T5 vs TKO

The stock tranny in my girlfriend's 97 GT is on it's way to internal destruction...it makes a whining/humming noise with speed increasing and produces some polluted tranny fluid.


What is the best idea for a new transmission that costs under $2000? She'd love the T56 but it's too expensive.

A friend of mine who owns a fox body and is a mechanic recommended the TKO600.

Lots of ppl on this forum have said it shifts a bit harsh and is loud, and this would require a new bell housing for a total cost of about $1900 or so...

Is there any merit to getting a beefed up T5 or anything? One person told me to look at T5 from GForce? I checked their website but the prices were pretty expensive. Has anyone ran one of their trannies?

She plans to only have bolt-ons and such...and wants to maximize gas mileage as much as possible.

I was looking at the CFDF cluch kit...and just resurfacing her flywheel. A guy at a shop said it would be cheaper to buy the ford racing kit and use their pressure plate and just swap the disc for the CF clutch disc. He said the PPs are the same, is this true?

I've been searching the forums but I can't figure out what's a good inexpensive street option with minor mods.

T45?
T5?
TKO600?

Would the only changes with the TKO be the new bell housing?

A local shop is offering the TKO 600 for $1630 + $250 for the bell housing. So that's about $1900.

I haven't seen the T56 for under $2500.

Does this seem accurate?

Is the T45 in the cobra the same as in the GT? There are remanufactured "cobra T45" trannies on ebay for like $900 shipped. Would this work on her 97 GT?

Is there any company that sells beefed up T45s? Just something with some stronger shift forks and such?

Where's a good place to find a decent price on a new or rebuilt T45?

Aside from a new clutch and bell housing, what else would be needed with the TKO? Driveshaft? Does yoke come with tranny when u buy it?

I'm wondering if the TKO600 is too hardcore for her daily driver, but she hates to just throw in another stock T45.... ?

What do you guys think.

Rebuild the T45, along with stronger shift forks for $900 including labor

Buy a TKO and tremec bell housing for $1900

car will never have more than 250-300hp