I did an engine swap on my 89 lo3 a while back, and have never had the transmission right. I put a GMPP 350HO with an edelbrock carb on top. I got a Lokar TV cable and it wouldn't shift at proper RPMs.

I come online for some inspiration, and find that Bowtie Overdrives takes their TV cables seriously. I got the braided line kit, and installed it. It worked ok, but never perfectly. A week after I installed it, I found that it shifted late. I took the cable off, and it binds within itself. It's hard to explain, but it's like the sheath that covers the cable has rifling like a rifle barrel, so when I twist the top of the cable, the bottom doesn't always follow. It has to be pushed or pulled and turned at the same time. When it's pushed or pulled and doesn't turn, it binds inside the sheath. After a couple times of doing that, it binds, and doesn't shift properly.

It's been like this for a while, and I've dealt with it, but finally got a factory replacement for a TBI vehicle because I've seen enough posts where they say it works. The people never specified whether it worked or not, just that they'd get a new cable. I put it on, and it's too long. I know how to adjust it, and it still doesn't shift right. My problem might be with the spring that I had to put in with the Bowtie Overdrives system. It doesn't snap the TV cable back like it should.

Is the cable ok, and the spring is the wrong tension? Is the cable still wrong? I just want the car to shift properly before I take on the 1st time swap of gears/disk brakes in the rear.

I'm tired of it acting up, and I want it to finally shift properly. I believe it's possible to put a 4l60e in and be able to change the shifts through an aftermarket computer, but the cable will still be needed. I'm sure I could calibrate the new transmission easier with a computer, instead of a cable with no pressure guage.

 

you could always go with a fullmanual valve body, this will eliminate the
TV cable. However you will have to shift it yourself.

 

Get the cable for a carbed application.

Then make sure you get the right little linkage piece that Edelbrock sells to provide an attachment point on their carb with the correct geometry to work the cable.

Should fit and work MUCH easier than graunching a TBI cable onto it. Which still would require the correct accessory piece for the carb, regardless.

 

I used a Lokar set up when I did my engine swap. It seems very nice after I had everythign set up. It has a real fine adjustment to make sure it is tight at WOT.

 

Alright, I'm goin back with the Lokar setup. Since I've long since parted with the Lokar kit, I'm getting a new setup.

Lokar Cable

Lokar Bracket

Edelbrock Bracket 1

Edelbrock Bracket 2

The cable looks fine, but the bracket is my next question. The Lokar bracket holds the throttle, the TV cable, and throttle return springs. Seems like one handy package. The edelbrock packages don't accept the return springs, and I need a better bracket than the one I have now to hold the springs.

Maybe I never properly adjusted the TV Cable on the Lokar kit, but it did deliver the best results. I would properly adjust the kit if I could, but don't have a guage.

Anyone know where I could get a pressure guage for the transmission? I've seen how it's put in, but I can only find one off-name brand guage, with nothing included.

VDO Transmission guage

Thanks for the replies so far. I haven't been able to drive it in a while, and I'm gettin antsy.

 

Anyone got any ideas?

 

Yes...If you don't do that, you can hook up 50 gauges to it every day, and twice on Sundays; and the trans will still NEVER EVER work right, and WILL NOT last, because the cable won't be pulled by the throttle the right amount.

Spend less mental effort on what the cable "looks" like, and more on whether you get the SYSTEM to work right. If of course, you want your transmission to survive for more than a couple of weeks.

The Edelbrock bracket and the linkage piece for the carb will all fit and work right with a STOCK CARB TV cable.

 

I mislabled the Edelbrock brackets as cables. There are two semi-identical edelbrock TV brackets. I linked both because I can't tell which one is the right one for my application. I can put the tv cable on and see if it shifts right, but that's like tuning by ear. I like doing it the way people that get paid to do it.

I don't care what the cable looks like anymore. Dressing the engine up was nice when everything would work, but now I just want functionality.

Which year thirdgen had a carb and 700r4?

 

83-87

Doesn't have to be a thirdgen; ANY Chevy small block with a Q-Jet and a 700 in those years, would have the same brakcet.

Whether a stock BRACKET will fit an Edlebrock carb, I seriously doubt.

You need 3 pieces:

Bracket
Cable
Linkage piece


The bracket is the dumbest and easiest of all. All it has to do, is hold the cable outer jacket still.

The cable speaks for itself.

The linkage piece attaches to the carb linkage, and extends it in the correct direction by the correct distance to pull the cable the right distance in the right pattern as the linkage moves.

You need all 3 pieces.

You'll probably do best to get the Edelbrock bracket; and CERTAINLY they'll be the only source for the linkage piece (except maybe BTO).

