Transmission upgrade

OrangeMustangGt · Jul 16, 2006

I need to upgrade the tranny, I would like to compare a "super" t-5 kit with the price of a TKO 600....Including everything i would need.

I'm asking for a bit of help to everything i would need with either setup.

First of all, With the Astro super t-5, I'm assuming that they make a longer input shaft for the 94/95's....The kit costs around 1,100. But i would also need to buy a bearing rebuild kit(250) and the upgraded output shaft (300~)

Now, when you compare the cost of a TKO 600, Plus the fox bell housing, clutch fork,ds yoke and ds spacer......which ones ends up cheaper?

They both should hold about the same amount of power....BUT I'm sort of leaning towords the gforce style because of install problems people have had with their tko's. What would you do? And what is the best company for prices?

Josh79 · Jul 16, 2006

i am dealing with the same thing that you are. My t5 already grinds 2nd when i rev it higher and i plan on putting a 347 w/ tw heads, intake and a custom cam this winter so i figure just rebuilding the t5 wouldnt be smart. I think i am going to get the g force gears for the t5 (1k i think) and then a rebuild kit for the t5 (180 or so). I am also a little worried about the vibration problems etc. guys have had when swapping to the tko's/3550's.

HGFireHazard · Jul 16, 2006

I'm not sure about the cost comparison of the two units, but in short time I've been researching transmissions for my vehicle I have learned towards the g-force. I like the fact that I can just bolt it right up and not have to deal with said problems other users have faced when installing a TKO. I have also heard about (from a quite recent thread) a vibration problem TKO users also experience. I also believe that the g-force T-5 is lighter. When you are talking about similar price, similar performance, I believe the T-5 wins the field.

mootang · Jul 16, 2006

well if any of you have seen the bp incar video of the guy power shifting like a maniac, that car has the g-force T-5 and looks like it can sure take some abuse. I'm going with the Gforce for my car!

I'll post a link to the video for you to enjoy!

mootang · Jul 16, 2006

if your a member on turbomustangs.com you can check this thread out.
http://www.turbomustangs.com/smf/index.php?topic=65551.0

and for those that aren't here is a direct link to the video..

http://media.putfile.com/Another-BPA-Vid

and here is the incar video

http://www.hydroshutter.com/Videos/good driving 2.wmv

EDIT: i figure if the G-Force can hold up to this then it will hold up to anything i can throw at it!!!

Josh79 · Jul 16, 2006

i saw that video earlier. i definately think the gforce will hold up. Anyone rebuild their t5 with gforce gears? how much harder is it compared to just a regular rebuild.

WhiteDevil · Jul 16, 2006

I had this exact same thing going last summer when i busted my stock T-5 Twice. I ended up going with the tried and true TKO-500 and i have loved every minute of it. A lot of the problems that you have heard about the TKOs are from the older style of TKO. My TKO-500 has been great strong, dead quiet(which is one of the main reasons i didnt go with a Gforce), and shifts smoothly.

Pokageek · Jul 16, 2006

"I am also a little worried about the vibration problems etc. guys have had when swapping to the tko's/3550's."

It's my understanding that vibration problems can be solved by using adjustable aftermarket upper control arms. There was a thread on this earlier. Anyone step in with experience.

Secondly, I asked the same question once before and learned that the casing is what is not as strong and something regarding the input/output shaft being weaker on the g but maybe thats the "upgrade". Can any experts confirm this? BTW you are at $1650 on the g trans and if the TKO will need UCA at $250 to stop vibration then you are already ahead in $$.

Josh79 · Jul 16, 2006

with the gforce gears ($1k) will support 550HP and 400 Ft. Lbs. With the g force gears and the g force output shaft ($365) 650HP and 500 Ft. Lbs . the tko's are around 1700 new i think and of course you can find deals on used/rebuilt trannies. i believe the gforce is close in pricing to the tko i think @astroperformance it is a 100 less than a tko. One thing i noticed is the different 1st gear. I think the wc t5 is 3.35 and the gforce is 2.95... How big of a difference will this feel like? i do have 4.10's i guess so it would pry bring it closer to stock. you can also either get a .59 or .73 overdrive. i may just get a new g force instead of messing w/ the old t5 by the time i get the gears, rebuild kit and a few tools there is not much of a difference in price.

