How to convert to TKO500???

1

1990LXDropTop

New Member
Dec 4, 2003
430
0
0
Western Massachusetts
#1
Right now I have a T-5 and want to convert to a TKO500. I know I'll need a different bell housing and cross member. Is there anything else I will need? Will my current FMS aluminum drive shaft work with the TKO500?

Also, what is the best place online to buy all the parts I need to do the swap?
 
#2
The TKO500/600 is longer and has a different output shaft.

You will need to move the exaust hangers back, or just cut them off, unless the new crossmember fixes that.

You will need a different yoke on the driveshaft, then get it rebalanced, and maby, such in my case, get it shortened.

Thats all I can think of right now.
 
#6
The stock driveshft works fine with the new yoke. If you can replace the universal joints, installing the new youke is simple.

I would never substitute a G-Force for a TKO 500 or 600. The TKO's will take more abuse and live longer and shift smooother. The T5 transmission case becomes the weak point and will be the limiting factor in high power setups.
 
#7
jrichker said:
The stock driveshft works fine with the new yoke. If you can replace the universal joints, installing the new youke is simple.

I would never substitute a G-Force for a TKO 500 or 600. The TKO's will take more abuse and live longer and shift smooother. The T5 transmission case becomes the weak point and will be the limiting factor in high power setups.
Click to expand...

I have thought of that. The T-5 case just doesn't look near as beefy as the TKO500/600 which has a thick case with a grid patteren to it. I love the feel of the TKO500 with it's factory Hurst shifter.
 
#8
90mustangGT said:
I have thought of that. The T-5 case just doesn't look near as beefy as the TKO500/600 which has a thick case with a grid patteren to it. I love the feel of the TKO500 with it's factory Hurst shifter.
Click to expand...

Did your car feel like it slowed down at all after doing the TKO swap? The TKO weighs like 30 lbs more than a T-5 and I've heard they eat up more power.
 
#10
My car didn't feel slower, in fact it got faster because it shifted so much better and all.

The 500 and 600 are the same except the 500 has a 3.27 first gear, the 600 has a 2.95 first. With the 600 the standard input shaft is 26 spline while with the 500 you can choose between 26 and 10 spline. The 10 spline is not as strong.
 
#11
Is it difficult to do a T-5 to TKO swap with just a jack/stands and hand tools? I've done a complete H/I/C swap by myself, but have never done a tranny swap. Would I be better off having a shop do the work? What's the average amount a reputable shop would charge to do the swap like ****, clutch and all? There is an excellent tranny shop 5 min away from me. I have gone to them before when I had my former stang with an AOD. They did excellent work. Everyone around here recommends them. Should I pay them to do the swap to insure that it's done correctly? The only reason is because I feel a little sketchy doing it myself.
 
#13
lets see if i remeber cause i did it one mine when it first came out, like stated already I needed a new clutch (if you order your tko500 with a 21 spline input you'll need a new clutch if you get the 10 spline you can use stock style clutches), bellhousing, new block plate (old one was corroded near starter), new speedo gear (believe is got a red 21 cause i got 3.73 gears), the input yoke on the drive shaft is different so you'll need to order a fms or other brand drive shaft and than order a new yoke. the crossmember you can get away with grinding the welds off it and adjusting it to fit rather than buying a new one but thats up to you. lastly you need gm synchro mesh tranny fuild and a new shifter handle.

oh yeah and i installed my tko500 and engine using jack stands and a cherry picker plus a few friends.
 
#15
90mustangGT said:
The TKO500/600 is longer and has a different output shaft.

You will need to move the exaust hangers back, or just cut them off, unless the new crossmember fixes that.

You will need a different yoke on the driveshaft, then get it rebalanced, and maby, such in my case, get it shortened.

Thats all I can think of right now.
Click to expand...

why in the world did you need to get your driveshaft shortened? from what ive seen the tko isnt any longer than a t5 and it just requires a new yoke for the driveshaft. i didnt have to get my driveshaft rebalanced either.
 
#16
1990LXDropTop said:
Is it difficult to do a T-5 to TKO swap with just a jack/stands and hand tools? I've done a complete H/I/C swap by myself, but have never done a tranny swap. Would I be better off having a shop do the work? What's the average amount a reputable shop would charge to do the swap like ****, clutch and all? There is an excellent tranny shop 5 min away from me. I have gone to them before when I had my former stang with an AOD. They did excellent work. Everyone around here recommends them. Should I pay them to do the swap to insure that it's done correctly? The only reason is because I feel a little sketchy doing it myself.
Click to expand...

i paid a very reputable shop 400 bucks for the tranny swap, they put in a new flywheel also. and the guy who did it paid me 100 bucks for my old t5. it isnt that bad of a job...but i had never done anything to a motor or transmission besides changing an intake so i didnt want to mess anything up
 
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