KIck down / Passing gear

Howdy all got a question. My passing gear works once in a great while but usually doesnt. Anyone know how to adjust/check this out?
Glenn
BTW its an auto 3 spd

is it a TH 400 or a Th 350 ??

I had a similar problem on my last 69..

the bracket that the kick down switch was mounted to was bent..

it still wasnt as touchy as I wanted it so I took some flat washers and wrapped them in electrical tape and slid them over the switch rod.. never came off and it made the kickdown very very effective.. helped to compensate for the 3.08 gears.

To be honest with you Im not sure whitch trans I have. Is there an easy way to tell? Where would the kickdown switch be located at? Most times ve seen the cable attached to the carb, but on the vette Im just not finding it
Thanx
Glenn

The transmission pan for the 350 is rectangle with a corner cut off at an angle.
The transmission pan for a 400 is rectangle with two corners with large notches.

it is electrically activated by a switch under the dash..

crawl under the drivers side dash and push the pedal..

look for a switch that the pedal linkage interacts with...

this is the kickdown switch...

make sure the bracket isnt bent...

run a continuity test to make sure it is working..

mine i can get to kick down to 2nd gear but not 1st ,whats up with that?

The 400 has the electric. The 350 is cable. Which one do you have, and at what speed and rpm does it kick down to second? It may be dropping to second on other factors. It depends on which trans you have.

one of the things you can do for fun and it makes a good test... (only do this for fun if your transmission is SOLID) wire in a switch in parallel to your gas pedal kick down switch....

then you can "manually" engage the kick down

I really dont miss automatics.. all three of my cars are sticks... so much more fun and much more predictable and reliable.

ken, i have the 400 it will kick down to 2nd at any time i punch it, but i thought it should kick down to 1st if i was below 30 mph, it don't go in to 1st till i slow down to 10 mph or i shift it to 1st myself??

That would be a function of the valve body. The 2nd kickdown indicates the electrical switch is working. I suspect you have a sticking check ball, sticking spool valve, or similar problem in your present valve body. Perhaps a bit of crud. You might try a trans cleaner, drive it a while, then change the filter and fluid. Might or might not help. You could install a mild shift kit. This would require removing then valve body, and you could clean and check for the valve to move freely and smoothly.