but going down to NPD on saturday to fullfill my b-day wish list. (It's growing...) May be a blonde question, but with a TH350, I am getting the trans cooling line kit, but they offer a modulator line too. What is it, and do I need it?

Looking forward to this. Saved tax money to spend on parts. Any suggestions? (be reasonable) Got all the sheetmetal and interior except for moldings and dash switches. got those on the list.

Why buy a trans cooling kit in Michigan? Dont you have the Radiator with the trans cooler in it? If not, buy a trans cooling kit. If you mean the vacuum modulator, then yeah, install a new one if it has been a long time. they're not to expensive and the modulator controls shift points and tells the tranny what kind of load is being put on it.

It gets warm in mi. Nothing wrong with a trans cooler at all!! are you just buying the lines or are you adding a cooler?

The modulator hard line goes between a short piece of hose attached to the modulator on the trans and a short piece of hose on a fitting on the intake. The openings on the ends of the hardline are smaller diameter than the diameter of the body of the hardline, so I think the hardline helps with metering the vacuum signal.

The modulator helps control shift points at part throttle, and in my opinion it's best to keep the system generally as the factory installed it, and therefore I would get and use a factory style hardline. GM spent a lot of time and engineering talent to develop systems like this, and absent a good reason to change something, I prefer to keep things like this factory.

The alternative would be to have a long length of vacuum hose, and that can get pinched, cut, caught, etc. You can also get bulk tubing, like for brake lines, and bend your own. But for all the more the prebent lines cost...

they offer a modulator line too. What is it, and do I need it?


Yes you need one.It runs from the intake behind the carb. to the vacum modulator on the trans.The modulator controls when the trans. shifts .Its a little round (usually gold in color) part on the right rear of the trans.Glad to hear you are working on your car.

As Chad has stated it is a vacuum line. You will need it. You could just get a length of hose and cut it to size from the hardware store. I just pulled my TH350 and that's all it is.

Thanks. No one gonna make suggestions for the wish list? Hmmm

Cowl hood added to the wish list???

Get the deluxe firewall pad if you don't already have one.

I bought the cheap one and am not pleased. I am told the NPD deluxe is the way to go.

Thanks. No one gonna make suggestions for the wish list? Hmmm

Thanks. No one gonna make suggestions for the wish list? HmmmDepends on how big the tax check is!!! We sure can spend money ya' know!:yes:....Jb

Okay, got the vac line too. Here's another one. I don't know what year the trans is. It is a TH350. NPD offers 2 kickdown cables. Without knowing the year of the trans how do I pick?

Got the cowl hood last year, and the firewall pad. I posted another tranny question on that forum to be added to this list. I am at 750.00 and still have a few dollars. Hmmm don't want the windshield yet or it will get broken. Exhaust is questionable at this point. May be able to modify one that was given to me. Paint? Not ready yet. I'd post the current list but I'd be here a while...;)

Mary Beth if you can check on the pass. side of the lower bellhousing there is a flat spot with numbers stamped on it. Post those maybe someone can tell you by that. I did a little reasearch myself and thisis what I came up with if it helps. Ther are 2 TH350's. The early ones and the TH350C's that had a lock up torque converter. The TH350C were from late '79-84. You can ID these by an elec. plug on the left side of the tranny. So if you don't have that it should be pre late 79. If that helps. Also maybe some useless info the TH350 had part codes M33. M38 and M39. The TH350C had part codes MV4, MX2, MX3 and MX5. This is all info that I got off the web not out of my brain. So post your numbers and we'll see if we can narrow it down to what yr. and what it came out of.

Just to clarify something here- I believe on TH350, you choose which way you want the Tranny to be synchronized with engine speed. Either use the vac modulator OR the kick down cable, but NOT both. They do the same thing. The modulator softens the shifts under heavy vaccum at low engine speeds, and withdrawls under low vacuum/high RPMs. The kick-down follows the gas pedal- little less elegant but the same outcome.

Just to clarify something here- I believe on TH350, you choose which way you want the Tranny to be synchronized with engine speed. Either use the vac modulator OR the kick down cable, but NOT both. They do the same thing. The modulator softens the shifts under heavy vaccum at low engine speeds, and withdrawls under low vacuum/high RPMs. The kick-down follows the gas pedal- little less elegant but the same outcome.

Mine was hooked up both ways as you describe. Came out of the tranny shop that way. Always worked fine. Maybe someone else can give some insight.

Just to clarify something here- I believe on TH350, you choose which way you want the Tranny to be synchronized with engine speed. Either use the vac modulator OR the kick down cable, but NOT both. They do the same thing. The modulator softens the shifts under heavy vaccum at low engine speeds, and withdrawls under low vacuum/high RPMs. The kick-down follows the gas pedal- little less elegant but the same outcome.

You can certainly run both. The kickdown cable is just that - a kickdown cable. I downshifts the trans when you mat the pedal. Probably every T350 cranked out by GM had a vac mod AND a kickdown cable.

Okay....guess I'm going under the car tonight....bbrrrr it's cold

I think if you run both, the kick-down cable over rules. I went back and read some of the posts on this topic- seems the modulator does control shift points but i dunno... i just swapped a tranny out of my car that had this plugged off, honestly i didn't think I was missing anything.

Well, my kids had other plans for me last night so I didn't make it under the car, hence, no numbers to post. Kids are at the "ex's" this weekend so it shouled be little easier.

Okay, got the vac line too. Here's another one. I don't know what year the trans is. It is a TH350. NPD offers 2 kickdown cables. Without knowing the year of the trans how do I pick?

I checked NPD site and I think you will need C-4050-3A. That is the one for our year camaros. But wait till you confirm with your tranny id numbers. You can go to the CRG site and do a decode there. Does your car not have a cable on it now? What state of repair or restoration are you in?

Not able to get under the car. Engine and trans are installed because there is no place to store them out of the car for the winter (2 gar garage with the Nomad in it too). Compressor is still disconnected so I have no air. As for state of resto? All sheet metal is installed and just a few spots need final welds. (wheel well, trunk latch, trunk weatherstrip rails)

my mechanic unhooked my kickdown cable with the set up I have in my signature. He said that for 1/4 mile drag racing or just street stuff it is best.:beers:

I can't get to the trans by going under the car. Too much in the way. (headers etc) dang...it's cold out there. Tried again after visiting CRG website. If I had to guess, I'd say the pan has been replaced. There are no stampings of any type on it.