Kickdown linkage, is it necessary?

[boxfox]

What is the purpose of the kickdown linkage?
 I've had mine off for about a year now because I thought it was just useless, it only downshifts the transmission from say 3rd to 2nd...2nd to first when your flooring the gas pedal right? or am I thinking of something else?
The transmission still shifts up and down.
But I had my 72Challenger at the drag strip and was cautioned by some guys that not having it connected would burn up the transmission, I just don't see how though.

[Challenger6pak]

It is necessary.  As I understand it, the linkage tells the transmission how for the carburetor is open so the transmission will shift at the optimum shift point.  The transmission will work without the linkage.  It will not work as well and mileage will suffer.

[dodge freak 2]

It increases the trans oil pressure for the clutches and bands to hold tighter and also delays the shifts.

Your must been rig to like halfway-at least 1/4 way in. Goes fully in at wot..well with the kickdown linkage hooked up it will.

Your trans must shift way out of whack! Shift points are a mess--if you know it or not. 

It really should be there and cable kits are sold now witch are neater.

I still dis-like it and went with a manual valve body but they YOU-the driver have to up and downshift. With 3.90 gears I can live with it since 2nd gear is enough most times.

[boxfox]

Well the transmission is at the shop right now being fixed.. I don't know if the problem was related yet or not...I had a strange scratching noise coming from the transmission in drive and neutral but not park or reverse and some weird shuddering started occurring whenever I'd go half-throttle, and when I pulled the tran pan I found silver metal shavings, so it went to the shop and is there until tomorrow hopefully. Its an automatic 3 speed 727..
 
It seemed to shift fine until about two months ago the speeds it shifted at seemed to vary, 3rd gear used to come around 35 MPH and then it started not shifting until 45 MPH

[Bullitt-]

Get ya one of these cable kits
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=69152.0

[Tonefiend]

Mine is all screwed up amd in effect, just hanging there so it's not working.  The car runs fine, I am sure I am sacrificing mileage, and it would be nice to have it downshift. 

That is next on my list to fix.

A friend told me I will have to drop the motor and trans to access the linkage where it connects to the trans, is this true?

[Kapteenikosmos]

You don't need to drop the engine or trans. Just jack the car up high enough that you can fit under the car and you can work on it from there (don't forget the jack stands). I didn't have the original kick down linkage when I got the car so I installed a Lokar cable kit for my system and it was very easy to install.

[BB73Challenger]

My understanding is it is not just a matter of shift points without a kickdown...

you will kill the trans!!

The kickdown tells the trans to grab harder - otherwise slip is alowed and we all know the result.

[6packCuda]

Yes, the kickdown is necessary. It boosts line pressure when you're under hard throttle to hold the frictions and bands from slipping. You will burn up your tranny quick without it especially if you drive it hard. Some guys just tie the kd lever back in the full boost position too. This is better than not running it at all, but running at full boost all of the time is hard on your internal seals and will cause premature failure. The  best option is to run the kickdown lever. It would't be there if it wasn't necessary.

[Tonefiend]

Thanks guys, it looks like I am fixing this sooner thanlater!

[boxfox]

Seems I'll be putting mine back on as well, thanks for the info

[dodge freak 2]

Well the transmission is at the shop right now being fixed.. I don't know if the problem was related yet or not...

It sure the heck was--sometimes you can wipe out the trans in one high speed run

[Cooter]

As stated above....You will fry the trans if you do not run the kickdown linkage....That "Shudder" you felt? That was more than likely the clutches trying to grab from low line pressure...
The ONLY time you do not run KDL would be with a Manual Valve body where it has been deleted...Of course, then you'd have to manually shift it...