This has been bothering me for a while now. I replaced the 200c with a TH350 in my 82 camaro about 2 years ago. Just before my engine wiped out on me a month and a half ago, I my vacume modulator (I think that's what it's called needed replaced). I couldn't figure out what was wrong, so I had a shop fix it. When I picked it up, he said I had the wrong detent cable so it won't downshift on the highway when I gas on it. This confused me. I thought that since it is a 3 speed without overdrive, when I'm doing 55-70 and gas on it it's normal for it not to downshift. So was this mechanic smoking something, or have I been living with an improperly working tranny for 2 years?

 

Yes there is a downshift or detent cable
on a turbo 350 and it should be hooked up.
Not only does it control kickdown but also controls line pressure along with the vacuum
modulator.

 

That's not what I'm asking. I have a detent cable on there. I think it's the correct one. The mechanic said it was the wrong one. My question is will my TH350 downshift on the highway when I'm doing 55 or so when I gas on it? It doesn't do it now, and I thought that was normal.

 

it will if the cable is hooked up correctly

 

Thanks. Guess I gotta go figure out what I need to do now.

 

That would depend on the rpm you are at before kickdown. If it downshifts to second the rpm will increase by X 1.52
The governor sets the speed range (rpm) where
automatic shifts occur. If you have a relitivly high rear gear ratio like 3.73:1
and a low governor like 4000 rpm, it may not allow a kickdown at 55 to 70 mph.
Test to see what rpm the trans upshifts at
full throttle while in Drive. It will not exeed this rpm on a kickdown, unless the valvebody is modified or the governor changed. All this assumes that the kickdown cable is hooked up and adjusted properly.
Hope this helps ya...

[This message has been edited by F-BIRD'88 (edited November 07, 2001).]

 

Well, I have stupid 2.73 gears. At 70, I'm at about 2,800 rpm. At WOT, it shifts about 5,200 rpm. From what you're saying, it should downshift. I believe the detent cable is from the 200c. I don't think it was changed, so the mechanic saying it's the wrong cable makes sense. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. First, I need to get a new engine in my car and get it running. I really want overdrive, because I do a lot of highway driving. The guy that built the transmission I have now has 3 700R4s he's built and is thinking about trading me straight up for my TH350. If that happens, I won't even worry aobut the detent cable, but we'll see.

------------------
The Sumbitch is Broken
82 Camaro:350, Erson cam, ported heads,Comp Cams 1.6:1 rocker arms, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, Holley 600cfm,
TH350 tranny with 2500 stall, Eibach Pro Kit, SLP 1 3/4" headers with 3" Flowmaster exhaust