Now that I have a few hundred miles on my car, one of the "bugs" that has shown from the start is that it upshifts too fast. The car only weighs about 1600 lbs and apparently the motor never seems to strain at all which accounts for the quick up shifting other than manual shifting. The Holley has the Ford "kickdown" arm but the downshift cable will not work with it as the arm has too much travel for the cable. Sounds like 2 problems...anyone have any ideas or suggestions? The trans is a TH350.
Fred P

Buy cheap,get cheap...
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Fred P.

Hello Fred
I have had problems like that before and what i have found is to go to a good transmission man and get it set rite.And another thing if you are having trouble with shifting go rite to Lokar there stuff is great.
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A GOODGUYS REP

YOU CAN ADJUST YOUR SHIFT MODULATER, THE LITTLE CAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE TRANS WHERE THE VACUUME LINE GOES. STICK A SMALL SCREWDRIVER IN THE PORT AND GIVE IT TWO OR THREE TURNS OUT. CONNECT THE VAC LINE AND IT SHOULD HOLD THE SHIFTS A LITTLE LONGER, KEEP ADJUSTING TO YOU GET THE DESIRES SHIFT POINT. IF YOURS IS NON ADJUSTABLE, GET ONE FROM B/M THEY ARE FAIRLY CHEAP AND EASY TO INSTALL.

I will point out that you need to tighten the adjusting screw clock wise(as you look at it) to add more preload to the modulator. THis will make the trans shift a bit later under light throttle.

It may require the govenor weights and springs to be changed to reach the desired shift points.

The gov springs affect shifts below 30 mph and the weights affect the shift points about 30mph. The speed I have posted is only a guide since rear gears/tire diameter and other varibles affect shift timing also.


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Tony

I STAND CORRECTED, LONG DAY FOR ME.....

EDcroozer,hey man' I was checkin out your rod in the pics section,pesonally ,I think it looked MORE "BAD" without the fenders,I know......you didn't ask for MY opinion......lol

YEAH.....I KNOW, I LIKED IT BETTER THAT WAY TOO BUT I DRIVE IT EVERYWHERE AND THE STONE CHIPS WERE A DRAG, I WAS REPAINTING THE DOORS ONCE A MONTH. THE FENDERS CURED THAT. IT`S STILL "BAD" IN THE PERFORMANCE DEPARTMENT, JUST GIVES IT THE GRANDPA LOOK.

Thanks Tony! Should have known to ask you in the first place since you helped me previously. My modulator didn't have the screw but called a local Napa dealer and they were nice enough to look at a stock one and verify that an adjusting screw was in it. Will have it tomorrow. Thanks ya'll !!! Fred P

buy cheap, get cheap....
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Fred P.

SORRY FRED FOR GIVING YOU BEAT INFO, I`LL TRY HARDER NEXT TIME.

I was thinking you probably had an aftermarket modualator on the trans. It's about the only type you see now.

The modualtor I speak of is about 1.5 inches in diameter, yellow zinc in color with a red stripe around it. The adjusting screw is in the opening where the vacuum hose attaches. In some applications the screw is threaded completely out if an engine is low on vacuum. There is a low vacuum modulator that has a black and red stripe on it.

All that screw does is add preload onto an internal spring to resist the vacuum pulling on the diaphram. It does not assist in sealing the oil in.
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Tony

Tony,after reading your first post, I started remembering the adjustment screw from a few of the grey cells left and it was the modulator on an automatic in a Corvair of years past. What brought it to mind was that the engine was a bit smokey and the trans needed constant refilling and a bit of logic said the two were connected and the only common part was the modulator as you described but a dirty zinc color with no stripes of any kind. The replacement was adjustable but only after asking a Chevy dealer mechanic. The Napa replacement is also a plain zinc color with no stripes. Did I get the wrong one and if so, should I pick up another one as you described?
The modulator as you can imagine, apparently had a ruptered diapharam and that's why the Greenbriar van was so cheap. $100 and put many miles on it until Clarks' Corvairs in the northeast cornered the market on as many parts as he could get his hands on and I needed a steering part that he wanted $150 for that was originally around $25. Sold the van....The weights and springs you speak of are under a removable piece I think held on with either 3 bolts or a big circlip. At any rate, the adjustment should be ok for now. I'm giving serious thought to installing an Olds Quad 4 and 2004r trans. It would solve my cooling problems that took 2 radiators to acomplish and give me more room plus the power shouldn't be bad at all with a few aftermarket parts. I may have a very nice V6, trans, and headers for sale soon... lol Thanks Fred P


buy cheap, get cheap...
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Fred P.

Fred, the NAPA modulator may be fine for you. Does it have the adjusting screw? I cannot imagine it not having the screw.

I am not familar with the NAPA unit, only the modulators that are more or less industry standard in the automatic transmission world that I see every day.

You should be able to get the shift points close to what you desire.
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Tony