I'm leaning towards a Tremec since it's about 2 grand while the ROD is almost $3,000 . Are there any significant differences other than 6 speeds vs. 5? I did some looking on the internet and it looks like the Ford version of the Tremec is modified by aftermarket distributors to fit a chevy. Is that correct? They aren't built that way by Tremec? Also, Forte's told me that most of them remachine the input shaft to fit chevy while Forte's is the exclusive distributor of the Tremec factory manufactured input shaft for chevy.
I had a TKO in my car before installing the 4L80E. The TKO has an internal rail shifter which offers smoother shifting feel compared to the external linkage of the ROD. However, the TKO's shifter is centrally mounted on the tranny body, whereas the ROD's shifter is mounted to the left of the tranny. It's not typically a problem though, as the shifter for the TKO can easily be spaced over to fit a left side oriented shifter boot/console.
Additonally, the TKO is raated at nearly 100ft lbs more than the ROD - 525-550ft lbs vs 450ft lbs or so.
I don't know about the other distributors, but Forte's does replace the input shaft with a 26 spine GM shaft.
The tremec is a ford transmission and when I bought mine I bought the mustang version. The mustang input shaft is 1/2 inch longer then a chev so it allowed me to bolt a 1/2 inch aluminum plate to the back of the chevy bellhousing. In this plate were 4 studs to mount the Tremec. For a clutch plate both the chevy and ford TKO use a 26 spline. For a bearing at the back of the crank I took and ford and machined the out diameter down and it worked perfectly. I used a C6 yoke and a chevy universal will work fine. With a little work the mustang Tremec can be made to fit and it costs less then the chevy modified version.
In this picture of my header wrap you can see the adaptor plate behind the black and yellow speckled bellhousing. The adaptor plate has studs for the tremec.
Studs are the way to go with a transmission. Install studs in the bellhousing and when you slide a transmission onto them they align it and make it alot easier to start the bolts.
Your the second person who I've heard has gone with the Ford version. Seems like I'm leaning that way as well.
The other fellow bought the true Ford version and used a McCleod scattershield that adapts a Ford trans to Chevy block. I need a scattershield anyway so...
Ford version is $1300 from D and D...like was said, much cheaper than the Chevy version and someone hasn't already disassembled it.
Anyone with a little machining knowledge and access to a milling machine can make a simple 1/2 aluminum adaptor plate. I then install the plate on back of a normal bellhousing then index the hole with a dial gage for 0 runnout , then I dowel the plate for future removal and installation. Other then modifying a pilot bushing for the crank it is a simple bolt in. I also find the shifter no problem. You can buy a ford to chev speedometer adaptor or make your own.
I can also use a normal ford T5 if I want with a similiar arrangement. The ford also uses the same chevy 26 spline clutch disc.
Depending on your rear gear ratio, that would give me an idea of which tranny to go with. IMO with my 3.90 gears I didn't need 2 OD gears so I went with the TKO. If I had something like 4.56's & wanted to do some freeway driving, then I would have went with the 6spd ;) .
Monty, what's that beast run in the 1/4? It must be fast. How much motor did you have when you were still running the Tremec? Do you have a computer for that 4L80E, Jet controller?
Norv, Nogo, wow, $1300 is a lot cheaper than $2000. Do you think the scattershield will take up the entire 1/2 inch of slack or would an adapter plate still be needed ? I agree on the studs, I've stabbed plenty of auto transmissions and studs would have made it easier although the dowel pins do help.
One overdrive gear is all I need too. I'm thinking of 3.73 gear and 16 inch wheels.
I wouldn't know if the scattershield would work or not. You would need to check with the company if it was made for a chev to ford Tremec. Both the tremec and tremec TKO have the same length input shaft so if the bellhousing takes one it will take the other.
The bolt pattern for a ford tremec is different from the modified chevy version so that is important too.
One other thing about an adaptor plate is you can rotate the transmission back to straight up if you prefer. Normally they are laid over 18 degrees. This makes the shifter come out more to the left, a good thing maybe in the vet. I have a custom aluminum plate with gages, no heater controls or ash tray so to me a straight up shifter location was fine.
Thanks Norv. Can you tell me the difference between the tremec, tremec TKO, and tremec TKO ll ? I'll see if Mike Forte can answer that as well. Is there a manufacturers website that any of you know of? I've done several searches on the internet and only come up w/ distributors such as Fortes. No tremec.com so to speak. The article in Super Chevy mentions that the Forte's version positioned the shifter in the '68 Camaro just right for the factory console, which will be just perfect for my '67 Camaro since it has a factory console as well.
sorry I missed this post until now.
I am just doing this from memory so it might not be right on.
The Tremec is the lowest level with a smaller input shaft, I think 10 spline but aldo the cheapest. This is Canadian prices Tremec $2100
The Tremec TKO has a stronger input shaft but I think the internals are the same but the torque rating goes up, Cost $2450CDN
Overdrive for both are .68
The Tremec TKO II has a stronger 4615 3rd gear assembly and .83 overdrive. It is more for road racing Cost $3150 CDN.
This would be a good combination with 3.08 gears but is costly.
I would have prefer this over the TKO but the extra$600 was too much.
Hope this helps.
This is for the converted model.
Norval
Thanks Norv. I found this website referenced on the teamcamaro baord: http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/index.html
and it confirms what you said. That site has just about all the info one could want on Tremecs and retrofits. They list the the basic 3550 at 425 ft-lbs and the TKO at 525. They list the TKO ll at 525 also but they mentioned the stroger 3rd gear and .83 O.D. as you did. Thanks for all the info.
If you are thinking about overdrive trannies, I would throw the Tremec T-56 into the mix. Forte sells a T-56 with an adaptor plate that will bolt up with a Muncie style bell housing. You can keep all your stock clutch stuff. I installed one in a '66 vette. It is an internal rail shifter, pretty stout, and put in everything from Vipers to new Vettes. It is a big box though, I had to do a little surgery to my trannie tunnel to get it installed, but you are dealing with the same problem with the TKO. It works great in my '66.
Thanks Chris. I have a T56 in my C5 and love it. My '67 is a powerglide car so I will be doing a full conversion. I'm leaning towards the TKO for a few reasons. One of which is that the T56 is rated at 450 ft-lbs and the TKO is rated at 525.
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Tremec TKO questions
