Hello everyone and happy holiday i just replaced the gas pedal on a 50 shoebox and saw a push button on the floor between the pedal hinge and the throttle connecting rod. I've looked all over the internet, and nothing in my shop manual about it, but I think it has something to do with the overdrive, is this correct. And is there a more complete detailed shop book available thank you
1950's Buicks used a starter button located under the gas pedal. Grandmother almost killed both of us one day starting her 1955 Buick. Launched like a rocket and ended up in a bar ditch. I started riding shotgun and ended up in the back seat.
Kick down switch for the overdrive trans. That is if it still has the overdrive. Sent from my VS988 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It's for overdrive. The starter switch on the Buicks was on the carb, it would be deactivated by engine vacuum once the engine started. The earlier TH400s had the kickdown switch on the carb, but they moved to above the gas pedal starting around 1970ish.
Someone put it there to make someone else ask why. Its been there waiting since about 1952, and you have finally asked the question. Congratulations, you made the button work! There could be a slight possibility that some of the others may have had a more accurate answer... Gene
It’s kinda special switch. When stepped on,it momentarily kills the engine and then kicks the overdrive out, back into high gear. Or something like that. It’s been a while since I messed with one and I never put one in my overdrive that I put in my 1960 Econoline. Just shifted it manually. Bones
In a Ford it's a kick down for overdrive for shore ! In a Packard it's a starter sw. MERRY CHRISTmas all you H A M Bers ! m
I wandered myself, never heard of that before but was curious and looked it up...... At first thought they may have been leavin the bar an ran in the ditch but then thought nah
With OD cable in on Stude truck at about 33mph let up on gas and it shifts into overdrive. Too bad its only like 75 hp!
I used that button for mind-blowing sudden acceleration in 'rolling starts' in 1958-'60 street racing. My '56 Ford convertible was obviously a 'racer', with its 8.20 X 15 rears (painted reversed steel wheels) traction masters, scavengers, and raised suspension... 292" Y, with 3 speed T-86 box, overdrive. Engine built from block, lotsa internals. Fast anyway, is the point. And 'willing to race'. (Street 'gasser-types' then were popular, and we could spot one immediately!) Chevy guys used to want to roll start, "Rear end weak, this is the 3rd!" "Don't want to dead start, might blow the trans!" We'd line up, to roll start at a pole or tree 150 feet away...Chevys (mostly) rolled 25 and shifted to 2nd...I'd push in my overdrive handle and accel in low, letting off and 'faking' a shift to 2nd...actually, the overdrive engaged, so I was in 'low gear overdrive'...thought by the unsuspecting Chevy pilot to be in 2nd, as he was. At the pole, the Chevy would be hard pressed to 'leap' in second, even with the clutching and throttling...but my Ford would shift back into low gear and just leap, right in the power range. Low gear to 60, shift to 2nd, easy 95...then in high, heavy torque pulled hard. Lost ONE race in over 60, to Willy Pettitt, in his new '60 El Camino. (Willy and his Dad were fierce Bonneville contenders, so no tellin' what HE was running...) Probably a Y. LOL
Some Buicks around 1950 had a second button on the floor like the dimmer switch, to change the radio station.
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