1slow95 · Jul 16, 2006

Total cost for TKO swap will be over $2200 easily if you buy everything new. Here's a list of parts and the prices I paid including tax and shipping.
TKO 600 - $1684.93
New yoke - $82.89
McCleod Bellhousing and extended clutch fork - $464.90
Promotion Clutch and firewall cable adapter - $387.60
Offset dowel pins - $28.31
New driveshaft - $220

That's almost $2900 I've spent installing my TKO and fixing the vibration. You can go with a Tremec bellhousing and cheaper clutch to save some money. You also don't need a new driveshaft, but mine was bent so I did need one.

As for the vibration, some people get it and some don't. Mine was caused by a combination of a bent driveshaft and (hopefully) the pinion angle being off. You also need to index the bellhousing or you will more than likely have a vibration from that.

badstang123 · Jul 16, 2006

I also did the TKO swap. Low-5.0 is dead on with the pricing. That is right where I ended up as well. When I swapped I did the TKO, McLeod bell housing, clutch fork, yoke, pro 5.0 shifter, McLeod clutch w/ TOB, McLeod SFI Bilet Flyweel, aluminum driveshaft, new trans mount, and adj, quad & cable kit. I ended up at $3,075 for all new parts.

Thankfully my vibration problem was an easy fix. After the install with a urethane mount I had a ton of vibration. I switched back to a stock mount and now have not run into any of the vibration problems others have.

I absolutely love my TKO. It shifts great, it is quiet, and feels absolutely bulletproof. I can't comment on the G-force but I do give a thumbs up to the TKO.

95vert354 · Jul 17, 2006

I went the TKO 500 route. $1895 for the whole kit from mustangs unlimited,plus $50 shipping. It included the tremec bellhousing and the yoke.
Oh, $29 bucks for the mount. Under 2000 total. I love it,354 stroker with a 150 shot and it feels solid as a rock!

parchisi · Jul 18, 2006

I got the TKO 600 kit from Mustangs unlimited, which came with the tremec bellhousing and syncromesh fluid for $2,100. $45 93 clutch fork, $45 clutch fork cover, $70 31 spline driveshaft yoke, $30 to have a machine shop cut out two 1/2 inch spacers, $27 Engergy suspension tranny mount, about $15 dollars in hardware from Lowes, and a $50 driveshaft spacer from Steeda. All told it was about $2400. That of course doesn't include the clutch and I also Jerry rigged the stock shifter stick to the tremec shifter. No vibrations for me and it feels stout as hell.

gcomfx.com · Jul 18, 2006

Dang, you guys should do the swap to an AODE. Sorry, I had too.

OrangeMustangGt · Jul 18, 2006

tell me about what you needed to do to mount the tko's....meaning where did you buy the correct mounting bracket?

parchisi · Jul 18, 2006

As for me, I just got the energy suspension urethane transmission mount from Summit, then had a machine shop cut out two 1/2 inch pieces of steel the shape of the mount. From what I've read here, I think it was just beginners luck that I don't have that dreaded vibration.

1slow95 · Jul 18, 2006

GreenMustangGt said:
tell me about what you needed to do to mount the tko's....meaning where did you buy the correct mounting bracket?

I had to open up the holes in my exhaust hanger bracket. After that, it bolted in just like the stock T5.

95vert354 · Jul 18, 2006

parchisi said:
As for me, I just got the energy suspension urethane transmission mount from Summit, then had a machine shop cut out two 1/2 inch pieces of steel the shape of the mount. From what I've read here, I think it was just beginners luck that I don't have that dreaded vibration.

I don't know about luck, but you thought enough to put TWO 1/2" spacers in it. Sound like you got it up as high as it would go. did you "massage" the tunnel any to get it that high? apperently you got it up high enough to get the angles close, and got away without the vibrations.

Nobody · Jul 18, 2006

I have a GForce and 4.10 gears. 1st feels like the stock T5 with 3.73's. The hardest thing about owning a GForce is explaining why you didn't get a Tremec.

str8stang036 · Oct 7, 2007

low 5.0- do you have any pics of your tko crossmember install? If not, can you explain what you did to get it to fit? I have a similar situation.

Transmission upgrade

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