 

I used an Edelbrock throttle cable bracket (Summit # EDL-8031) and a TV corrector kit (Summit # SUM-700203).

 

I've been broke for a while, and focusing on other things so I've let the Firebird sit in an auto cocoon in the driveway. I've noticed that PartsAmerica.com (Aka CSKauto.com) lists the same cable for an 89 tpi and 84 4bbl. Could that be right? I'd rather buy a new cable for $20 than to have to sit in oil and dirt working on a and then haggle with the junkyard people.

The part number it replaces is different for each one, but the new part number is the same

Old part number
84 4bbl: 10027632
89 TPI: 10034332

New part number: CA1110

I've already got this cable, just have to pick up the bracket and corrector kit to see if it works out.

 

Yes, that could conceivably be right; there would just be a kind of alot of extra cable you'd have to lose somehow on the 4-bbl. Make a loop or something.

 

Got the parts today and tried installing them. The Edelbrock kit I'm now noticing is for everything but Vortec heads which came on the engine. Part number 8032 instead of 8031 is what I need.

The Geometry corrector is also meant to have a clip-on throttle cable. Not what my Lokar cable is. The directions say to go to a "performance" shop to just grab a new piece.

So $60+ in parts that don't work for my car. Looks like I'll be putting in another parts order soon.

 

I might be able to make the geometry corrector work, but it'll be a tight fit. I just don't have much teeth for the nut to grab onto for the throttle cable. I'll just work with that until I can find a bigger screw with the correct size ball on it.

The 8031 is for sale if anyone wants it.

 

For the money you've spent and all the parts, you should of spent the money up front for the Bow Tie Overdrive kit to hook up your carb. Their kits are specific carb combos with very detailed instructions. I had never worked with overdrive trans before transplanting one into my 82 Z a couple of years ago. Worked perfect with just one small adjustment after the intitial install. I bought a pressure gauge off E-Bay and took the readings per their instructions and called them into them. The kit was a little expensive, but a small price compared to the 1800.00 the trans cost.

 

he had that kit in the first post and couldn't get it to work for his application.
----------
any progress?

 

Well I see he did, however, he went with the braided kit, I went with the stock style cable and with it came the spring he talked about along with the plate that was bolted under the carb and the necessary pieces to hook the thottle and tv cable and get the correct geometry throughout the travel of both the throttle and tv cable. Did he have all this or did he have just the cable and spring? The brackets that came with my setup allowed for some very fine tuning of the tv cable so that it was spot on with only one adjustment. Since he tried a stock type and it was supposed to be for a tbi setup, is this correct for a carb such as the Edelbrock? I don't know without going to their website and doing a little fishing. It just doesn't sound like he had the right stuff for his application. When I got done with mine and did the pressure test and wrote all my numbers down and called them, they said my pressures were right where they needed to be. At this point, if he has driven for any length time, maybe there's some damage to the trans now. A friend of mine ruined his trans in a very short time with a misadjusted tv cable. I hope it is ok for him.

 

Ordered the new part. Should be here next week.

I had the Edelbrock kit from BTO, and it had the cam adjustment and the cable preload. The problem was the cable. It would bind from the beginning, and I couldn't get an accurate adjustment. Changing the cam's position made noticable differences, but it still wouldn't shift properly or at the correct RPM.

I've learned my lesson. The pretty parts aren't as functional as the stock style. The stock style is dependable for a reason; functionality first/appearance second.

 

I hope this clears up your problems, good luck and let me know.

 

riding along on this train as well. need to get my part throttle shift points down.

 

Well now. Played around with the linkage for a while, and the Edelbrock bracket is real customizable. I've tried multiple settings, yet it still shifts like doo doo. At the moment, it's set the same distance as the stock style on my l98. Figured it might be the right distance, since I have nothing else to go on.

When i adjust it, it doesn't keep tension at idle. It always has a little slack no matter how far back I adjust it. It's about 1/4" slack, and I can't get it to set properly. Even If I pull the cable all the way out, it doesn't ratchet back.

Is something in the transmission broken? Worn? No matter what, it should still shift at the proper RPM, right?

 

i gave in and bought an EZ kit for my holley. stock style cable. should be here monday.

 

Does anybody know if the TV cable is the culprit? I'd like to get this thing back on the road again.

 

I think the TV cable might be wrong again...

I was looking at parts again, and part numbers have changed. The TPI and Carb cable is no longer the same part number. Looks like I'll be ordering another part.

 

B&M also makes an adjustable universal cable, if you can't find anything else.

What hole on the Edelbrock throttle arm do you have the TV cable stud in? (This is a trick question)

 

The geometry corrector kit has only 1 location, at the bottom of the throttle arm.