Progress Thread Nicholase "lights out" build-

nickyb · May 29, 2026

Wow super nice,congrats.

nicholase · May 30, 2026

91AOD5.0LX said:
You did it!!!!! Straight up @nicholase!!! When the lights go out!!! lol Love it all man!

Ya know. I'm not one to name my cars. So this is a first for me. But after watching that Instagram thing the shop owner made with the "lights go out" song playing.... I think I have a name

As in a boxing refrence

91AOD5.0LX · May 30, 2026

nicholase said:
I think I have a name

As in a boxing refrence

Perfect! Love it!
Maybe a vanity plate although your current plate looks like it has a meaning.

These are available….

nicholase · May 30, 2026

^Love it

AeroCoupe · May 30, 2026

Did you already buy the TKX?

nickyb · May 30, 2026

nicholase said:
Ya know. I'm not one to name my cars. So this is a first for me. But after watching that Instagram thing the shop owner made with the "when the lights go out" song playing.... I think I have a name

As in a boxing refrence

Growing up in New York we named our cars and also threw change into the cars of friends and family when they first got there car.
Since my 93 is white I named her Milky. But after I work on her she's more of a "dirty white boy"

nicholase · May 30, 2026

AeroCoupe said:
Did you already buy the TKX?

Yeah. It's on the way.

Bullitt347 · May 30, 2026

How does it drive?
Should be a Hoot!

nicholase · May 30, 2026

Bullitt347 said:
How does it drive?
Should be a Hoot!

It actually drives just like it did when it was stock if I'm just putting around. Buuut thats not what you meant

It goes like hell man. Honestly the biggest seat of the pants difference is coming from getting the traction control and launch assist dialed in. Really rips out of the hole now. Before there were essentiall no g's felt, just rolling tire smoke lol.

Yeah, its a blast!

nicholase · May 30, 2026

Going through my parts for the TKX swap. I might try it this weekend or next. We'll see. I think I have everything except the trans. It will probably ship Monday. Went with the 26 spine, 2.87 first, .68 fifth.

Let's see, I have the
-TKX bellhousing & pivot stud
-Ford Performance 31 spline driveshaft yoke
-Ford Performance pilot bearing
-MGW shifter
-Stifflers crossmember and driveshaft loop
-TKX specific bolt kit
-26 spline steel clutch plate alignment tool

Hmm.. no T/O bearing. I just put one in last year, probably should though. Autta order one.

I got some stainless steel and regular steel exhaust hanger rods and rubbers. I'm going to delete the factory X pipe hanger set up. It never lined up right with my X pipe. I had to oblong the holes and the x pipe hangers are always close to rubbing something like the speed sensor. So I'll make something new. I wamt ot so I can drop the X pipe in one peice easily. So while its out I'm going to weld it up solid

I'll probably be down for a few weeks. Have to send my clutch discs to McLeod to be rehubbed and drop of the D/S to a local shop. I'm gonna have them swap the yoke and re balance it.

My old welding helmet also wasn't working very well. Not sure why but has been getting harder and harder to see out of. So I tried a new style mask. Its really small and should work much better under a car or tight areas. Should have got it when I did my subfrmaes.

I kinda feel like a Ninja Turtle with it on. Old Mutant Ninja Turtle anyway.

TTSaleen · May 30, 2026

That's great numbers and cool project!

Noobz347 · May 30, 2026

nicholase said:
It actually drives just like it did when it was stock if I'm just putting around. Buuut thats not what you meant

It goes like hell man. Honestly the biggest seat of the pants difference is coming from getting the traction control and launch assist dialed in. Really rips out of the hole now. Before there were essentiall no g's felt, just rolling tire smoke lol.

Yeah, its a blast!

This part here... Combined with my KB combo...

AeroCoupe · May 30, 2026

Just an FYI, a C6 yolk works and they are a lot less $$$. Run one on both cars.

nicholase · May 30, 2026

Noobz347 said:
This part here... Combined with my KB combo...

Could be dangerous in something like that. Probably end up with CTE or something

There's plenty of stand alone options. After experiencing how much of a difference the T/C and launch assist make in the fun factor.... I'd definitely make this a priority for anyone shopping. I'd focus on who offers the best dialed in options like that. They can all be tuned well.

That no lift shift is crazy fun. Full boost rev matched shift... oh yeah. It feels like it jumps off the ground every time I grab a new gear lol.

