Hey guys, has anyone here put a Tremec TKO 600 trans into a lighter ride like a 32 coupe/roadster? I'm looking at trans options for my blown Hemi and do NOT want an auto in my ride. Options are: G Force Street 5 speed (heard good and bad about the trans AND G Force) Tremec TKO 600 (heard mostly good things but a bit cumbersome in the shifting dept) Borg Warner T56 6 speed (mostly good stuff but fitment /shifter location is a prob) I realise none of these are traditional but then again no trad trans would hold up anyways so here I go. What ya cant see ya cant see. Anyone here used any of these behind a combo with some HP/TQ and how did they stack up? Criteria inc fitment, reliability, shift feel, setup etc etc... Any info would be great thanx ! BTW the Tremec TKO 600 bolts up to a Lakewood bellhousing which would (Im guessing) bolt up to an adaptor to enable the b/hosuing to bolt to the back of the Hemi. Anyone done this? Rat
Just put tko 600 in my sedan last week it seems to take the 500 hp well. The shifting is not that bad seems that shifting easy is more of a problem than grabbing gears. over all I think it would be a good choise.
I have the earlier 3550 in mine. It's based on the Ford toploader 4 speed so if you liked that feel, you'll be happy.
Done a few, handle horsepower and shift nicer than any other. Better packaging and options than a T56 Do it!
I had a friend with a Tremec in a late model Mustang... That thing shifted like he threw a handful of sand in it. I mean it was HORRIBLE. I'd rather shifted my Toploader with a big hole in the floor and reachin' down and flipping the shafts by hand. I have driven cars though where they're just perfectly fine. Something tells me the answer is in the gear lube (actually gotta drain and refill the Toploader in my Galaxie, it's none-to-happy about the synth-blend I put in it). His car had some sorta 5.0-based stroker, I don't remember the number. And a Paxton.
The TKO's have inconsistent build quality, some shift great some shift terrible. I have heard a lot about the 2nd to 3rd shift problem on the TKO. Companies have converted many to a 'proshift' set-up. Replacement parts are sometimes hard to get. Deterred me from getting one. Marty McF.
I have used a T 3550 for years. There is only ONE acceptable lubricant for these. Genuine GM Synchromesh lube. Fortier Mustang sold me the trans, and highly suggested I upgrade the shifter. I did. I am very happy with Fortier, and the trans. If you want to save money, put in junk. For the good stuff, you have to step up.
I put one in my wife's '63 Vette. It's nice, but 5th gear is louder than I like. I'm hoping it will get quieter with time.
Pass on the G-Force BW T-5, you will explode it. It is an improved box for a 305 smog motor, basically the same trans as a 280ZX Datsun. I have run Tremec transmissions. They are subject to gear rattle, and are typically quite noisy. They are notchy, they shift like shit compared to a 4 gear box. Getting third is a guess, vauge trying not to engage 5th, watch out for fourth not to cram it into reverse. The 600 will be the strongest for your big engine, how fast do you drive? What RPM do you want at crusing speed? Further, a 2.97 1st gear is a waste of time in a lightweight, big power rod unless you are drag racing. With the big power you have 6 speeds are completely unusable. .50 6th??? Bonneville? That is a fuel economy gear. IMO the NASCAR type 4 speeds are the way to go, Jericho, Richmond. You cannot miss a shift, they are strong, and you can have a real shifter. Let that big engine pull the gears. Determine what RPM you want at cruise speeds, then get the rear gear. 3:00 is a decent compromise, I am running a 2:75 right now and it fits the freeway speeds.
I don't know much about them, but I have heard that there are not many good shifters on the market for them.
Thanx for the feedback guys.... Pretty much confirms what Ive already heard. Some good, some not so good, esepcialyy re shifting. No one seems to question the TKOs HP/TQ capability though. For a 2K + trans, you'd think the thing would shift REAL good. I have heard about how critical it is to run the right tranny fluid though. Blackout, I really want/need a 5 speed OD trans so a 4 speed is out. This is a true dual purpose ride and will see trips on the intersate often I want the OD. With the T56, there are versions available here that can run a choice of .65 to .75 OD which would make the OD more real/user friendly. It would have been nice to have a trans that is of consistant quality from a strength & shifting/noise perpective. Any more input would be great ! Rat
Since we all have our opinions - and you asked. I have a TKO 600 and like it. Having the many options for shifter location and speedo options were a big part of the decision. I bought the "road race" gear set which has a bit higher first and only .82 OD to better space out the gear steps. Tremec says not to shift the trans above 6000 RPM, so know that upfront. They also tell you how to break it in during initial driving - but not everyone does. I'm using the mid shifter location. I've heard that the front shifter location does create some potential issues. And we all have different styles and expectations - alot like your preference in women! Of all the options available for an OD 5 speed for a street rod, I still think the TKO 500 / 600 is the best option - and with your blown hemi you really don't have any other choice. You'd toast a T56. If you want a bulletproof, power shifted box - buy a Lenco. But for your stated dual purpose ride, get the TKO600. And if you get one that's a bit noisy, you'll never know because you'll never hear it over the blower whine!
