I did quite an extensive search looking for pictures of someone who has installed a Lokar kickdown but I was unable to locate what I was looking for.

I have a friend willing to come help me install a kickdown switch, I just need to order the parts prior to him getting here.

I believe what I want is the black kit offered by Lokar. Here are the links to the switch and the bracket.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LOK-XSRK-4000/?rtype=10
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LOK-XKD-2400HT/

I think these are the right parts. When I look at the installation instructions things don't quite match my setup though.

http://www.lokar.com/downloads/pdf-instructions/th400_electric_kd.pdf (See figure 3)

Here is a picture of my current setup.



My question is, will that cable and bracket from Lokar work with my setup? Or will I need other parts to make this work? I realize having the original would be better but those are hard to find and quite costly when I do find them.

Thank you in advance!

- Gene Sniegowski

Gene,
This might be an easier route and less expensive than the Lokar. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/67-68-69-...sQ5fAccessories

The switch can always be swapped out when you do find the correct kickdown switch, then you'd already have the correct bracket.
Nice stock detail in the engine bay by the way

The Lokar kit is a complete aftermarket departure from the OEM setup. For the OEM, the switch is mounted at the carb and then the electrical line runs down to the tranny.

For Lokar, the switch mounts on the side of the tranny (using tranny pan bolts and spacers) and connects to the carb with cable and completely different set of brackets.

The Lokar parts cannot be used to replace any components of the OEM system.

Never mind what I had here. I just realized that the cable in your photo is the throttle. I'm just so used to the rod throttle linkage for the '67

Doug & Dustin - I have seen that switch and bracket and I even contacted them about it. I asked if they had the cables to run from that switch to the trans solenoid or if they knew what I should use. They basically told me that they did not have anything that could be used. I also asked if there were instructions so I can see how it should all be setup. Again nothing. From the picture alone I can not see how the "switch" is operated. Where does it connect? Do I just run a regular electric line down to the tranny? Do I just run a power line to power it? These are the reasons I was looking at the Lokar setup. However if you or anyone else can walk me through it all I will gladly proceed with that setup instead.

Gene,
If you zoom in on this picture

You'll see how the switch and bracket are connected to the carb.
The curved tang on your carb arm makes contact with the switch when 3/4 open throttle. There are two wires from the swicth. One connects to 12V (you can tie into your wiper motor) and the other runs to the solenoid. All the switch does is send an electrical signal to the solenoid in the trans making is shift down. Pretty simple design.

Thank you for the help! NICE looking engine there as well!

OK - So I am not sure what a "curved tang" is, but I'll assume my friend will know.

When I looked at the switch on eBay and The Parts Place (the ebay seller) I do not see any wires. Is there a wiring kit that I can buy? Or do I just run some wiring on my own? If so, do you happen to know the gauge to use and stock colors?

Again I appreciate your help! I'm not the mechanical one on the forum!

If I recall the wires are black and orange. Here is one from these guys. Part 500176
http://www.americanautowire.com/catalogs/AAW_sections/AAW10_TransmissionAccess.pdf
It comes with the rubber boot to cover the solenoid. I guess you could also run your own wires. Maybe 18 ga.?

On 67-71 the throttle arms bolt onto the throttle shaft of the q-jets. 68 was a one year only part (so was 67). If you have an ames catalog to look at it's part FN371 (quadrajet throttle arm)which will show the curved tang. Looking back at your picture though it looks like you may have a later model q-jet. If you're trying to get everything stock you'd need to aquire some additional parts for the stock kickdown to work. I also have a B&M th400 kickdown that I used on mine before swapping over to stock. You're welcome to it (free) if you'd like to give it a shot. PM me and let me know.

You have been such a help, thank you.

I grabbed the code off of the carb and it's 7028276 which tells me it is a proper Rochester 1968 49 state emissions Pontiac with an auto transmission carb.

That being said I started looking at other pictures of the throttel control arm and it would appear that mine looks just like the others that are for sale? For example this one which is advertised for a GTO http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-70-P...sQ5fAccessories

Perhaps I was looking for the wrong thing though?

I greatly appreciate your offer on the B&M unit. I would like to go with your original recommendation though. I apprecaite you pointing me in the direction of the wiring harness too!

Now I just need to identify this bracket which actual causes the switch to activate the downshift.

You have been most patient and an excellent help!

This picture might be better. At 3/4 throttle the curved arm contacts the switch.
Glad to be of help.

After about 100 tries I think I got it!

So from AMES I need the throttle bracket, part number FN371 (Difference is that bend at the top that must push the kickdown switch)

From The Parts Place I need the bracket and kickdown switch itself. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/67-68-69-...sQ5fAccessories

I was not able to find a Pontiac wiring harness, but found one for the Chevy. I am assuming this will work? Looks like the difference may be the wiring colors? http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-kickd...-1968-1969.html

So out the door I am looking at around $100 only. I'm hoping The Parts Place (about 1 hour from me) has two or maybe even all of the parts I need)

Unless I have made a mistake, I think I can give you a break from my questions! You have been an excellent help and hopefully someone else can benefit from this thread too!

Thank you!

- Gene

Gene, your throttle arm should look like Doug and Dustin's.

OK - So I reached out to a couple vendors asking if they sold the wiring harness for the Firebird kickdown as all I have been able to locate are for the Camaro. I was told that they do not sell the wiring harness independently for the kickdown, rather I would have to buy an entire wiring package.

While I'm sure we can make something work, it would be nice to have a clean installation. What have others done? Will the Camaro setup work? Here's a link to one... http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-kickd...-1968-1969.html

Sorry to be a pain in everyone's behinds!

You're not a pain at all.
That looks like it should work.

Just occured to me that your throttle arm might be from a manual transmission carb which wouldnt have had the curved tang for a kickdown. BTW... The 7028276 you have is a auto trans carb for a 68 RA1. If it's an original 68 stamping, that carb can be worth a few thousand bucks, maybe more.

I've posted this here MANY times for anyone who searches the archives. You can get the harness from Next Generation, (586) 336-1930, and the switch as well.

I have no clue how to tell if that was original or not, it was on the car when I purchased it last year. Lets hope so!

Vikki - I did do a search, a couple of them actually. I may not have used the right combination of keywords. For that, please accept my apologies. Thank you for re-posting the information though.

If your car was originally an automatic and had a TH400, the harness will have the requisite two leads in the bundle that routes along the left side of the intake. These can be used with a stock or aftermarket switch, or you can patch in your own wiring using a 12v ignition source to switch to trans solenoid.

Glad somebody finally went there with that info. This thread was just blasting along at full speed without that and I figured "forget it". The power wire should be green and the signal wire down to the tranny - black.

On my '69 they both look black, but it could just be age. They are easy to tell though as they are nearly equal length and terminate right by the throttle bracket.

My bad. I was thinking about the coolant sensor wire. The switch and it's wiring are shown on your site for '68's, Engine Compartment #2. The switched hot is black with a yellow stripe. I verified it on my '67.

I cut the plug off and spliced the black/yellow to the black so I could get 12 V power down to the Lokar switch.

I'm a little late in getting to Next Generation about a switch, when I called today they did not have one. Perhaps I asked incorrectly?