Transmission Question

[Chevyeater351]

Heys guys I have a 1989 Ford Mustang 5.0 with all the basic bolt ons and 3.73 gears...I bought a used Tremec 3550 from a guy and it needs some work...Its not shifting like it should...I dont really want to rebuild the tranny and put it back in the car because the guy that had the transmission before me was putting over 550 hp to the wheels with that transmssion. I think that he was putting way to much power to it...My goal is to be around the 500-550 hp range to the wheels some day...I want to get a transmission that can handle the power and not worry about it...I would rather spend some money up-front and get a good transmission that I will not have to take back out in a year...I have two transmissions in mind, but want to see what kind of feedback I will get....Thanks for you help!!!!!!!

 

[EMW150]

Rebuild it with a G-Force Kit. They'll handle about as much power as a Tremec TKO.

 

[jrichker]

The Tremec 3550 are almost bullet proof as long as you keep the properly lubricated and don't try shifting without the clutch. Mine has held up very well with over 100,000 miles of street drving and a lot of full power shifts. Many shift problems can be traced to either the wrong fluid or a mis- adjusted clutch. Tremec 3550's use GM Syncromesh in the black bottle at about $10 a quart. Some people cheap out and use other stuff.

See http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English/onlineorder/product.asp to download a FREE service manual for T5 or Tremec 3550/TKO
You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download – http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

See http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/ or http://www.ddperformance.com for parts

A T5 rebuild kit with syncros, bearings and other small parts costs about $160. It does not include any gears or shafts.

http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/ also has a video on how to rebuild your T5 or Tremec. It costs about $20, and is worth every penny of it.

I did a Tremec 3550 rebuild, and it wasn't that difficult. The video was an immense help, and I would recommend viewing it. At $20, it will give you an opportunity to look and decide for yourself if you think that it is something you want to try to do.

For Tremec 3550 and TKO's:
You will also need a magnetic base and dial indicator to measure the endplay ($40-$120). http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=1354&PMCTLG=00

The tricky part is that you will need some shims to adjust the endplay in the two shafts: the new bearings will change the clearance. There is no way of telling what it will be until you get to the point that it is time to measure and check the clearances. Halon has the individual shims if you can wait for them. If you can't afford the wait, the auto parts store can sell you some shim stock and you can make your own, or have a machine shop make them for you. The shim stock comes in brass (easy to cut) and steel, in varying thicknesses. That's where the dial indicator & base come in - there is no way to get the clearance right without it.

Getting the car jacked up high enough to get the trans jack in and out from under the car was somewhat challenging. Since I didn't have a helper, getting the trans out of the car and back it was one of the more difficult things about the job. I built a trans jack out of 2x6's, some angle iron and a $25 floor jack. If I hadn't done that, I would have needed a helper or to rent a commercial trans jack. At 100+ pounds the Tremec 3550 was far too heavy for me to lift by myself.

 

[Chevyeater351]

Thank you guys...which transmission should I rebuild with the g-force kit??? The Tremec 3550 or the T-5??? What do yall think about the Astro Performance T-5 compared to the Tremec 3550 or the g-force kit??? I really want to make the right decision...Dont want to have to take the tranny out in a year....

 

[jrichker]

There is no one that I have met on Stangnet that has one of the fancy T5s with the aftermarket gears and 100,00 miles of hard use on the transmission.

On the other hand, there are several other people than myself that have the Tremec 3550's or TKO's and 100,000 mile of hard use with minimum problems.

 

[millhouse]

There is no one that I have met on Stangnet that has one of the fancy T5s with the aftermarket gears and 100,00 miles of hard use on the transmission.

On the other hand, there are several other people than myself that have the Tremec 3550's or TKO's and 100,000 mile of hard use with minimum problems.

+1

My 3550 is holding up great so far. The same can not be said about my poor T-5 (currently sitting in my garage with a shredded 3rd gear).

 

[EMW150]

Thank you guys...which transmission should I rebuild with the g-force kit??? The Tremec 3550 or the T-5??? What do yall think about the Astro Performance T-5 compared to the Tremec 3550 or the g-force kit??? I really want to make the right decision...Dont want to have to take the tranny out in a year....

The Astro T-5 is a G-force T-5 built by Astro. They're every bit as tough as a Tremec 3550.

 

[jrichker]

The Astro T-5 is a G-force T-5 built by Astro. They're every bit as tough as a Tremec 3550.

