Hello everyone. I was installing my new carb and noticed my kickdown switch connector was off. So I crawled under the car and tried to reattach it but it won't go. There seems to be an obstruction in the female end maybe melted plastic? I'll send a pic soon. So I've been looking for a replacement and the part is hard to find and everything I see says the '71 Riviera should have a 1 pronged connector. Does anyone know the real deal on this? I also noticed the vacuum line from carb to modulator was not connected. The tranny has been shifting and running fine with these two things not connected, what gives? Where does the other end of the 2 kickdown wires go? It's not on the carb. Any help/info is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Normally with the vacuum line to the modulator disconnected, the transmission won't shift except at WOT. Are you sure it's the modulator line? It should come off the back of the intake, and it should be a metal line with rubber on each end. On a 1971 Buick, the second prong was for the TCS (Transmission Controlled Spark System, an emissions device that shut of vacuum advance in 1st and 2nd gear. The vertical prong is for the kickdown. It comes through the firewall in the engine harness. You can use a spade butt connector if you want. https://www.transmissionpartsonline...t.php?TransPartsOnline=400&TransPartsType=400
I'm not a 100% sure it went to modulator. It came off carb and headed that way but I didn't see its end point since it was disconnected. I have a line out of back of intake but that's my brake booster line. I'll look more on Sunday when I work on it again. Thanks.
The transmission vacuum modulator line doesn't come off the carburetor, it comes off the intake across from the power brake take off. These are the TA intakes, but the location is the same.
Okay so I worked on the carb this weekend. You were right Larry, I found the vacuum line from intake to modulator. Its a steel line with rubber at ends. I cut the connector for the kickdown and just spliced some female terminals on the end and installed them. That outlet on the back of the carb had a piece of hose about 18 inches long and it was just hanging down by the tranny. I'm not sure what drive issues that caused. I bought some rubber plugs and capped it off. I got all new vacuum lines so everything is nice and tight and I got everything adjusted. The engine is running nice and smooth now. Next I'll be trying to power time it per your sticky. Thanks for the help everyone.
If that line was hanging, you had a big vacuum leak. The engine would not run right like that. Glad you got it sorted out.
