket shifting cable.
Need better photos that show the entire linkage connection to the carb. Looks like more than 1 piece is missing.
Everything looks pretty dirty/grimy there. Have you ever driven this car ? If so, did the tranny work properly with the exception of the kick down. The reason is, if the fluid level is too low and the car was driven for any period of time without the kick down connected. You like will need to rebuild this trans mission as the kickdown controls the transmission internal hydraulic pressures and without the kick down hooked up, the transmission doesn't get enough pressure and the fluid/clutches overheat and burn.
It doesn't have to be low on fluid, just driving around will get your gears, starting with drive, then 2, and eventually no movement.
 
I have a 1973 Roadrunner, it has 1979 360 with a Holley 650 carb, 727 transmission has headers, It appears it has a 3 piece kickdown linkage , I am missing the middle piece, I tried eBay, looked at cable systems,
The car had not run in a couple of years, and trying to get it to be a daily car, , I have only had the car 7 months, learning bout mopar.
I read that the headers, may get in the way, and may need to modify the piece if I find it
Looking four any suggestions. I have included photos,

View attachment 1235953 View attachment 1235954 View attachment 1235955 View attachment 1235956
Welcome.

If you do need to buy parts, you should start a WTB thread in the appropriate section here.....many people will have what you need.

Mechanical Parts | For B Bodies Only Classic Mopar Forum
 
I'm not sure what middle piece is missing? Headers can interfere with kickdown linkage. In my experience modifications are required. Bends to get around the header may be needed. An aftermarket cable system may the answer. Don't know, never used one. Good luck.
 
Welcome from Missouri!!
 
I will chime in with others that say not to drive it without kick down linkage.
 
Welcome from NY.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like it was well cared for.
Your neutral safety switch has nothing connected as well.
And yes if it's been driven much the way it sits, you quite possibly need a transmission rebuild.
That very well could be why the car sat.
 
Welcome aboard from Ohio. ^^^all the above. For a little good news, I had 2” Hookers on mine yrs ago & no rubbing problems at all. Good luck.
 
I've never had any issues with headers interfering with transmission linkages.....
 
Welcome from North Florida !
Probably best to go with a Lokar cable setup as what it sounds like you have a mix of years and trying to get the right linkage is about like trying to get the correct pulley belt setup as they changed the design every year.
Good luck.
 
For the budget minded. If you do decide to go with cable kickdown your local Auto parts store may have a kit from Spectre.
About $34 to $49 bucks. They also have them on E bay starting at $26. Different brand name looks the same.
I run the Spectre on my 63 for 4 years now.Got it at AutoZone. Works fine.
 
Greetings from Canada!! :canada: If it was me, I would go for a Lokar Mopar kick down cable. You can get them at Summit Racing for a reasonable price. They are super easy to set up, and more important they work. I would take a guess that some one ditched your missing part(s) to maybe get the headers to fit, etc... Who knows? Even if someone has your missing part, ( and on this site someone will ) reinstalling it will likely show you why the part was removed in the first place, taking you back to square one. Lokar also do a set that includes a new TH. cable as well as the kick down. Perhaps change both. Just my 2 cents worth. Best of luck with your car and again, WELCOME!!

Hi Paul. I think if you go to Lokars web site, you should find the instructions for the cable set I mentioned in my last post. Also, one of the Mopar mags, I think it was Mopar Muscle, had a how to article a while back on using this cable set. The mag is gone, but their archives are still available. Happy hunting!!
 
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