TKO 500 in a 65

65FBE2 · Mar 14, 2007

Has anyone put a TKO500 in to a 65 or 66 mustang? I have been told by the guys at Dark Horse that it will not fit without modifiying the tranny tunnel. I spoke with Keisler Auto and they said they make a kit that will fit with only minor mod. to the cross member at the top of the tunnel. But after quetioning them a little deeper, they have never put one in a 65-66, only 67-70. Dark Horse told me that the tunnel in a 65-66 is slightly smaller. If anybody has done this swap let me know what you went through

Gailahan · Mar 14, 2007

To get the right driveline angle on a 65-66 the transmission tunnel will need to be raised.

65FBE2 · Mar 15, 2007

Thats what I've heard. I have been concidering a Gearvendors overdrive unit and keeping the toploader. That way everything fits. But you only get a .78 overdrive, althought splitting the gears could be cool.

SnakeStang65 · Mar 15, 2007

65FBE2 said:
Has anyone put a TKO500 in to a 65 or 66 mustang? I have been told by the guys at Dark Horse that it will not fit without modifiying the tranny tunnel. I spoke with Keisler Auto and they said they make a kit that will fit with only minor mod. to the cross member at the top of the tunnel. But after quetioning them a little deeper, they have never put one in a 65-66, only 67-70. Dark Horse told me that the tunnel in a 65-66 is slightly smaller. If anybody has done this swap let me know what you went through

If you do not need the TKO 500, do not put it in. The t-5 will be a better fit. I have a 3550 (500) installed in mine, and it required cutting the tunnel to get it in correctly. The driveline angle without rasing the tunnel was over 6 degrees, after raising the tunnel it is the correct 3 degrees. There have been many discussions about this issue, and some people will tell you that it will fit. If you want it to fit correctly, you will have to cut the tunnel. A T-5 will also have driveline angle issues, but they will not be near as bad as a TKO 500/600 series transmission.

I have a few photos on my website if you want to see what I had to go through...

John

65FBE2 · Mar 15, 2007

Thank you very much! This is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to see the job done right! I have just finished a rotissiory restoration on this car and am in no hurry to cut up what I just paid big money to be repaired. I am set up for road racing and think that the gearvendors unit is looking better all the time. Your car looks great! Mine is the reverse paint (pearl white with pearl blue strips) I would attach a pic, but I can't figure out how to attach with out going over the kb limit

SoCalCruising · Mar 15, 2007

The Gear Vendors will add weight, but at least it's in a pretty good location. The G-Force T-5 might also be a consideration if you don't think that the Motorsport T-5 will handle the power you have. Not many guys trash their Motorsport-spec T-5s because it's tough to fit enough tire in the wheel well to really stress the tranny. If you are building a real hi-hp road race machine with sticky tires, you might need more.

67 Evil Eleanor · Mar 15, 2007

Is this the same with the 67-8's?

PJx5x · Mar 15, 2007

SnakeStang65 said:
I have a 3550 (500) installed in mine

TKO is based on the 3550.
TKO 500/600 is based on the 3650.

SnakeStang65 · Mar 16, 2007

PJx5x said:
TKO is based on the 3550.
TKO 500/600 is based on the 3650.

Careful there chief...

"The TKO 500 & 600 share the same case and dimensions are the previous TR-3550, TKO, and TKO II." (From the link below)

Take a look here.

The 3650 is what I have in my 03 Mach1 and it is no where close to the same transmission.

latamud · Mar 16, 2007

SnakeStang65 said:
Careful there chief...

"The TKO 500 & 600 share the same case and dimensions are the previous TR-3550, TKO, and TKO II." (From the link below)

Take a look here.

The 3650 is what I have in my 03 Mach1 and it is no where close to the same transmission.

Is the 3650 similar/same dimensions as the T56?

67 Evil Eleanor · Mar 17, 2007

So I'm a little confused, I have put two of these in. One in a 67 and the other in a 68. No problems. So it sounds like the 65-66's have to be cut and the 70 has to be cut also. Can someone clarify this?

Jimmys66 · Mar 18, 2007

Any 5-speed trans that you don't need to cut the tunnel for?

TKO 500 in a 65

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