TKO transmisson suggestions

[Sicarius428]

I need some advice as to which tranny to go with TKO 500 or 600. I was originally gonna get the TKO 500 but the 600 is that much stronger without a huge price increase. Clutch disks being about 100 bucks isn't gonna hurt me that much so switching to a 26 spline for my centerforce 2 isnt an issue. Bellhousing, X-member and Yoke were gonna have to be changed anyways so the total difference will be 200-300ish bucks. What has me going is the different gear ratio's. Which one would you guys suggest for me? I have a set of 3.55s which I will eventually get to install and when my engine decides to give out... I am going to go NA stroker... probably a 331 and keep my current package... but different cam. What would you do? Is there anything else I missed that I will have to replace? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated because my old T-5 is gonna crap out soon. Thanks in advance.
Kevin

 

[fiveohh94gt]

I went with the tk-600 because its supose to be stronger and costs basicly the same. If I remember correctly, first gear is the only one thats different and its just slightly taller, so you can ride out first longer.

 

[Aliate X]

I have the TKO 600 with the .82 O/D (road race option) and I love it. The longer 1st gear is perfect, the T-5 and TKO 500 1st gear is retarded, built around a 3.08 final drive ratio.

The TKO 600 gear ratios are just much more proportioned.

 

[blackcloud50]

the 600 is no stronger than the 500..That info coming from Tremec themselves. The increased torque capacity rating of the 600 comes from the fact that it does have a numerically lower 1st gear ratio and it only comes with 26-spline input shaft. But this does not warrant the 100 ft./lbs. difference in handling capacity. Opt for the 500 with 26-spline input shaft and you basically have the same trans as the 600 with the gear ratio being the only difference. Don't know why you pay more for the 600.

 

[blackcloud50]

the T-5 and TKO 500 1st gear is retarded, built around a 3.08 final drive ratio.

What does this mean?

 

[Jason 302]

What does this mean?

Everyone has different uses for their cars, for me the TKO600's first gear would be retarded. First gear in the 500 is perfect for me drag racing on slicks, and that's the reason I went with the 500. If I had the 600's high first gear, I would probably be bogging off the line with my 3.73's out back.

 

[blackcloud50]

built around a 3.08 final drive ratio.

I will be a little more specific...What does this mean? Is this figured by taking the stock rearend gear ratio + the trans gear ratio to come up with 3.08?

 

[tunedin302]

For what it's worth, I have a street driven car with a 3:55 rear and a TKOII (essentially a TKO500 w/ a road race OD). The tranny works great and the gearing is very good, especially 1st.

 

[Sicarius428]

Thanks for the suggestions. My car is a daily driver when its dry. I do need the freeway overdrive since work is about 20 miles from home. My consern is really first gear... I would hate to end up with too much first or too little... Strength is more of a perk because I doubt I will ever reach 500 lbs of torque. The stock T5 gear ratio would be closest to the TKO 500 correct? Kevin

 

[blackcloud50]

The stock T5 gear ratio would be closest to the TKO 500 correct? Kevin

That is correct

 

[MatthewP]

Use a numerically larger final drive (rear end), and go with the TKO 600. It's the same transmission as the TKO 500, but has a higher torque rating because of the taller first gear. I have a TKO 600 in a 90 coupe with 4.56 final drive and the .64 overdrive. It works great on the highway with 28" tall tires. If you go with something like 4.10 final drive and this transmission configuration and 26" tall tires, it should be similarly good.

The guy who says the T5 first gear ratio was built around a 3.08 rear end is only partially right. Most of the fox3 cars were shipped with 2.73 rear ends, and needed the shorter (3.35) first gear to get a reasonable total gear reduction to start the car from a standstill. When you go with a numerically larger final drive like 3.73 or 4.10, you don't need that 3.35 first gear to get the car moving. A 2.87 first gear, like in the TKO600, is a better choice.

A 3.35 first gear mated to a 3.08 final drive gives a total gear reduction of 10.318:1 in first gear. A 2.87 first gear mated to a 3.73 final drive gives a 10.7051 total gear reduction in first gear. Very similar.

