How does the T-5 compare to the 3550?

[zenboy99]

Also, the TKO has a 31 spline input shaft and the 3550 has the stock 10 spline shaft. The TKO requires a TKO specific clutch while the 3550 uses the stock clutch form factor.

I think you mean the 3550 uses a 28 spline input shaft.

 

[Killercanary]

The 3550 is NOT a standaerd tranny in the newer cars, they have the 3650 which is a different transmission. The 3550 and the T5 share the same mainshaft. I bent three in my T5 so I certainly wasn't going to put another one in it, and since the 3550 share the mainshaft, it would have been stupid to put it in my car becuase more than likely I'd have been plagues by the same problems. So, that left me with the TKO or the T56. The T56 is nice, but it is $$$, heavy, and they are not as bullitt proof it seems as many thought... just ask the '03 cobra guys. So I went with the TKO. The TKO has its downfalls to as it is a heavy tranny, and it is a VERY notchy shifting tranny. They inherently make more noise than a T5 too. They can have issues with high rpm shifts. My car DID slow down with the TKO. I lost 2 tenths compared to the T5 given the same 60' and trap speeds. I don't know if it due to the fact that I can't physically shift it as fast due to its "notchy" nature, or if I lost some driveline power due to the HD components in it compared to the T5. The T5 is a good box for what it is. Typically 3rd is what fails as the two shafts push each other apart under high loads and this cause the teeth to lose contact area... after repeated abuse it will let go... Bye-bye 3rd gear. I'm still not a believer in Gforce due to some of the bad things I've read on here and other more race oriented boards. I've heard more than enough bad customer service issues about them to steer me clear too. Luckily you can buy Gforce parts from Gforce distibutors and not them directly. Bob Hanlon of Hanlon Motorsports and Walt from Pro Motion are two great guys that can answer just about any question you'd have regarding a 5 speed gear box for your car, and they can get you just about anything you want from a T5, Gforce, or TKOs.

 

[Killercanary]

Does the Tremec take less effort to shift than the T-5?

A TKO certainly does not, my T5 was like butter compared to my TKO.

 

[Nobody]

The 3550 and the T5 share the same mainshaft..

Doesn't the Tremec use a stronger steel for these parts though?

 

[igotyofire]

heh do people ever break tko's ?

 

[lparsons]

<sarcasm on>
Well, if people don't like the T5 or the 3550, we could all switch back to the ol' borg-warner RAD4's ...
Not like mine didn't blow up after 100,000 miles in my old 78 mustangII. And who really _needs_ overdrive, anyways, right?
<sarcasm off>

 

[TEALSQUEAL]

yeah when the hit in reverse on accident, that's about it, but the t-5 should shift so very smooth, mine does i have a pro-5.0 shifter in it, u may just have a ****ty t-5

 

[94Silverbullet]

pic

I heard that the 3550 was obsolete now anyway. It's being replaced by the TKO 500/600. Hopefully I'll be getting one next week.

http://5speedtransmissions.com/tko600_pics.html