Has anyone installed the new Tremec TKO in a 69/70 Mustang?

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wickedmach1

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Apr 8, 2003

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Dec 18, 2004

#1

• Dec 18, 2004

• #1

I am looking at the Tremec TKO 600 tranny for my 70 Mustang. I have heard both ways about having to cut the tunnel to get the pinion angle correct. I am looking for someone who has actually done this modification to help me out. Does anyone know of a good step by step article of how this modification is done? My main questions are how much higher must the tunnel be raised and what is the correct (safe) pinion angle? Remember this is for a 69/70, not 66-68. Thanks for the help.

 

69Rcode_Mach1

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Apr 20, 2004

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Dec 19, 2004

#2

• Dec 19, 2004

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Anyone? Im interested to hear the responses too.

 

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justinhip

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Apr 20, 2006

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Oct 5, 2006

#3

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Mustangsandmore has an article a guy did using a latemodel crossmember and cutting the tunnel. IMO, he cut too much tunnel. One of the members here had a pictue with the shifter sticking through the stock hole and cuts only where the two access covers are on the tko. Other than that, you are on your own. As far as crossmembers are concerned, I am either going to modify the stock or completely make my own.

 

4MuscleMachines

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Jul 20, 2005

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South Texas

Oct 5, 2006

#4

• Oct 5, 2006

• #4

The ONLY cutting you might have to do is the shifter hole notching on one side. No raising the trans tunnel, I am certain.

 

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Gud T.B. Blown

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Dec 9, 2004

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Oct 5, 2006

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• Oct 5, 2006

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I put on in a '73 if you're interested.

 

chillininnh

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Apr 3, 2006

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Oct 6, 2006

#6

• Oct 6, 2006

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These guys claim to sell a TKO 600 that will require zero modification.

http://www.keislerauto.com/ford/transmissions/mustang_65-70_auto.asp#kit_contents

 

4MuscleMachines

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Jul 20, 2005

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Oct 6, 2006

#7

• Oct 6, 2006

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No disrespect to chillininnh, but I would recommend www.moderndriveline.com over Keisler anyday.

 

BarnStang

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Mar 2, 2001

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Hagerstown, MD

Oct 6, 2006

#8

• Oct 6, 2006

• #8

You should not have to cut the tunnel in the 69-70. You may have to clearence the floor support.
Not sure how the company at the web site previously listed is getting away with zero mods especially in the 65-66 unless they are lowering the engine with custom mounts. I am interested to know how yours fits. Get an angle meter (what are they really called?) and check.
Here is one site I found, but is not very clear:
http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/70mustang5sp.html

And this one has some good info:
http://www.moderndriveline.com/Technical_Bits/classic_mustang.htm

 

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67scodegt

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Feb 18, 2006

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Oct 6, 2006

#9

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4MuscleMachines said:

No disrespect to chillininnh, but I would recommend www.moderndriveline.com over Keisler anyday.

Click to expand...

I would also recomend modern driveline. Will helped me after darkhorse sold me mine which was unfit to use in my opinion. I would not recommend darkhorse although some have had good results from them.
You wont be able to get it at the correct angle with out tunnel mods.

 

70vert

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Dec 31, 2004

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Oct 8, 2006

#10

• Oct 8, 2006

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I didn't have to raise the tunnel on my '70 convertible, and it fit in the automatic shifter hole. Is the angle measured by laying the angle finder on the driveshaft? don't have an angle finder, but could be persuaded to get one.

 

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67scodegt

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Feb 18, 2006

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Oct 8, 2006

#11

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You measure anywhere on the engine or trans that is square like the balancer or front of the block. The carb pad should be approximately 0.
As close as I could get mine was 6 degrees in my 67.

 

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67gt390

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Jan 29, 2006

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Salt Lake City, UT

Oct 8, 2006

#12

• Oct 8, 2006

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Did you leave it at 6 degrees or modify the tunnel? How does it work for you?

 

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5.0ina66

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Oct 8, 2006

#13

• Oct 8, 2006

• #13

67gt390 said:

Did you leave it at 6 degrees or modify the tunnel? How does it work for you?

Click to expand...

IMO it doesnt make a flying flip. The only cars I've seen eat u-joints due to driveline angle are redneck trucks with 8" lifts and they have something like 20º of driveline angle. Those do consume a set every 6 months or so it seems though.

 

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67scodegt

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Feb 18, 2006

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Oct 8, 2006

#14

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5.0ina66 said:

IMO it doesnt make a flying flip. The only cars I've seen eat u-joints due to driveline angle are redneck trucks with 8" lifts and they have something like 20º of driveline angle. Those do consume a set every 6 months or so it seems though.

Click to expand...

It does make a big difference. The engine looked ridiculous sitting like that, not to mention the headers hit the steering, it dropped the headers between 2 and 3 inches at the collector. The tail shaft was pointing so far down the pinion angle was terrible among other things. I had enough wheel hop as it was before.

I raised the tunnel 1" at the shifter. It is now sitting at 3 degrees. I have since stripped it down to a shell, it has not been run yet. John

 

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brin0357

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Jan 26, 2006

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Oct 9, 2006

#15

• Oct 9, 2006

• #15

As long as everything clears run it. You wont lose a ujoint I gaurantee it. I run about 18 on my truck and havent lost one yet.

 

BarnStang

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Mar 2, 2001

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Hagerstown, MD

Oct 9, 2006

#16

• Oct 9, 2006

• #16

Here is a link for a 65 FB.
http://home.austin.rr.com/cobra2914/tremec.htm

In the article is this link:
http://www.drivetrain.com/driveline_angle_problem.html

It's not so much about the U joints as it is about the vibration. And about doing the job the right way. The engineer with the PhD decided that 3 degrees was the spec when the car was designed. It is only common sense that the spec should be maintained. You can flame away if you want brin0357 and 5.0ina66, but your advice is reckless. It really IS a lot of work to get 3 degrees. I know. I followed the referenced article to put a TKO 600 in my frineds 66 Coupe. ZERO vibration at over 100mph. The car just turned a 12.38 two weeks ago. Smooth as silk. I did the same thing in a 68 Coupe that we did an EFI conversion on. We didn't have to cut the tunnel, just hammered the floor support in. BUt that was a Tremec 3550 so may have been less height.