Just picked up my graduation present

Hell, I've never even heard of it....Wanna give some info on it for us guyz that dont keep with the times...

I thought they didn't come out with that trans yet. May I ask how much you picked it up for.

For breaking it in, dunno , take it easy for the first 100 miles maybe to make sure nothing is seriously wrong then have some fun.

I think they recommend 300-500 miles of easy driving, then change the fluid, then go rip on it.

Have fun.

Joe

Curious as to why you chose the 600 over the 500? The gear ratios are better with the 500 IMO. 3.27 first vs 2.92 first. I think 2nd and 3rd is slightly different as well.

That's awesome man. I'm trying to score a killer deal on a 3550, but if I had the bling to buy a new tranny it would be a TKO 500 or 600. There really isn't much price difference between the 2, and the 600 is stronger and can apparently take more punishment. Good choice!

I am currently running a TK500 and love it save for a few "odd" noises. First off, what does the little tag read that is bolted to the front of the transmission?

Don't forget to "index" the bellhousing if you chose the Lakewood. I also bought my TK500 from PBF and it was the very first one they sold. They also installed it and told me to break it in for 500 miles which I did and it nearly killed me!

Now keep in mind my car is stock accept for underdrives and a K&N filter so the car is so quiet you can hardly hear it run. The noise* I do hear isn't the slight gear whine that is "normal" of Tremecs but almost like a bearing gone bad (*=rattling of a sort). Driving it around town I love the way it shifts. I hear a little noise* in second gear for a split second between 1600 and 1900 rpm. I also hear the same noise* except louder in 4th gear between the same rpm. Recently another noise started only in 4th gear that begins at 3 grand and gets louder til about 3300 rpm or so then gradually falls off as the rpm increases to about 5000 rpm.

I called PBF and told them about it and I am supposed to take it over to let them check it out as soon as I have a day off. When I did call, I explained the situation to them and got this response: "I don't mean to sound rude but what in the hell were you doing in 4th gear at that rpm?" I dismissed the commment and continued the conversation until he told me I should bring it in.

I understand racing or accelerating from 1500-1900 rpm, isn't ideal but cruising, windows up, a/c on in mild traffic, in a 99.9% bone stock M u s t a n g with factory 3.27s should not be any sort of a problem with the tranny riding at that rpm. I don't think it takes a genius to figure that out. Also, the car being that stock and the tranny rated for 500 ft lbs of torque, I don't think I could have broken it either.

The reason I asked about the tag on your tranny is the tag on mine, ( I didn't write down all the numbers/letters) but saw 3550 on it. This made me wonder did I really get the TK500 or a 3550. I know the TK500 replaced the 3550 and has a red shifter (which mine does)and also as the TK600 replaced the TKO so maybe that is why the tag has 3550 on it.

Anyway I would definately pay attention to noises in that tranny. I think that although there is a new name on the trannies and maybe only a little design change, we are the guinee pigs. Wish you well on yours.

Imyourzero said:

and the 600 is stronger and can apparently take more punishment. Good choice!

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The only difference is the gear ratio's, not power rating. The 600 also comes standard with a 26 spline input shaft I believe.

Grn92LX said:

The only difference is the gear ratio's, not power rating. The 600 also comes standard with a 26 spline input shaft I believe.

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As published by Tremec on 5speedtransmissions.com:

TKO-500: 500 lb. ft.
TKO-600: in excess of 600 lb. ft.

fiveohh94gt said:

what do u mean "index" the bellhousing if i have the lakewood? the break in period is killing me too, i really want to rip some gears and see what this tranny will really do but i know i have to take it easy for a while, i only have about 150 miles on it now. the tag on mine says something like 3550 also, along with the 000002 serial number meaning it was the second tk600 they made. so far i'm loving the TK except it takes a little more force than i like to put it into gear. i'm hoping that will loosen up by the end of the break in period.

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Indexing the bellhousing - Click the link here for the info on it. Bellhousing Blues

More or less you need to do this or vibration and abnormal wear may occur. Before I had PBF install the TK500 I had a used Tremec 3550 that the bellhousing wasn't indexed (to my car) so it had some bad vibrations among other problems, and some not related to the bellhousing.

fiveohh94gt said:

what do u mean "index" the bellhousing if i have the lakewood? the break in period is killing me too, i really want to rip some gears and see what this tranny will really do but i know i have to take it easy for a while, i only have about 150 miles on it now. the tag on mine says something like 3550 also, along with the 000002 serial number meaning it was the second tk600 they made. so far i'm loving the TK except it takes a little more force than i like to put it into gear. i'm hoping that will loosen up by the end of the break in period.

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It might get somewhat better the more you drive it, but keep in mind it will never be as street-friendly as a T5. That's the price you pay for having a tranny that can take more abuse (well, except in the case of a G-Force which I hear shifts just like a stock T5).