TOOLOW91 · Jun 2, 2026

nicholase said:
Hey man, thanks so much for this.

I met Doug today at Spooling Up Performace for a dyno tune. He's a fantastic human being. Great dude and super knowledgeable and willing to share / teach. I picked up a ton from him today. Best of all he's a straight up Fox guy.

Little tease below. Doug in the car. Shop owner taping in background so expect to see something about it on Facebook / YouTube.

Doug was really impressed. His Fox love came through in big ways. He did a initial pull to 5k and I heard him yelling from in the car "Not bad! NOT BAD AT ALL!".

Super awesome day

That’s awesome !!!! I know he’s passionate about what he does. He small tire races as well but we’ve never met in person only been friends on fb forever. You know he still loves it when a 500 plus hp street car gets him excited. I’m so glad it worked out!

nicholase · Jun 2, 2026

TOOLOW91 said:
That’s awesome !!!! I know he’s passionate about what he does. He small tire races as well but we’ve never met in person only been friends on fb forever.

Yeah, it was awesome. If you didn't mention him here I never would have found out about him. That's what these forums are all about. I'll be working with him again for sure.

TOOLOW91 said:
You know he still loves it when a 500 plus hp street car gets him excited. I’m so glad it worked out!

I know, he see the most amazing builds and crazy HP billet block stuff and he was all excited about my little ride. So much fun.

nicholase · Jun 6, 2026

This showed up today.
TKX 26 spline. Close gear ratio 2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, 0.68

I ordered it from American Powertrain. I went with them after I discovered they double box to help prevent shipping damage. I'm not sure if the others retailers do. If they do, I didn't see any mention of it while shopping.

They also include a seal saver to protect the output shaft seal. They used some good logic and made this little blue shipping protector double duty as a neat little tool.

It protects the seal in shipping but also works like fluid retainer when I have to pull the driveshaft, and also a little knob to rotate the output shaft while installing the trans to line everything up.

It has a few splines molded into the inside to grab the output shaft.

Saves from trying to use your driveshaft if you don't have an extra yoke laying around. Nice little $15 tool available separately as well.
https://americanpowertrain.com/shop/transmissions/transmission-install-tool-and-seal-protector/

Not sure when I'm going to install it. I've been having so much fun driving the car I'm not really looking forward to a chunk of down time.

At least it's here in case I need it lol.

AeroCoupe · Jun 6, 2026

I got mine from Dederichs Motorsports (owner races and is a great technical resource) and it was boxed the same way but I didn’t get that cool plug just the standard red one that doesn’t protect the seal

nicholase · Jun 7, 2026

AeroCoupe said:
I got mine from Dederichs Motorsports (owner races and is a great technical resource) and it was boxed the same way but I didn’t get that cool plug just the standard red one that doesn’t protect the seal

Cool site. Never heard of them before.

I saw a bunch of complaints of the seal being damaged in shipping. I guess the orange or red dust cap that Tremec puts in there can split if it takes a bounce and get lodged in the tailshaft. The factory 5 forum is full of em. So apparently the blue plug was a way to prevent that, and a cool little tool too.

----

I'm wondering how many times I can walk past this new trans and pile of parts before I just get started

I am waiting for a few small parts still. One thing I'd like to investigate is my clutch pedal grabs tword the top of the travel. It functions fine and I love the light pedal and smooth engagement. Doesn't feel anythig like a clutch rated for 800hp. Feels like a stocker. But if I can adjust the engagement point lower in the travel that'd be even better.

I'm thinking the twin disc setup is a little thicker than a standard single. So possibly the pivot stud could be a little shorter. I'm going to take some measurements when pull the trans. I have an adjustable pivot ball stud coming. Might be useful. It can be externally adjusted.

I really do love that RST clutch. Probably the best mod I've done. I'll ask McLoed a few questions when I call them to set up the clutch disc re hub. They were excellent last time I called. Maybe they'll have some insight there.

Noobz347 · Jun 7, 2026

nicholase said:
But if I can adjust the engagement point lower in the travel that'd be even better.

https://lmr.com/item/MM-MMCL10/82-93-Mustang-Maximum-Motorsports-Clutch-Pedal-Height-Adjuster

Done

One thing the instructions don't mention: Check and/or adjust the position of the Clutch Safety Switch once you get the pedal where you want it.

Progress Thread Nicholase "lights out" build-

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

I have a slight sag in my rear

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

Active Member

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

I lubed and pushed, until it was all the way in

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

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