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TKO 500 in a classic

  • Thread starter Thread starter jerry S
  • Start date Start date Jan 5, 2006
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jerry S

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Sep 3, 2003
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52.22N 5.12E
Jan 5, 2006
#1
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #1
I know that there is no shortage of T5 retrofit parts out there (clutch cable, cross member, etc). What about the new TKOs? Do the T5 parts out there also work on the TKO? Are there manufacturers out there making install kits for classic mustangs? Or do you have have stuff custom fabricated?
 

LMan

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Aug 10, 2002
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Jan 5, 2006
#2
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #2
I don't know the specific answer to your question, but I will relate (because that's the kinda guy I am) that there are 129 seperate threads mentioning "TKO" in this forum alone.
 

jerry S

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Sep 3, 2003
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52.22N 5.12E
Jan 5, 2006
#3
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #3
LMan said:
I don't know the specific answer to your question, but I will relate (because that's the kinda guy I am) that there are 129 seperate threads mentioning "TKO" in this forum alone.
Click to expand...

if you can show me one that mentions what crossmember or clutch to use, I would appreciate it. I first ran the search "TKO 500" and "crossmember" and got two threads with no technical information of use.
 

mustbereel

Member
May 6, 2005
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Escondido, CA
Jan 5, 2006
#4
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #4
TKO Kit

Jerry,

Try JMC Motorsports in San Diego. They have TKO kits and ship all over the world. I just installed a TKO500 in my 65 fastback. They can customize the kit to your needs.

http://www.jmcmotorsports.com/catal...nsmission Conversions&cat2=TKO 600 (NO PEDALS)

Brad
 

69Rcode_Mach1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2004
1,473
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Salt Lake City, Utah
Jan 5, 2006
#5
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #5
darkhorseperformance.com also sells the crossmember you are looking for. If it were me though I would just build it myself. That is what I did for my T5 it is very simple.
 

jerry S

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52.22N 5.12E
Jan 5, 2006
#6
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excellent

Thanks for the leads you guys. I will investigate.
 

fvike

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Aug 24, 2004
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Jan 5, 2006
#7
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #7
I mentioned Keisler Automotive in another thread. They sell the TKO-500; TKO-600; TKO-600RR; and regular T56s as well, with all the stuff needed. For some cars, like the Mopar E-body, they have "PerfectFit" kits, where you get everything from shifter to bellhousing to driveshaft in a kit. I'm not sure if they got any PerfectFit kits for Mustangs yet.

http://www.keislerauto.com/
 

Route666

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Aug 16, 2003
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Jan 5, 2006
#8
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #8
NPD, autoworks.cc, JME and 5speedtransmissions also sell the crossmembers and slave cylinders and brackets. You can use a hydraulic master cylinder if you want to.

There are problems with fitment of the TKO, the output end hangs lower and so you end up with a bad angle on you driveshaft. The only ways of correcting it are to chop the trans tunnel and raise it or lower the engine.
 

Jester67

Member
Sep 21, 2004
908
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18
TN
Jan 5, 2006
#9
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #9
Route666 said:
NPD, autoworks.cc, JME and 5speedtransmissions also sell the crossmembers and slave cylinders and brackets. You can use a hydraulic master cylinder if you want to.

There are problems with fitment of the TKO, the output end hangs lower and so you end up with a bad angle on you driveshaft. The only ways of correcting it are to chop the trans tunnel and raise it or lower the engine.
Click to expand...
Yah form what I have seen it is some major surgery to get on to fit in the early stangs. Not that is cant be done but lots of work. I have been trying to get someone to make a kit with a template, pre-stamped panel and even carpet so this can be done easy and clean but so far no takers. I would think that is there was a kit with all the stuff to do it right and clean there would be a lot of people moving that way. With the price of a TKO 600 at less than $1200 and a force T5 at over $2000 and the TKO will take more torque and you can relocate the shifter to a better/ more ergonomic location.
 