Haha yeah the blower whine !! Alternative shifter position with the TKO 600 is a good thing for my setup as well. Re the T56, there are tranny guys that build nice T56s transmissions thatll take SEVERE abuse with better then Viper internals as well. The weak points are eliminated and the strengths are improved. But they are $$$$ more. J mountian Jr....I didnt know about the 6K "limit" on the TKO? Why is that? Is that only reqd when breaking it in? Rat
I have a TKO in an OT car. Has taken maybe 10K and 4 years to loosen up to where it's shifting like it shoulda new. Bought it with an optional hurst shifter, then had to kick and scream for 3 years to get the stock shifter that was supposed to be thrown in the crate. Stock shifter solved a lot of shifting issues and is every bit as good as a hurst on a traditional 4 speed. Good luck
The 6000 RPM limit is covered in the info papers that come with the trans. I suppose it's a design thing. When i was young and restless we had to do quiet a bit of syncro mods to get the old 4 speeds to shift good at high RPMs - modified syncros, blocker rings, etc. - at the expense of lower RPM quality. I figured the 6000 limit wasn't going to be a big deal on a street rod.
I've had my 3550 based TKO for 8 years or so now. I pull it about once a year to change the clutch so it gives me a chance to inspect it. Well over 30K on it now and still looks and performs like new. Yep, the shifter is stiff for every day driving. When it counts, I hardly ever miss a shift because it is so notchy. And, when drag racing it just a tap of the clutch is all I need!
I just pulled out the documentation paperwork, and the maximum shift "do not exceed" limit is 6,500 not the 6000 I posted earlier. But you get the idea - it's a street beast and not a super-duty drag box. But in a dual purpose car I'd think you'd be happy with it.
I have a TKO 600 in my 32 with blown hemi, I like it a lot. 2;95 ist, .82 5th. You don't need a 6 speed in a light deuce. Ago
I just put one in my 69 427 Vette - really like it. Using GM lube, and shifting is pretty good. I don't notice any noise at all, but the car has side headers..... Certainly great on the highway.
I've got a TKO600 in my 55 chevy. It's a bit notchy but that is supposed to go away after several thousand miles. Other than that I think it's great. I haven't had any of the 2-3 gear shift issues that I have heard others experience. Reverse has been an issue a couple of times but I think that's an clutch adjustment issue. My SBC is a full roller so the trans has seen 6000+ rpm and it slips into the next gear without issue. I would recommend it to anyone who can swing the pricetag for a bullet proof trans. The price tag (along with the scattershield and other stuff) was a tough pill to swallow but I sure am glad I did it.
The Tremmec 3550's and the TKO's are both "notchy" shifting because they don't take enough time building them. I went though a friend's once just to freshen it up with new synchros because if you wait until you stretch the brass, then it will be tearing up hard parts (expensive parts)... But anyway, while I was in there with the gears out of it I got to playing with the parts and sliding them around they way they would be inside to see what all the notchyness was about, and I noticed that the gears had what would be described as almost having "burrs" on the edges of the gears where the sliders contacted the actual gear. Not the gear cog part, but the slider mating (splined style ) surface. I whipped out a file and rounded the ends a little on every one on all gears and cleaned it all up and threw it all back together with fresh synchro rings. Nest time I talked to him was about a week later and he said he had never experiences a smooth of shifting out of anyone's Tremmec ever before that. Not sure if this applies to all of them or not, but if you go into one in the future you might want to give it a little love in that area and see if you get similar results.
Why not use the Chrysler A833 4 speed? Strong, easily connected. Then, if you want an OD, add a Gear Vendors unit. Best of both worlds.
I put a tko 600 behind an all alum 490 FE in 67 Shelby and the same tko 600 in my brothers 68 Bullitt with a 390. I got them from Keisler, not sure if that has something to do with it, but they make a tranny that fits the mustang without modifying the tunnel. I liked them so much I am putting a tko 600 in my 49 merc with a bbc 502/502 and an art morrison race chassis. I have had good luck with them. I was not so lucky with a Richmond 6 speed in my 69 Camaro.
Your kidding right? A gear vendors unit is more expensive than a TKO 600! from the Gear Vendors website: View Larger Image Part #3DFS833G Manual 4-Speed A833 16.5 Tailhousing 30 Spline Output Shaft. Replaces 16 1/2 Tailhousing. 60's and 70's muscle cars. A-body applications require change to B/E-body output shaft, modified GV adapter, and A-body adapter plate. $2,795.00
Im with EL..... Gear Vendors is mucho dinero....not to mention the crazy length of the trans with the OD unit fitted and the fact that the MoPar trans shifts HEAVY and is HEAVY. Looks like the TKO 600 is pretty much the way Im gonna fly. Add to that an SFI bellhousing along with a 11" clutch/pressure plate combo, it aint gonna be cheap but I dont care as I want it done right and want it to hold up well !! Thanx for the input guys ! Rat
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