66 Grand Prix Kick Down Switch
 

Doing a little tidy up under the hood of my "66 Grand Prix and I discovered the Kick Down switch has disintergrated!

Just in case my American friends might call it something else (a detent switch perhaps??), this is the switch when applying full throttle, it triggers the auto trans to change down.

So I look on the Ames site. Nothing..... No mention that I can see.

Anyone got any clues what to replace this with and where I might buy one??

Thanks

Ian:ausflag::ausflag::ausflag:

You´ll need these parts to restore your kickdown switch:

https://www.amesperf.com/parts/searc...&term=kickdown

HTH

Hey, THANKS Kenth.

Don't know why I couldn't find these yesterday? I typed in "Kickdown" but kept coming back with nothing on the pages.

I really appreciate your reply.

Regards from Australia

Ian:ausflag::ausflag::ausflag:

If those repair parts will not restore your switch to working condition here is another idea. That switch can be replaced with the later switch used on for example on a 1969 Grand Prix. That switch is also available in the Ames catalog. It goes inside the car on the gas pedal. Requires some drilling and fitment and adjustment. Not that difficult though. This moves the switch out from under the hood and the heat. Run the wires through the firewall inside the cabin. I have repaired several of the 65-66 cars that way where the entire switch was missing or non-functional. It's an option. Having that switch working makes a turbo 400 Much nicer to drive.

Thanks. Yes, I've considered that type of switch. That same switch was used for years on Holdens from about 1970 (maybe earlier) to the middle 1980's over here for all types of transmissions. TH350, TH400 and predominantley on Trimatics.

Ideally I would like to use the original type switch if possible though. Mine has badly corroded where the brass nipple is screwed (maybe its pressed??) into the alloy housing. Can't get it out but I'll keep trying. However I think there were millions of 1965-1966 big cars with the AFB and a TH400 so surely there must be plenty of them remaining tucked under benches or on dead cars.

Love to get the correct item if I can

Ian:ausflag::ausflag::ausflag:

The switch you are looking for is in the 64-65 Tempest/GTO parts for sale forum. Looks like it was listed yesterday. It's for the 2 speed ST300 transmission, but I think it is the same switch for a Turbo 400. Check it out. Pretty pricey, but getting harder to find.

Thank you Steve.

I saw that. I wondered if it was a typo on the price??? Seems a lot of money to me. By the time is got here it would owe me about A$500.00

However I have been offered one (not complete) by a member and he is posting it over to me. I'm hoping I can use his plus the parts offered by Ames to get a complete and working one back in the car.

The odd thing is, I drove the car up to a mates house in the country a couple of weeks ago. Where he lives involves some steepish hills so I was exercising the accelerator a bit and the car was performing well. As it always does. My kick-down switch has never worked in the 26 years I've owned the car so maybe I'm in for a surprise!!

Ian:ausflag::ausflag::ausflag:

Once working, that switch will put the engine right in the range of maximum torque. You will notice a huge difference. Between 35-70 MPH, it will feel like a different car.

A few years ago I waited several months for those parts to come off back order and finally gave up. I went with a NOS activation switch off the carburetor. Much cheaper and continues to work great. This is on the '65 2+2.