What exactly does the trans cable at the carb do? I'm wondering what position it should be in.

Thanks

It tells the tranny when to downshift. You should adjust it all the way out at full throttle so it doesn't bind.

It's called the "detent" cable. It's only function ( on TH350 trans) is for the kickdown, or passing gear. Adjust it so the carb and the cable bottom at the same time.

for anyone with a 400 and an electric kickdown..

here is one of my fav tricks

the kickdown switch isnt very adjustable and is activated by the gas pedal linkage coming into contact with a plastic cylinder connected to the switch (sort of a goofy spring loaded toggle switch)

if you want to make your kick down happen easier and have some fun.. take about a dozen flat washers and slide them over a bolt and tape them with elctrical tape.. then slide them over the plastic cylider on the switch.. this gives you a "hair trigger" kickdown.. its very easy to slide on and off.. and when you tape it up.. you tape over the ends as well and this leaves enough grip on the switch to hold it in place without a gentle tug.

all your doing is making the cylinder bigger and therefore making it kickdown at a lower throttle position..

i know this has nothing to do with the kickdown cable on a 350.. but its one of my fav old tricks and i wanted to share.

Thanks guys!

cthulhu do you know any tricks like that for a th350?

I know on older 350's it had a black tap you could pull up on to unlock, to adjust you would floor it, then press the tap back down and that would adjust the passing gear. But that was on my 65 327.

some have along slide that slides over a knob on the carb.. the passing gear kicks in when the knob reaches the end of the slide..

on these.. take a short bolt.. 1/4" by 1/2" long i think and put it in the slide to shorten the distance necessary to engage the cable..

cthulhu said: ....... on these.. take a short bolt.. 1/4" by 1/2" long i think and put it in the slide to shorten the distance necessary to engage the cable..

Boy, I've done that on more than a few! Usually only need to do that on carb/intake swaps, but sometimes the cable gets stretched out over the years of use. It ain't purdy, but it works!

Just be sure not to pull the cable too far. It can bottom out and stop you from opening the throttle all of the way, or over pull the cable internally to the trans and damage the internal link.

Ideally per GM, the cable should be adjusted at it maximum travel at wide open throttle.