CLE_berlinetta

Pulled the stock T-5 from under my '83 Berlinetta (383 SBC) last weekend. Looking to replace the stock trans with something more stout. I've settled on the TKO series, still unsure of 500 or 600.

Here are some questions I have:

1. Will a TKO500/600 mount to the stock bell housing? Same bolt pattern as a T-5?
2. Does it have the same bolt pattern to attach the stock torque arm / clamshell?
3. I counted 26-splines on the input shaft. I assume this is standard for that era of SBC...?
4. Will it fit in the tunnel without modification or is the case/housing larger than the stock T-5?
5. Any changes needed to the center console / shifter bay?
6. Lastly - what is preferred between the TKO 500 and TKO 600? It's a street car, maybe a few passes at the strip a few times per year. 425 horsepower 383 SBC. I'm leaning towards the 600 since it seems the 500's first gear is so low it can be annoying during a daily drive. Would be slick at the track but, again, this car is 90% street, 10% drag.

Thanks everyone in advance for your insights!

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

Tko600. The 500 has a tall first gear.
it will not bolt to the facotry bellhousing.

Where are you getting it from? I used Forte's parts connection. He sells the trans with the proper input shaft and bellhousing adapter.
the adapter us 1" thick and helps with shifter placement in the console. The shifter sits a few inches further forward.

Forte's offers a modified Hurst shifter to correct the location, but it's not great. I'm using a steeda triax and a small extension plate I made.

the stock trans crossmember can be made to work, it needs to be lowered 3/8 or so and the hole lengthened.
Ideally you need to cut the top of the trans tunnel and raised it a bit to clean the top of the trans, it's pretty tall and if you just bolt it in the output shaft is at a decent downward angle.

you need a 31 spline trans yoke, common c6 Ford stuff.

The speeding needs attention. Again, Forte's sells an adapter of some kind but it doesn't work on anything I've ever had. Maybe it's for a mechanical speedo? Don't know, mine is electric. I used the factory for sender that's on the trans and a Dakota digital sg5 whatever it is box to fix my speedo.

Idk if the stock torque arm can mount to it? I'm using a UMI 700r4/t5 crossmember. Fit fine, I just had to shim it down to make everything fit. I later modified my trans tunnel and removed the spacers.

II thin​​think that's it

CLE_berlinetta

Great feedback - thank you! Do you have the part numbers for the bellhousing adapter and the modified shifter? Thanks.