Do have an Astro T5 or personally know someone who has one and has 100,000 miles of hard driving on it?

The question is not will it take a beating, but will it take a beating for 100,000 miles with no problems.

 

[EMW150]

Do have an Astro T5 or personally know someone who has one and has 100,000 miles of hard driving on it?

The question is not will it take a beating, but will it take a beating for 100,000 miles with no problems.

Do you know of a Tremec that'll take 100,000 miles behind a 550 rwhp car? Anyone building a combo like that should be realistic enough to know it is not going to be a trouble free 100,000 mile daily driver. I know alot of people who have ran the G-force T-5s in Pro-shifted form who have less problems than my TKO. I've busted my TKO several times now with 433 rwhp. Go do a search at Hardcore 5.0. I think I remember seeing quite a few guys over there who have had great success with the G-force T-5s. A good friend of mine had one. I know when my TKO goes catastrophic, that's what I'm getting. You can get them rated at even higher torque ratings as a TKO 600 depending on how much you want to spend.

 

[millhouse]

Do you know of a Tremec that'll take 100,000 miles behind a 550 rwhp car? Anyone building a combo like that should be realistic enough to know it is not going to be a trouble free 100,000 mile daily driver. I know alot of people who have ran the G-force T-5s in Pro-shifted form who have less problems than my TKO. I've busted my TKO several times now with 433 rwhp. Go do a search at Hardcore 5.0. I think I remember seeing quite a few guys over there who have had great success with the G-force T-5s. A good friend of mine had one. I know when my TKO goes catastrophic, that's what I'm getting. You can get them rated at even higher torque ratings as a TKO 600 depending on how much you want to spend.

On the flip side I've read of many guys that have grenaded their Astro and G-force T-5's with very few miles on them. In the end, nothing is going to be 100% safe with higher torque levels. Pick you poison and live with it (as long as it's not a stock T-5).

 

[EMW150]

On the flip side I've read of many guys that have grenaded their Astro and G-force T-5's with very few miles on them. In the end, nothing is going to be 100% safe with higher torque levels. Pick you poison and live with it (as long as it's not a stock T-5).

Exactly, that was my point. They're pretty much equal in what they're going to take power wise. I'd take the G-force because they'll take as much as a Tremec yet you knock off some pounds compared to the Tremec.

 

[millhouse]

Exactly, that was my point. They're pretty much equal in what they're going to take power wise. I'd take the G-force because they'll take as much as a Tremec yet you knock off some pounds compared to the Tremec.

I wouldn't necessarily choose it for that reason. I've heard of far more Astro and G-force tranny's blowing up than 3550's and TK0's. The are from my understanding however far better shifting in the higher rpm range (6500+).

 

[EMW150]

A good friend of mine who ran Pure Street blew about 3 pro-shifted TKOs (3rd gear - took out entire trans) till he got the G-force. The G-force lasted him a season and half with no problems. You'll hear ups and downs about both I just don't think the TKOs are any tougher. It's kind of a matter of the individual though.

 

[Chevyeater351]

So there is really know difference in the th g-force kit and the Astro Kit? I didn't know that...So who else besides Astro sells these G-force trannies???

 

[EMW150]

Yes, Astro uses the G-force kits and then builds the transmissions. G-force will also build or just sell parts to build. Tony at Astro is good to deal with and backs his work from what I've seen. He'll also do Tremec mods. At least he used to.

 

[white99gt]

I think the TKO's are pretty tough.But if there is not a good shifter in it and depending on how you drive it ,it will die in a short manner.

My tko in my 99 lived for 6 years being overrated the WHOLE time(its rated in the 450 range and i was pushing 600+).I was told at the time that 3rd WAS gonna be the first to go.When it finally did(6years and 40k miles later)i upgraded 3rd to the nickel alloy that came in the TKOII tranny.

I have all my tranny work done by bob hanlon @ hanlon motorsports.He was racing tremecs long before any of these other guys were.Mine came back shifting like butter.Counting rebuilding it ,new gears,shipping etc i was under 1000.00 total.

 

[Chevyeater351]

Which TKO did you have? 500 or 600?

 

[Chevyeater351]

Another thing...If I end up selling the Tremec 3550, what do you think I should ask for it???

 

[white99gt]

I had the ORIGINAL TKO in my 99.Long before the 500/600 series came out.