nitrocharger

I finally got the new TKO500, the newer/stronger version of the TKO3550. It looks pretty beefy, especially as my old muncie cowers next to it :D Now the question is, how the heck do I make this thing fit?! I'll post my progress/frustrations on the forum.
~Christian

tshort

Sweet!!! Did you not get the offset shifter brackets or do they also come with the kit in addition to what's attached in the picture?

nitrocharger

The offset shifter was $350, I'm going to try to make my own.

First lesson/f&$*up: There is a big difference between a truck bellhousing and a car bellhousing. And yes I did wear out the input shaft bearing on my muncie for those of you who know what Im talking about. :banghead:


[Modified by nitrocharger, 11:11 PM 5/25/2004]

Barry's70LT1

I've been looking at these transmissions on Keisler's site.

It's a little unclear what the first gear ratio is of the TKO 500.
Is it 3.27 or 2.87?

The TKO 600 is 2.87.

Thanks
(Very Envious) Barry

nitrocharger

the 1st gear ratio is 3.27 on the 500. I got it from 5speedtransmissions.com and so far have been very happy with the service.

Gordonm

Mine has the offset shifter. It fit the console perfectly with no modification at all. The machine work Keisler did looks great. Nice heavy duty components and there is no flexing at all. Feels like it is right in the stock location. I have seen some of the fabbed up shifter arms and they look flimsy. Some have done a great job also. The extra money for the offset was worth it ot me.

tshort

You can get them for $150 here:
http://ddperformance.com/3550tko5spd.htm

GasketDude

Purchased my Tremec 3550 few years back from Forte's. At the time they were one of the main distributors. Never liked the welded up shifters that are out there. So as the project moved on I waited to tackle the trans-conversion.
Found Kiesler's site last year and I was impressed with they're hardware. Tried to buy just the trans mount bracket and offset shifter but they don't sell separately. Broke down and sent them my trans last month to do the conversion.

Got it last Friday, looks good, though some small parts are on B/O.
My '70 has the welded in crossmember, and I'm not cutting it out to accommodate the trans. Since my engine is out I'll install both as a set, did it this way during mock up so I know it works. I'll take pics along the way.

Kiesler's trans mount is a nice piece but the stock mount could easily be modified to match. I bought an extra stock mount at a sweep meet last fall for $10. By cutting the slotted hole area (flat section) off and dropping it down 1/2" and back 3/4" (roughly) would match they're mount. Also the area under the tail shaft needs to be cut off, milled or sawz-all and ground flat would do it. Shifter's still and issue though. I wanted to fab it myself but if I want to drive this before my son gets his license (he's 6) I've got to keep the project moving along.

Good luck!

Scooter70

Here's my bolt-in T56 mounting bracket. I too didn't want to cut my fixed crossmember, so I made this bolt-in bracket. It uses all original holes so that if I wanted to, I could return it to completely stock and you'd never know that it was ever anything else.


Here's what it looks like all bolted in.

nitrocharger

the 1st gear ratio is 3.27 on the 500. I got it from 5speedtransmissions.com and so far have been very happy with the service.

nitrocharger

the 1st gear ratio is 3.27 on the 500. I got it from 5speedtransmissions.com and so far have been very happy with the service.