TKO 500/Spec stg 3 installed... First impressions

1990LXDropTop · Sep 24, 2005

We finished up my TKO/clutch swap today. A TKO500, spec stg 3 clutch, and fidanza aluminum flywheel are now added to my mods list. The installation went very smooth and we ran into no problems. Now for the driving part... The TKO feels very strong and is not nearly as notchy as most people make it out to be. Sure its a little tougher to shift, but is still perfectly shiftable. Now for the clutch... I am not sure if I like it. It is EXTREMELY GRABBY with no slippage whatsoever. It is very difficult to get the car moving when going from a stop without stalling the it or riding the clutch. Will it always be like this or will it smooth out as it gets broken in? It is definately going to take some getting use to, especially since I went from a stock clutch/flywheel to a spec stg 3/aluminum flywheel. I just hope I made the right choice for my street car...

strokedandblown · Sep 24, 2005

both will break in, i wated 500 miles to really smash through the gears, I have the same setup accept mines a 600. I think you will get used to the clutch, do you have an adj. cable?

i find it very streetable..

1990LXDropTop · Sep 24, 2005

strokedandblown said:
both will break in, i wated 500 miles to really smash through the gears, I have the same setup accept mines a 600. I think you will get used to the clutch, do you have an adj. cable?

i find it very streetable..

Yes we installed a UPR kit as well. Came with quadrant, cable, and firewall adjuster.

Grn92LX · Sep 24, 2005

I thought you were doing a spec 2 clutch? Its probably something you'll have to get used to with that aggressive clutch. If you were gonna use a spec, I would have said a spec 2 basd on what I see lots of guys using on the sites in their street cars. I recommended the mcleod DF disk/promotion blueprinted fms hd press plate.

1990LXDropTop · Sep 24, 2005

Grn92LX said:
I thought you were doing a spec 2 clutch? Its probably something you'll have to get used to with that aggressive clutch. If you were gonna use a spec, I would have said a spec 2 basd on what I see lots of guys using on the sites in their street cars. I recommended the mcleod DF disk/promotion blueprinted fms hd press plate.

I ordered a stg 2, but JDS accidentally sent me a stg 3. I made a thread here on stangnet a couple weeks back on whether I should send it back for a stg 2, or keep it. EVERYONE who responded to my post said to keep it so I took their advice. Now I'm not so sure if I should have taken their advice.... I kind of wish I sent it back for the stg 2. Here is the thread: http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=578807

I am really worried I will not this clutch for a pretty much daily driver... I'm so confused

strokedandblown · Sep 24, 2005

i think your gonna get used to it ive had the old and new style and liked them both, mine feels like it has a lot of slippage in it though??

1990LXDropTop · Sep 24, 2005

strokedandblown said:
i think your gonna get used to it ive had the old and new style and liked them both, mine feels like it has a lot of slippage in it though??

I hopefully will... It took my buddy and me all yesterday and half of today to do this swap and I really don't feel like doing it again anytime soon. I've only put like 15 miles on my new setup so I can understand that nothing is broken in yet and I am not use to it. Hopefully as time progresses and the miles add up I'll have a better feeling about it.

87'GTstang · Sep 24, 2005

You will just have to get used to it and you probably will with time. However, common sense should have told you what you were getting into when you bought the stage 3 clutch kit over the stage 1 and 2.

1990LXDropTop · Sep 24, 2005

87'GTstang said:
You will just have to get used to it and you probably will with time. However, common sense should have told you what you were getting into when you bought the stage 3 clutch kit over the stage 1 and 2.

As previously stated, I ordered a stage 2 from JDS performance and they sent me a stage 3. So I paid for a stg 2 and got a stg 3 out of it. I posted here on stangnet debating whether I should I keep the stg 3 or send it back for the stg 2, and pretty much everyone said to keep the stg 3 so I did.

