The Holley carb we have put in foyr my Pazton supercharger has no transmission kickdown lever. Is this is big issue or a non-issue? As a novice I am unclear as to what "kickdown" actually refers to and it's performance impact. I assume with a 4-speed this is not an issue. But I have an automatic stock C code.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

I am unclear on what tranny you have, is it an auto or 4 speed? Also what intake are you using new? stock? and what type of throttle linkage are you using cable? mechanical?

 

Are you taling about when you floor the gas and it drops the gear. I think that is the kick down lever i might be wrong though.

 

Ive never used a kickdown lever since I changed to an 8 from a 6.I had trouble finding one to fit so I just never got around to it.I use the shifter to drop down to second when passing.The vacuum modulator does the rest of the downshifting for me in town.Personally I dont miss it.
If you want one,you can make it yourself out of steel tubing.Just flatten the ends and drill your holes.A small pipe bender will do the rest.

 

heres a good post of what a kickdown rod does

The downshift linkage puts pressure on the downshift valve. Under most normal or under extreme driving conditions the effect is minimal if you don't have one. However the downshift valve is connected hydraulically to three valves. It sends a pressure signal to the throttle boost valve which adds presure to main regulated pressure under heavy throttle before the downshift occurs.It also sends pressure to the 2-3 shift, backout and cutback valves. These pressure signals are modified by the governor secondary valve circuitry. If the downshift valve is not in use and you run a stock main pressure then under intermediate and heavy throttle pressure you can cheat yourself of some of the pressure that would delay shifting to a point where the engine would be producing enough speed to make it easier on the transmission.
The kick-down linkage is not a throttle pressure regulator like the Chrysler transmissions have (or the newer AOD and AODE) but it does influence the shift timing along with the vacuum modulator. It also supplies pressure to keep the main regulator valve from dumping pressure as quickly as it will without it in use.
Overall you probably will not notice anything under normal travel to and from the grocery store unless you have a steep hill on the way to the store. If you drive your car like you are on a NASCAR track you probably won't notice it either but if your driving is in downtown Seattle where you start on a hill and accellerate through the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts while climbing that hill in traffic you will not only notice a lack of performance and early shifts but it will cause premature wear and heat that will cause plate warpage of (typically) the forward clutches and the high/reverse clutches. These are the places where the effects will show first.