Kick Down Rods and Cables

Your car is equipped with an automatic transmission. You stomp on the gas to pass someone on the highway. The transmission downshifts to keep the revs where you need them the most. It doesn't? Maybe you're missing this part!

Cobra Jet Mustangs equipped with a C-6 automatic transmission were also equipped with a device to automatically downshift the transmission under hard acceleration. These kick down devices created a physical link between the accelerator and the shift linkage. In 1968, a mechanism with multiple rods and a cable was used. In 1969 and 1970, a rod and linkage mechanism was used. Differences exist because of changes in the accelerator during the model years and also because a shift lockout rod entered the picture at the start of the 1970 model year.

YearService Part NumberEngineering NumberDescription
1968C6OZ-7A187-BTBD10.25" long cable,
includes trunnion
1969C9ZZ-7A187-BC9ZA-7A186-BSilver rod, 20" long
1970D0ZZ-7A187-AD0ZA-7A186-AGold rod, 28" long

Note that the C6OZ-7A187-B cable was used for several other applications in addition to 428 CJ Mustangs. It was also used for 1966-1968 eight-cylinder Mustangs and 1967-1968 six-cylinder Mustangs. The 1968 cable and the 1969 rod are currently being reproduced.

1968 Kick Down Cable and Linkage

1968 Throttle

1968 Throttle and Accelerator Linkage

1968 Accelerator Pedal

1968 Accelerator Pedal

1968 Kick Down Cable Detail

1968 Kick Down Cable Detail

1969 and 1970 Kick Down Rods

1969 and 1970 Kick Down Rods

1969 (top) and 1970 (bottom) Kick Down Rods

1969 Kick Down Rod Detail

1969 Kick Down Rod Detail

1970 Kick Down Rod Detail

1970 Kick Down Rod Detail

1969 and 1970 Kick Down Rod Linkage

1969 (right) and 1970 (left) Kick Down Rod Linkage

Thanks to Tom Cherry, Royce Peterson, and Larry Schwartz for the pictures used here.