-Matthew

 

[2000xp8]

I have a 600, wish i had a 500.

600 only has a .82 or .64 OD option, i prefer neither, the 82 is too much, the 62 is too little.

1st gear there is no option and take my word on it, a 2.87 SUCKS, i hate it. Feels like it takes and hour to shift, only time it helps is in a parking lot so you don't need to goto second.

I'd get a 500 with t5 ratios. which i think is like 3.27 for first, and .68 for 5th.

I use 3.73's and couldn't care less about gas mileage.
And what performs better on the drag strip i do not know, but my car doesn't make crap for power below 2 grand, so accelerating on the street with such a long first gear is a PITA, car wants to bog down a bit if i come out to low in the rpms.

 

[Mike92GT]

I'm going with the TKO 600. As for the gear ratio issue, the ratios of the 600 are almost identical to my current T5Z. The T5 has a 2.95 1st gear, compared to 2.87 for the Tremec. And the T5Z has a .63 OD while the Tremec 600 is .64, unless you get the road race version. Just my .02

 

[Sicarius428]

I see that a lot of the people that opted for the 600 have superchargers or really tall gears to make up for the lack of low end torque. My power doesn't really come in till 2kish. I think I might be in the same boat as 2000xp8 and he probably makes more power and has taller gears on top of it. I am currently leaning towards the 500 as of now but I still have an open mind... hopefully my wallet can keep up too. This is very educating. You guys are a great help and much appreciated.
Kevin

 

[tunedin302]

I see that a lot of the people that opted for the 600 have superchargers or really tall gears to make up for the lack of low end torque. My power doesn't really come in till 2kish. I think I might be in the same boat as 2000xp8 and he probably makes more power and has taller gears on top of it. I am currently leaning towards the 500 as of now but I still have an open mind... hopefully my wallet can keep up too. This is very educating. You guys are a great help and much appreciated.
Kevin

If you want something close to stock gearing then go with the 500

 

[Grn92LX]

Go with the tko 500 with the 26 spline input shaft option. Its just as strong with better gearing.

 

[blackcloud50]

Go with the tko 500 with the 26 spline input shaft option. Its just as strong with better gearing.

That's exactly what I did.

 

[Aliate X]

WHAT I MEANT was, the Borg Warner T-5 was designed around a 3.08 final drive. 1st 2nd are definitally short compared to the other gears, almost like they are short to get the car rolling since the final drive is so low, 3rd is okay, 4th is a joke, and 5th is only meant to hold speed. The TKO500 uses these same ratios. With me Im using a 4.10 final drive so the 600 is great for me. 1st gear with the T-5 and 4.10s was like driving a truck, the thing would roll like 15mph at most before you had to shift.

A lot of people are afraid of the long 1st gear in the TKO600, they think its longer than it really is, but it in fact is much more well proportioned to the rest of the gears, how it should be. If your looking into a TKO transmission, you obviously plan to make power whereas gear ratios really wont matter as much when your making enough torque.

Changes in gear ratios are much more noticable on a stock motor than anything making over 350rwtq.

For example you can run 3.27s and such with a big block and have no problem at all.



BTW, with the .82 overdrive ONLY AVAILABLE WITH THE TKO600, I have won many many races because my 5th gear ratio is much better than others. I lost count of how many modular mustangs I have passed while Im in 5th and they are in 4th simply because my gear ratio is better.

 

[Sicarius428]

Thanks for all the help. As life goes... I probably will be changing(damn computer biz) jobs soon so I am probably gonna save whatever money I can and unfortunately just rebuild the ol' T5 for now. I am very sorry for taking up your time on the subject but I walked away with some great information. I do dislike how the T5's 1st and 2nd are way disporportionate to especially 3rd which looks to be similar to the TKO 500. When I do get an aftermarket tranny after I start pushing some power, I will probably get the 600 and some tall gears in the rear. Thanks for all your advice.
Kevin

 

[tunedin302]

BTW, with the .82 overdrive ONLY AVAILABLE WITH THE TKO600

And the TKOII