1990LXDropTop · Sep 24, 2005

After driving around some more I have come to realize that it really is not that bad. Its def. not the best daily driver clutch out there, but is managable. It just grabs really hard, really fast, and that is something I'm getting use to. I'm sure as time progesses and the clutch/tranny break in more I'll be fine with it. I just hope I made the right choice with the flywheel (aluminum).

At least I know I'm set for the future mods. I plan to add a blower within the next year, so hopefully I'll be set clutch-wise.

Daggar · Sep 24, 2005

Before long, you and the clutch both will break in and other clutches will likely feel like slush to you.

The Fox · Sep 25, 2005

What are the downfalls to an aluminum flywheel? Should I get a stage 2 clutch for a 300-350hp street car? I was thinking of getting the new TKO600. Do they make an MGW that fits the TKOz?

Grn92LX · Sep 25, 2005

1990LXDropTop said:
After driving around some more I have come to realize that it really is not that bad. Its def. not the best daily driver clutch out there, but is managable. It just grabs really hard, really fast, and that is something I'm getting use to. I'm sure as time progesses and the clutch/tranny break in more I'll be fine with it. I just hope I made the right choice with the flywheel (aluminum).

At least I know I'm set for the future mods. I plan to add a blower within the next year, so hopefully I'll be set clutch-wise.

The flywheel is perfect. How does it rev with it? Did you feel it rev quicker or what? Hard to say with mine because I did a new engine at the same time.

The clutch is your issue since you said its very grabby. You'll get used to it but all these new parts are gonna feel different at first. When I first drove my tko it felt a little different but i'm used to it now.

tunedin302 · Sep 25, 2005

Your clutch will be fine!! You just have to get used to it. Sounds like you have a very nice combo now. Congrats and remember to take it easy for the next 500 miles.

1990LXDropTop · Sep 25, 2005

Grn92LX said:
The flywheel is perfect. How does it rev with it? Did you feel it rev quicker or what? Hard to say with mine because I did a new engine at the same time.

The clutch is your issue since you said its very grabby. You'll get used to it but all these new parts are gonna feel different at first. When I first drove my tko it felt a little different but i'm used to it now.

I can tell the difference from just starting the car up, then when I rev it in nuetral it revs noticably easier than before. I haven't really felt a difference yet when driving because I have been babying it, and will do so for the next 500 miles. It does feel like I might of lost a little torque down low, but the clutch is so grabby it makes up for it. And I'm sure it will make up for it on the top end as well!!! Once I get moving everything feels great. The car is perfectly drivable with the aluminum flywheel. Some people, aka 5spd GT made me a little worried about the flywheel as he was so negative when talking about them. Overall I'm happy I went with the aluminum. Thanks for the advice. If it weren't for you I would have gone with a steel.

90mustangGT · Sep 25, 2005

I have the Spec 3 and TKO500, but with the stock resurfaced. The clutch is overley grabby at first, after it breaks in it is still grabbey but at least then it is managable. The shifter is notchy at first, but gets better as it breaks in. Anything more heavy duty isn't going to move around as easy is the light duty T5.

tunedin302 · Sep 25, 2005

1990LXDropTop said:
The car is perfectly drivable with the aluminum flywheel. Some people, aka 5spd GT made me a little worried about the flywheel as he was so negative when talking about them. Overall I'm happy I went with the aluminum. Thanks for the advice. If it weren't for you I would have gone with a steel.

Just don't miss a high rev shift with the aluminum flywheel. There is really nothing to stop the motor from over reving now

9350coupe · Sep 25, 2005

I have same set up with no regrets

1990LXDropTop · Sep 25, 2005

tunedin302 said:
Just don't miss a high rev shift with the aluminum flywheel. There is really nothing to stop the motor from over reving now

Thank the man who invented the rev limiter. Mine is 6250 I think...

tunedin302 · Sep 27, 2005

1990LXDropTop said:
Thank the man who invented the rev limiter. Mine is 6250 I think...

Just miss a gear and you'll find out Just kidding .. again congrats on the setup ... sounds nice

TKO 500/Spec stg 3 installed... First impressions

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