For any of you who swapped in a TKO600. Did you use the Factory Cross member adapter plates that Fortes uses, or did you go with something different (Ie Spohn Cross member)

I have the Fortes Adapter plates, but cant seem to visualize how they work on the car with the factory cross member, so am contemplating picking up the Spohn.

Looking for any suggestions/gudance from anyone who has done the swap?

Thanks,
Dave

 

For the adapter are you talking about two machined aluminum block spacers? If so they mount in the factory crossmember holes with the studs installed in them and then the crossmember gets bolted to them. Problem is your pinion angle will be off slightly. What I and others on here have done is to cut the factory tunnel and raise it up where there is a clearance issue. That way you can use the factory crossmember with no adapters. I've been running my tko like this for s few years now.

 

Hi Subroc, yes it is the machined aluminum block spacers. I kinda dont want to cut into the tunnel if not needed, but hear ya re the pinon angle.

Do you think I should figure out the spacers, or grab the Spohn xmember based off your experience with the swap - my preference is not to cut into the tunnel if I can get away without doing that.

Thanks for your help.

 

I ran mine with the spacers for about a year of so. No real need to go to an aftermarket crossmember. What you might want to do however to avoid cutting the floor and using the spacers is to get yourself a Lakewood blowproof bellhousing. You do not need the bellhousing to trans adapter that way and since the trans is sitting that one inch further forward you do not need to cut the tunnel for clearance. You may just need to give it a few good hits with a hammer. Just one more avenue to look into. If you already have all the adapters and spacers however you might as well run them.

 

I've had both over the years.

All the blocks do is move the x-member down and backward to set the trans mount in the right spot.

Currently, I have the Spohn x-member, but to be honest fits like **** and I had to grind the trans mount bolt hole quite a bit to get it to fit.

 

I used a umi 700r4/t5 crossmember and packed it down 1/4" and it bolted on fine.

However, it sat a downward angle to the rear, didn't have enough height in the trans tunnel, so I cut the top of the tunnel and raised it a little and removed the spacers I added