I wanna toss the T-5 cause i know its gonna shatter at the track with 386 horse launching on slicks. Soooooo, whataya think? Tremec 5-speed (handles up to 700ft lbs of torque)and is a direct swap or the T-56 (fabrication needed.Yikes!)
Pros and cons please along w/personal experiences. Thanks guys. Long live the musclecar..

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Tremec 5- speed. That sixth gear costs a lot of money that you'll never get back by using what the sixth gear is intended for, saving gas. The Tremec will handle more power and you get to pick your ratio's. I'm sure you could customize T-56 ratio's but at even more $$$$$$.

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Kenney
82 Trans Am WS7 notchback
83 Trans Am WS6 T-tops
72 Vista Cruiser 455
90 Olds Trofeo
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Just to clear up some misinformation. The Tremec comes in two flavors 3550 and TKO. Both have the same gear ratios and the only choice is OD where you have .68 or .82(or something like that). The TKO is rated at 525 ft/lbs by Fortes while the 3550 is 425 ft/lbs.

The Tremec is a very wide ratio trans an you will experience quite a drop in RPM going on the 1-2 shift. Shifting at 6500 drops rpm all the way down to 3950. As long as you combination can handle that, you should be okay.

The T56 has much closer ratios but has a capacity of between 400-450 ft/lbs.

The price difference between the aftermarket T56 and the Tremec TKO is about $350. The Aftermarket T56 is nearly a bolt in for 3rd gens. Adapting a factory T56 is where all of the hassle comes in.

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by Zee (edited February 09, 2001).]

 

Here's a link to the T-56: http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/BorgWarner/bwt56.html


here is one to the Tremec:

http://www.fortesparts.com/tremec.html

 

Zee you are wrong in many places my friend. first the 3550 has a 425lb ft rating. both the 3550 and the TKO have the exact same ratios(.62 overdrive)and the tremecs are both direct bolt ins for f-bodys buying them from year one.try this web site www.nextgenparts.com and look for a tremec there. btw,zee..do you have a tremec in your car and how did you figure the rpm drop with each tranny? formulagod the ratios on the tremec's are as follows.....1st=3.27, 2nd=1.98, 3rd=1.34, 4th=1.00, 5th=.68, and reverse is 3.00.........im assuming you have some deep gears if you drag racin' these tranny's work good with deep gears

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1991 RS LO3
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Not that I have a need to defend myself but for clarification I didn't say the TKO and 3550 have different OD ratios, only they are avialable from Fortes with either OD ratio as an otion.

Also, the torque ratings are taken directly from Fortes. Their numbers are higher than those on Tremec's own site. I emailed Fortes long age trying to find out why but they never responded. In anycase, I said the 3550 had a rating of 425 ft/lbs so I don't see where I was wrong there.

I would just follow the links. I can't speak for their accuracy but considering Fortes pretty much does nothing for a living but sell Tremecs, I would hope his information is more accurate than lets say year one who probably sells more ashtrays than transmissions.

Oh, another thing, no flame intended but I noticed in your response, you say the Tremec comes with a .62 OD......then you list out the gear spread and you have a .68 which is what I believe I said and Fortes confirmed. Again, I don't see where I was wrong.

No, I currently do not have a Tremec, just shopping and comparing the T56 vs. Tremec. I have done research good enough form me and I'm satisfied the Tremec is the better choice for my application. The T56 is also a very good choice but seems to involve quite a bit more work. The Tremec will go in the Formula over the summer.

As far as the RPM drop, I used a calculator. I'm sure a guy as sharp as you can figure it out.

[This message has been edited by Zee (edited February 10, 2001).]