Astro 5speed
- Thread starter 89llx
- Start date
It is still a T5 and it will break if you race it. Save your money for a Tremec TKO 500 or 600. The Tremec TKO's weigh 25 lbs more, and that weight is due to a stronger case and gears
Don't believe me? Do a search on Astro and see what you get.
Don't believe me? Do a search on Astro and see what you get.
hold up to what astro says, i dont use slicks, i use bfg drag radials melted to the pavement, with 430 rwhpHold up to what exactly?
I just purchased a G Force T5 yesterday. I was really open to any kind of improved tranny. I have been looking for a used TKO, but ran across this first. Everything that I have read says the A5 is about the best T5 based tranny you can buy. This would have been my first preference for a T5 based tranny. That being said, I talked to a local Astro Trans dealer/repair center the other day. The owner really talked up the A5s, but pointed out that the TKO600 is tough to beat when it comes to taking abuse. You will hear arguments from both sides...there is a 7 or 8 page thread over on corral that has been going for some time. It is all about the A5. There is one guy making over 700rwhp through his for 2 seasons now. He will admitt he is on borrowed time, but pretty amazing. Over all, with all the hours I have spent researching the topic, most guys are pretty happy with their A5s. They shift great and they are lighter. That being said, most these guys are like me, primarily cruise town and race a few times a year. A TKO is pretty hard to beat, but I hear too many problems with shifting issues. I get my tranny tomorrow, I hope it is everything I want it to be.
Joe
Joe
every TKO car ive driven shifted like a damn dumb truck... no thanks! gimme something T5 based like an G force or a A5. if that cant handle it ill put an auto in the car
The Tremec 3550 shifts better than both the T5's I have owned and driven. It is fast , smooth and I never have to lift the throttle to shift. With over 100,00 miles, its still going strong and doesn't complain when I drive it hard.
There two things with Tremec 3550/TKO 500/TKO600 transmissions that must be done to get quality shifting:
1.) Use the proper lubricant and the right amount of it. GM Syncromesh Black is the recommended lubricant and at about $30 a quart and 3 quarts, some guys will cheap out and use something different. Spending $90 for 3 quarts of lubricant can be expensive.
2.) Break the transmission in gently for the first 500 miles: this is crucial. Abuse the break-in and you will not have good results with the transmission in the long run.
f8tlfiveo
My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.
Wouldn't recommend a g force t-5... Supposed to be able to handle 500hp or whatever.. Nope.. 3rd gear goes bye bye just like a stock t-5... Just took out third two weeks ago..waste of 2k in my opinion.. Could prob fix it, but I'm just going with a 4r70w instead.. Sick of breaking 5 spds.
Just out of curiosity, when was your G Force built? The reason I ask, Tony from Astro built the one I bought. Supposedly, G Force's quality went down around 2005-2006, and this is why Astro started making their own kits. Astro use to build G Force kits, but now they do their own. Just wondering if you had a newer "less quality" one, or an older one.
Joe
f8tlfiveo
My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.
2010...sorry.. I don't think it was the kits fault.. I think the case is the weak link.. The size difference from stock gears to g force had me sold...3rd gear is gone... Just as easy as a stocker... Don't pound gears with it. I do not flat shift either..bob Hanlon put mine together.. He is a tremec, t-5 guru..
i talked to a few racers who run NMRA pure street about them. none of them had anything bad to say about them. but they wont run one due to the face they will not faceplate one. so they all run G force stuff
Haha yea, a lot of people will say "it's just a T5, it'll break like a T5", but have no direct experience themselves. I've heard good things from A5 owners, and Tony at Astro is great to do business with. My current trans is more or less a stock rebuild, but it was done by APW years ago, and every time I call, I get Tony himself and he answers all my questions.
- Dec 19, 2010
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I own a TKO 600. I will admit my stock T5 was quicker through the gears. I will also say the T5 is broken just like all the others I've owned. There is a reason the T5 went out of production... Anyway, the nice thing about TKOs is you can have them worked so they shift like butter. Companies like Liberty or Pro Motion do it every day. Eventually I'll send mine off, but for now I'm routing money in different directions. Gotta make the power first..
JJ95GTID
Active Member
I have a Level 3 T5 (450hp/350lbft) from Astro in my '95.
Very happy with it so far.
I've only had it now for a few months and haven't been able to track test it yet.
Tony is great to work with and I would recommend Astroperformance to everyone.
Very happy with it so far.
I've only had it now for a few months and haven't been able to track test it yet.
Tony is great to work with and I would recommend Astroperformance to everyone.
- Dec 19, 2010
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I suppose If I were to go with a T5 I would use Astro. G Force has a bad rep, and Pro Motion uses G force parts.. The most I've ever seen an Astro rated for is 450 lb ft, though. Just don't ever make plans to make more torque than that and you'll be fine. If you're going to build a monster you might want to explore other avenues..
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