Electrical Kickdown Switch on a 1967 400
Short answer: Yes — the 1967 Turbo 400 uses an electric kickdown (detent/passing-gear) switch, activated near full throttle. On a 1967 it’s a plunger switch mounted to the intake manifold near the left-rear of the carb (bracket held by the left-rear carb bolt), tripped by an extension bracket on the pedal linkage. Two wires: black, and black-with-green-stripe.
How it works (per Jim Hand): the vacuum modulator controls shift points only when there’s vacuum — at wide-open throttle there’s little/no vacuum, so the modulator can’t control WOT shifts. The detent (kickdown) system takes over at WOT: it forces the kickdown (3-2, 3-1, or 2-1), overrides the modulator, and raises clutch oil pressure for durability. So if the switch is misadjusted to trip at part throttle, the trans behaves as if you’re at WOT whenever it’s active; and running without a working detent causes accelerated clutch wear and lower WOT shift rpm. Adjust the switch toward the full-throttle end of the pedal travel. (See also the Engine FAQ — Carburetor for more.)
Any proposed updates, changes, pictures, and/or corrections, please use our comment section below (may need to click on permalink to access comments feature). Information is subject to change and offered as is without any warranties or guarantees. Please review our Term's Of Use for more information.
Content last modified: June 13, 2026 at 10:06 am
← Frequently Asked Questions
I am having the same problem and I have not been able to find any info/pics in any manuals. Would it be possible for you to send me some pics of the setup for the kick down switch? I have a 1968 Firebird 400 with a 400 ci and Turbo 400.
Regards,
George
George, here is some info and I hope it gives you a start. Look on page 6 and 7 to get the part numbers and a diagram of the factory setup
Attachment GR03_Illus.pdf
Here is the part number section
Attachment GR03_Num.pdf