Anyone running Tremec TKO 500/600 in a 40 coupe

I am thinking about running one of these in my 40 Ford coupe and looking for any info on mounting, fitting, shifter location, clutch linkage ETC... Thanks in advance Mike

 

Nobody? Is anybody running one in anything else?

 

I just replaced an FE Ford top loader in my '40 ch***is build with a TKO 600. The TKO is a liitle narrower, (because of internal shift linkage) and a little taller, but will still require a modified "X" and floor, the amount depending on engine choice and location. It won't bolt in to replace a stock '40 3 speed, if that's your question.

 

I ain't got one yet. But the TKO series are made to bolt up to Ford Chevy or MOPAR bellhousings, so the linkage and clutch would depend on which bell you used. Just match the clutch hub splines to the transmission input shaft. The most forward shifter location would be close to a '39 and earlier Ford car ****** or an early pick up top shift trans.
I really want one, but two grand is a wad of cash to me.

 

Thanks for the replies. I should have posted more information. I am going to be using it along with a SBC. I ***umed the trans mount area of the ch***is would need some modification. I am planning on a hydraulic slave activated clutch. How about shifter location and the stock floor pan? I know in some muscle cars the tunnel needs to be made bigger.

 

I have been running a TKO600 in my Plymouth for about 8 years now, and it's the best money I ever spent on a car. Period! I would skip the mid mount (although I think it would work in your situation) and go directly to the front mount. It should put the shifter within an inch or two of where the original Ford top shift trans would poke through if that's what you were running. Also, the shifters I have used on other Tremec transmisions have been a bunch more positive than the mid mount for some reason.
As far as putting it into a '40 frame, I don't see where you would have to do a bunch of cutting. With the internal rail design, you don't have to do the bump out for the shifter that has been hacked into soooo many early Ford frames. I would think that just removing the stock mount and making a flat plate should get you there. I'm not sure how wishbone clearance would handle itself, but I would put a dollar or two down that you could run it intact. These are a bit taller because of the internal rail shifter, so I would not be suprised if you had to bump the top of the cover a bit to make it all fit. just my .02.

 

Thanks Need Louvers, Thats what I was hoping to hear. My coupe has column shift now so there isnt any hole in the floor yet. I was hoping maybe the reversed rear position would work with a tall bench seat style shifter.

On a side note: I see that now I mentioned it is going to have a SBC, it gets rated at a 1 star LOL!!! Thanks kid ; )

 

I have a 3550 in my 40. Pretty much the same issues that you'll have with the TKO.

I used the mid-mount and agree with need louvers - it's a little soft on the ends of travel but works fine. I had a TH350 with Ch***is Engineering stuff in the center of the X. Both top and bottom plates were modified. The top one was raised quite a bit to clear the rear shifter location and the bottom was clearanced about an inch to clear the belly of the transmission. I think even the reversed rear shifter might be hard to fit in while maintaining the strength of the center X.

I raised trans tunnel (using the stock inspection cover) 1-1.5" as well as the front foot or so of the driveshaft tunnel. I'm running the stock seat and it hits the top of the tunnel now.

The speedo cable on mine hooks up OK but it's hard to reach. The neutral switch and reverse switch are disabled. Neutral didn't fit in the frame and reverse didn't work with the mid-shift. The TKO might be different in these areas.

I used a V8 Monza bellhousing that points the clutch fork down at 7 or 8 o'clock to keep the fork from hitting the brake pedal. The fork pulls opposite the normal direction and works will with the Monza clutch cable. I think the Chevy II bell has the fork in the same location and pulls the normal direction - others here will know for sure.

If I was going to do it over, I'd use the front shifter location but other than that I have no complaints.

 

My '40 coupe had a Chevy and TH 350 in it when I bought it almost sixteen years ago. The original builder had utilized the common Ch***is Engineering TH 350 trans mount. Note that the CE mount also utilizes provisions to mount a slightly-split wishbone. I replaced the TH 350 with a TKO 600. The upper CE plate only required some minor notching to make room for a bulge in the TKO output housing. With the shifter moved to the center location on the trans, it comes out somewhat rearward of where Henry's location would be with a '39 trans shifter, but certainly looks and feels "right", especially if you adapt a '39-like "swan" shifter. Very "do-able" deal without un-realistic ch***is surgery. Can't think of a better trans choice, as suggested by NEED LOUVERS. DD

 

I'm running a TKO 500 in my Mopar.5k miles with no problems!