69Rcode_Mach1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2004
1,473
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Salt Lake City, Utah
Jan 5, 2006
#10
  • Jan 5, 2006
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I was also going to mention the surgery but for sake of being flamed I didn't. Some people strongly disagree on this issue. Also if you do surgery say bye bye to the center console.
 

jerry S

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Sep 3, 2003
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52.22N 5.12E
Jan 5, 2006
#11
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #11
Route666 said:
There are problems with fitment of the TKO, the output end hangs lower and so you end up with a bad angle on you driveshaft. The only ways of correcting it are to chop the trans tunnel and raise it or lower the engine.
Click to expand...

I thought that the TKO fitment issues were limited to 1964 1/2 through 1968 stangs with tunnel surgery being necessary for those years but not for 1969 on up.
 
M

mtbdoc

New Member
Nov 2, 2003
245
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Jan 5, 2006
#12
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #12
Hmmm. My TKO-600 fits just fine in my 66 'vert! No tunnel mods.

Then again, I have a R&C front suspension kit, and so the engine is NOT in the stock position. And we just fab'd our own crossmember.
 

mustbereel

Member
May 6, 2005
318
0
17
Escondido, CA
Jan 5, 2006
#13
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #13
tko500 in 65 fastback

The JMC kit uses a crossmember that hangs the tranny kind of low to fit without surgery. This resulted in a 5.5* driveline angle. This may or may not be o.k. but I had to mount the Heidt's IRS at the same angle and this didn't look optimal to me. I decided to cut the tunnel and raise the tranny 1.75". The resulting "bump" in the tunnel still fits under the stock console because it is in the far foward area where the console sits higher. All I have to do is modify the "z" bracket that connects the tunnel to the console and everything will be hidden.

Brad
 
G

gp001

Founding Member
Jun 30, 2001
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So. Cal.
Jan 5, 2006
#14
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #14
No tunnel cutting and no angle problems with the Richmond 6 speed
 

Jester67

Member
Sep 21, 2004
908
1
18
TN
Jan 5, 2006
#15
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #15
gp001 said:
No tunnel cutting and no angle problems with the Richmond 6 speed
Click to expand...
How much is a Richmond 6 speed?
 
G

gp001

Founding Member
Jun 30, 2001
4,401
0
66
So. Cal.
Jan 5, 2006
#16
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #16
Jester67 said:
How much is a Richmond 6 speed?
Click to expand...

Trans is about $3k by itself
 

69Rcode_Mach1

Active Member
Apr 20, 2004
1,473
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37
Salt Lake City, Utah
Jan 5, 2006
#17
  • Jan 5, 2006
  • #17
Shhhh..... Don't tell people...... I thought you would know better. I wanted to do that when I nuked my T5 in the Mach.
 

4MuscleMachines

Member
Jul 20, 2005
417
1
17
South Texas
Jan 6, 2006
#18
  • Jan 6, 2006
  • #18
jerry S said:
I know that there is no shortage of T5 retrofit parts out there (clutch cable, cross member, etc). What about the new TKOs? Do the T5 parts out there also work on the TKO? Are there manufacturers out there making install kits for classic mustangs? Or do you have have stuff custom fabricated?
Click to expand...
http://www.moderndriveline.com/Technical_Bits/tech_alley.htm

Jerry, IMO the best info you will get on any trans swap. Really good service and after the sale support.

Frank
 

Jester67

Member
Sep 21, 2004
908
1
18
TN
Jan 6, 2006
#19
  • Jan 6, 2006
  • #19
gp001 said:
Trans is about $3k by itself
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response. But crap that is approaching what I paid for my car.
 
G

gp001

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Jun 30, 2001
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66
So. Cal.
Jan 6, 2006
#20
  • Jan 6, 2006
  • #20
69Rcode_Mach1 said:
Shhhh..... Don't tell people...... I thought you would know better. I wanted to do that when I nuked my T5 in the Mach.
Click to expand...

I've found that once people find out the cost they tend to not want to join the club
 
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