Th400 Kickdown pedal bracket

[fred_e81]

Good afternoon,
So today I installed the missing kickdown switch on my 81 Sierra. I bought the switch and wiring from a junkyard for $6. Damn it woke my truck up lol. Anyways, I noticed that the pedal from the donor truck didn't reach the switch at all and the same goes for my pedal. I rigged it up to make it work by adding spacers (looks horrible but works). Question is, is there a specific year pedal bracket that is bent more to help actuate the switch? Or, should I just bend my pedal. If so, any tips on how to bend. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[RedBed]

Pics maybe? The geometry of the bracket vs the carb are very important.

[fred_e81]

So here is what I did. I added plastic tubing to the pedal and more tubing on the Kickdown switch to close the gap. Looks horrible I know. Please post suggestions to clean this up. It works though..lol.

[70GMCer]

Here's mine....hope it helps

[andyh1956]

I gotta 86 truck cab up the barn that had a T400 in it. Let me see if it has what you need. And My 1008 & 1009 may have it also so I can compare.

[fred_e81]

Originally Posted by 70GMCer

Here's mine....hope it helps

So is that with your pedal down to the floor? I noticed it doesn't engage the switch. My pedal doesn't get anywhere near the switch with the pedal fully pressed down to the floor. Is there a specific year of pedal that would engage the switch? My truck is an 81. So I'm not sure if that year had the switch on the pedal or by the carb.

Thanks for the pics and help fellas. Keep it coming!

[fred_e81]

Thanks Andy. Any and all help appreciated

[andyh1956]

I'll look for you in the morning when I go to work. When I had time this afternoon it was pouring down rain...

[70GMCer]

Originally Posted by fred_e81

So is that with your pedal down to the floor? I noticed it doesn't engage the switch. My pedal doesn't get anywhere near the switch with the pedal fully pressed down to the floor. Is there a specific year of pedal that would engage the switch? My truck is an 81. So I'm not sure if that year had the switch on the pedal or by the carb.

Thanks for the pics and help fellas. Keep it coming!

The pedal it NOT depressed in the picture.

There is supposed to be that gap between the pedal & switch as shown.

[v30crewcab]

its only supposed to click the switch at full throttle.

[andyh1956]

Ok I looked at the 1009 & it is just like the photo that 70GMCer posted.
Your pedal arm SEEMS to be at an odd angle from his ours also. When the pedal is at rest / idle position there is about 1" of space between the arm & switch plunger on mine. I can tell you if there was a floor mat or a big layer of carpet in there the pedal would never make it to the plunger.
I think also the switch MAY be adjustable on it's bracket, maybe not.
Have someone depress the pedal while you go look at the carb & confirm you are getting WOT & the cable is not short traveling.
You may have something bent or the wrong pedal.
If it comes down that you have the wrong combo of parts I will look in the wrecked cab & see if that stuff is still there & send it to you.

[fred_e81]

Originally Posted by andyh1956

Ok I looked at the 1009 & it is just like the photo that 70GMCer posted.
Your pedal arm SEEMS to be at an odd angle from his ours also. When the pedal is at rest / idle position there is about 1" of space between the arm & switch plunger on mine. I can tell you if there was a floor mat or a big layer of carpet in there the pedal would never make it to the plunger.
I think also the switch MAY be adjustable on it's bracket, maybe not.
Have someone depress the pedal while you go look at the carb & confirm you are getting WOT & the cable is not short traveling.
You may have something bent or the wrong pedal.
If it comes down that you have the wrong combo of parts I will look in the wrecked cab & see if that stuff is still there & send it to you.

You guys rock! I think I found my issue. I took the throttle cable off and checked if it enages the switch when fully depressed and guess what it does. I installed a new universal throttle cable and I think I made it too short. I thought the pedal was suppose to beat it's highhest point, guess not. And the carpet has about a half inch of padding in that area. I'll lengthen the cable and remove some padding. I'll report back when I get back from summer vacation. How far back from the fire wall should the top of the pedal be when not pressed down (idle)? You guys are a wealth of knowledge!

[andyh1956]

I think you're gonna have to get a helper to hold the pedal down against the switch while you hold the carb throttle open & then set your cable there. The pedal height at rest should be a factor of these two adjustments

[fred_e81]

Andy,

I like the way you think. Takes the guessing and going back and forth out of the equation. That's exactly what I'm going to do. Thanks a bunch! This forum rocks!

[fred_e81]

Results,

I followed Andy's instructions and it works perfect. Got rid of that horrible mess I made and now when I get on it, it drops a gear and goes! Can't say it enough, this forums kicks @$$$!