Well, I knew when I put the 350 in, the T5 wouldn't last.
It's starting to get bad bearing noises and is getting harder to shift, so it's on it's way out.
I've been planning on getting the Tremec TKO, but I have a few questions.
Should I buy it from Forte's or Year One?
Is there a Pro 5.0 Shifter for F-body Application?
Will it bolt up to the stock T5 bellhousing?
Is there a custom crossmember available or do I just put spacers in between the crossmember and floor?
Would the T56 be an easier swap?
Any input appreciated.
-Rich-

 

Forte's apparently is designing a shifter that will be a simple bolt-in for our cars, due out, I believe, in the summer sometime. Forte's can provide all the necessaries for the swap. You might check their web site if you haven't already. Off topic, when you swapped in your 350, did you leave the computer stock or switch in a chip of some sort?

JamesC

 

Yeah, I've looked at Forte's. Probably get it from them.
Swapped in the 300hp crate from goautocenter.com.
Chip is from Ed Wright at Fastchip.com.
All in my sig, below.
-Rich-

 

i would go with an OEM 6 spd. preferably from a 94-97 fbody. handles the same torque roughly as does the TKO and you have 2 overdrives so you can gear a bit steeper and still have good gas milage in 6th on the highways

 

The T56 is not really that much stronger than a T5. The mainshaft to counter shaft distance (the main factor in determining transmission strength is the size of gear you can put inside), is only 15percent bigger in a T56.

If you go with the better ratio (the wide one with the 2.97 first) T56, (the most common t56 has really lame ratios - 2.67-1.88-1.43-1to1 and ofcourse the .5 lame 6th), it is really only rated at about 350ft/lbs. Tremecs (even the 3550 that has been retrofitted for a 23spline input) are over 400ft/lbs. Some are as much as 500 (TKO-II) and have much better ratios for most good accelleration (first is a little low..but a 2.92 first will be out next year).

Initial cost is a little higher for the tremec bc so few are avaialble used. If you compared them to a new T56.. it would work out about the same..

 

My friend at the dealership (who's rebuilt several T56's) says the T56 doesn't hold up very well to high torque loads. He says third gear is junk on most of the ones that come in, similar to abused T5's he's seen, which is why I'm leaning towards the Tremec TKO.I drive my car pretty hard and now that I'm in the 400 ft/lb power region, I want something that will hold up.
Also, I don't feel like I need a sixth gear, as most of my driving is around town (or stoplight to stoplight drag racing).
If overall cost of the swap is within a few hundred dollars, I'll go with the TKO.
Anybody here done the TKO swap?
I know Ed1LE did a while back, but I haven't seen a post from him in a while.
Anyone else?
Thanks for your responses.
-Rich-

 

To answer your questions first:

Fortes
Yes
No
Yes, spohn
About the same

I have the aftermarket T-56 and it's rated at 450 ft-lbs continious over 24 hours. The TKO and 3550 are rated for 525 ft-lbs and 425 ft-lbs respectively, and the 94-97 stock trans are rated for 450 also. The TKO has a .68 OD while the Aftermarket T-56 as well as the 93 box (the weak one) both have .62 6th gears. For those that think the T-56 isn't that much stronger than a T-5, I thought that 120+ ft-lbs is actually alot stronger. Which one is best for you depends on your personal application. If your going for 1/4 mile times I'd say the Tremec 3550 is fine (it has the same ratios as the TKO just in a slightly lighter duty version), for road race type apps I like the T-56 better because it tends to have a better gear spacing. I wouldn't get the TKO unless I was going to use a power adder.

 

ttt

 

I bought the TKO from Forte's and love it. My application was on a 1973 Nova, though. I also had a friend who bought a t-56 from www.SDPC2000.com. For an F-body, I would opt for the t-56 if for no other reason than cost. The TKO is a little lighter, but the shifts are difficult for in-town driving (more effort required). Whatever you do, buy yourself a Pro 5.0 shifter ... best shifter I ever bought.

 

I have a Forte's TKO in my 84 camaro, I love it. I could feel the T5 i had wrap up under power, it felt like a torsion bar. I am using the shifter it came with, i adapted the stick from my hurst shifter that i was running on the T5. I highly reccomend the swap, its nice to know that i'm not going to genade a tranny when i race. The install was a little tricky, because the TKO is bigger than a T5 and i did it in the july heat with a bad shoulder. Before installetion i would put the T5 and TKO side by side and check every piece of hardware, the TKO uses all standard where the T5 has mostly metric. The crossmember requires some grinder work too, and you need to remove the shifter boot witch is a pain with the console on but doable 9 (i did it that way). I also stripped some of the crossmember bolts ( i had removed them many times before this) but they are easily drilled and tapped for 7/16 course.

The only drawbacks to the TKO are that it requires lowering the crossmember and that the ratios are a little far apart for my taste. i got it for 2300 delivered from fortes with all the adapters i needed,

If you get it speak to Mike Forte directly, he knows his stuff and is great to deal with. If you have any questions you can email me, Laiky@aol.com

 

I just finished the swap last night.
I bought the F body conversion TKO from Fortes.
It is a slick setup, fits sweet.
The crossmember (and Tq arm) is available from spohn.
Since I already have his tq arm and crossmember for the T5, we just used 3 hardend washers under each crossmember bolt and filed the tranny mount bolt holes to fit into place.

I have the T56 in my 99 Z28 and I NEVER use 6th gear, it's kind of a waste.
I opted to go with the stonger unit and save the wt.

 

If you get the kit from Fortes, remember to order the speedo gear.
I am using the stock shifter arm from my 99 F body, it bolts right in.
there is a short sick available from Jegs for $36, but I'll just shorten and point this one rearwards in a few weeks.

 

ttt