Engine: overdrive kickdown on bell crank

[willisl55]

I have a 55 coupe that was converted by the prior owner to a 62 v8 three speed overdrive. There is a pad on the bell crank that is supposed to hit the od kickdown switch on the firewall. When I push the gas pedal to the floor the pad is still at least an inch away from the switch and it has been adjusted all the way out. Is it possible the bell crank has been bent or is there some other adjustment that has to be made. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.


Lee

[JoeHall]

Hi Lee,

If the carb & foot-feed linkage is working OK, and you like it as is, I'd try bending the tab first. It is likely soft metal that is very bendable. Alternatively, remove, relocate, and re-weld it.

If the above does not fix it, insure the carb linkage rod connector is in the inboard hole on the bell crank end; the inboard hole provides more movement at the bell crank (moving the tab quicker toward the OD switch), while slowing down movement of the carb butterflies. Similarly, you can fab an extension on the carb linkage ear (an inch or so) to move the linkage connector further outboard there; this will accomplish the same thing as the inboard hole at the bell crank.

Either of the above, or a combination of, should put that pad it where it needs to be, when it needs to be there

[Captain Billy]

A picture would help....
It may not be the right switch....
As suggested, it may be bent....
It may not be the correct bellcrank....

[Jerry Forrester]

I have a 55 coupe that was converted by the prior owner to a 62 v8 three speed overdrive. There is a pad on the bell crank that is supposed to hit the od kickdown switch on the firewall. When I push the gas pedal to the floor the pad is still at least an inch away from the switch and it has been adjusted all the way out. Is it possible the bell crank has been bent or is there some other adjustment that has to be made. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.


Lee

The rod going from the carb. to the bellcrank is supposed to have a spring in it so that the bellcrank will move an additional 1/2" or so after the carb. is wide open. In other words, The rod is supposed to stretch.

[StudeRich]

I am concerned that you say the switch is on the firewall.
Since this car was converted to a V8, it may still have the 6 Cyl. K/D Switch on the firewall, on a V8 it goes on the Throttle Bellcrank itself and the moveable lever part of the Bellcrank that the Carb. stretch rod connects to has the "Flipper" pad to kick the switch.

It is possible you have an Apples and Oranges Linkage setup, no worky!

Please Refer to the Throttle adjustment Pics in the Shop Manual for a look at what you SHOULD have on the Car or the Chassis Parts Catalog.

[jackb]

.....is it possible that the earlier style switch is longer for the correct application and the later OD setup is inefffective?

[Jerry Forrester]

I am concerned that you say the switch is on the firewall.

But Rich, every '55 Cp. w/OD I've had, had the switch on the firewall just like Lee described.

[willisl55]

I think the problem is I don't have the correct rod to the carb from the bellcrank. The one on the car is a piece of all thread with a clevis on each end. I will start searching for the correct throttle rod. Thanks to all for the help.

Lee

[Jerry Forrester]

I think the problem is I don't have the correct rod to the carb from the bellcrank. The one on the car is a piece of all thread with a clevis on each end. I will start searching for the correct throttle rod. Thanks to all for the help.

Lee

I may have one. If I do, it's yours for the cost of USPS Priority Mail.

[willisl55]

Pm sent

I may have one. If I do, it's yours for the cost of USPS Priority Mail.

Thanks Jerry. Sent PM.

[Jerry Forrester]

Thanks Jerry. Sent PM.

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I can't do those grill surrounds. They're too far gone for me to do. You need a pot metal restoration specialist like Paul's Plating in Penn. But you had better have deep pockets for them to do the grills. My guess is their price will be $1000 for each one. Check with them, then let me know how far off I am.