Tremec tko install complete

[Grn92LX]

I bought a tko used from a dude on here. It came with a pro 50 shifter and I re-used my hurst handle. I bought ALL the stuff do it right. I got a mcleod scattershield, mcleod dual friction disk, king cobra pressure plate, aluminum driveshaft with 31 spline yoke, t/o bearing, pilot bearing, rear main seal, speedo gear, prothane trans mount, GM syncromesh fluid and a new 1.4kw PA perf starter. Its a little different from a T5, the gears are closer and it feels tighter. My clutch set up is absolutely awesome!! NO chatter and lighter pedal than the fms HD. It just feels good, im very glad I went this route. I got exactly what I want, a VERY strong clutch combo with a softer pedal.

The things im unsure of are, the tranny howls. For instance, say im in 2nd gear and i take it to 2500 and let the rpm's come down, it'll howl kinda loud. Also, im the hwy in 5th giving it extra gas to pass someone it howls as well. Are tremecs supposed to do this?

I also have a slight leak @ the output seal. If I replace the seal, im hoping this is an easy job. Just pull ot the driveshaft and pop the seal and replace?

This tremec is just big and beefy and the scattershield is huge too. Its very close to my header on the passangers side. I put a piece of rubber in between because it would hit the header at idle and it was annoying. I am glad I paid a dude to do this, this is definatly NOT a job to try at home if you want it done fast and its NOT a job for someone with no patience (like me ) I got a very fair price. Since getting the car back, I noticed it sounds different inside. Its hard to explain.

Im gonna try and take the shifter out in the afternoon and put silocone around it where it bolts to the trans. I dont think he put any on. Im thinking that might help dampen some noise I hear??

Mike

 

[Grn92LX]

up ^

 

[SmockDoiley]

I never had any howling noise coming from the tranny, but I also had dumps. Everything was fine so I'm unsure what it could be. As long as there is no grinding, leaking, popping out of gear, or vibration and it was installed correctly you shouldnt have any problems with it. Did you check over the tranny before installing so you could claim any damages to UPS. Maybe the seal got messed up in the box. And yes the seal is that easy.

 

[Grn92LX]

I gotta see what this howling noise is or if its considered normal. It does NOT do it in 4th gear. It seems to do it accelerating on the gas a bit more than normal passing someone and keeping it in gear as the rpm's come down on decel. Im gonna check the fluid level as long as the fill hole is accessible.

I gotta go under the car and see if that seal is still leaking. Im wondering if its something as simple as slightly low fluid? Maybe the guy thought it took the same amt of fluid as a t5? I gotta check. I hope replacing that seal isnt a pita.

 

[Grn92LX]

up

 

[Grn92LX]

^

 

[SmockDoiley]

Have you checked the fluid because everyone I ask says its probably not full.

 

[04sleeper]

Tremec recomends 3 quarts of Syncromesh to fill the TKO. I used to have one and it used to make noise as well?
If you need to check the fluid you need to put the car up in the air and have it level. Then pull out the plug where you fill it and the fluid will come right up to the plug.

 

[SmockDoiley]

I wish you would stop driving that thing around until you know for sure the fluid is fine. I dont want to be held responsible if that thing blows.

 

[SmockDoiley]

It takes like 5 minutes and a crescent wrench to check the fluid and anybody on here can do it. Is there anything on your car you know how to do because all you do is complain about having to do anything on your car? You pawned the tranny job onto someone else, now your worried about changing the rear seal, and now you dont even want to check the fluid. Owning and modding these cars isnt easy, and if your not willing to put some work into them then go buy a new car.

 

[Grn92LX]

Damn bro, calm the F down. I have 2 cars, I used the other one for part of the nite. The rear seal doesnt leak anymore, I checked it a few times. I "pawned" the trans install to someone else because I didnt wanna deal with a headache and spending money aint a problem for me. Whats another $300 after all that I spent? I simply do NOT work on my back, I hate it and dont do it. I didnt geta chance to check the fluid today, had more important things to do. I will try to do it this afternoon and report back. All other mods in sig were installed by me or by me with help of a buddy except the 373's

 

[Grn92LX]

Ok, just checked the fluid level. I got the fill plug out and some fluid came out. I had the car jacked slightly so it was slanted down toward the drivers side. It may have been slightly over filled? What do you think?

 

[stangbear427]

Being slightly overfilled may have had something to do with the short lived leaking problem. As for the noise, I think they all do it. My TKO always whines under accel, and it was brand new. Mainly gears 1-3, I think it has something to do with the extra beefy gears. I had a fellow stangbanger riding along one day and he said "Man, sounds like your T5's about to blow". I said no, it isn't a T5, it's a TKO and he just said "Oh! Tremec! That explains it, nevermind." I believe it's normal. Did you pass the whole job off, or were you at least there to see it done? Do you know if he degreed the bell to the block and checked the centerlines? This is a step even most seasoned mechanics skip, and it's important. Is the pinion angle on the driveshaft still correct? That could be thrown off by the bigger tranny and/or stiffer tranny mount. I don't know if it's enough to make it howl, but either should be checked anyway. I'm with you on passing off some work. There are things I just know that I'm not up to, and it's stupid to tackle them when I know people who are more qualified and better equipt. I've turned wrenches on everything done to this car, but it was all under the scrutiny of a master and in his shop and with his help. I won't drop the car off and drive away till it's done, but I know my limits.

 

[Grn92LX]

Thanks stangbear. Somethings are just a bit over my head (litteraly in this case since i'd be on my back ) I think im gonna go for a drive and see if any noise is gone since some fluid spilled out. Im also gonna tighten my header bolts.

What throws me off is that it doesn't do it in 4th gear. It does not vibrate or anything. It goes into gear just fine at 6k rpm, doesn't grind and my clutch doesn't chatter. Im extremely happy just not sure what the F the howl is. The scattershield will hit the header so I put some rubber in between to stop the banging. The guy did put silicone on the shifter base.

I dont think he checked the alignment. If it was off I dont think there was anything he could do because it didnt come with off set dowel pins.

 

[Grn92LX]

Alright, well its still making the noise. I got under the car and checked out my clutch cable. Looks like I shoulda used an extended fork and the alignment isnt perfect. The cable sheeth is cracking near where it goes into the bell housing. Im not sure if its due to the poor alignment or because its near the header. Since the guy had to disc my battery for the starter my idle isnt as good as it was. Cold start idle has a surge and it idles low like its gonna stall. I guess the KAM got erased. The idle is fine otherwise afterwards except it idles a little higher now at like 1000. Now im starting to regret wasting my money on this. I shoulda sold it and bought an 03 mach 1 5spd.

 

[Grn92LX]

up!

 

[stangbear427]

There's things to be said for a new car- especially the Mach1. I understand the sentiments. I love the look, but driving my dad's '01 GT I didn't care for it- just felt... huge. Looks great on the outside though- and he doesn't have any of the old car BS to deal with. Oh well, choises...
The noise will be worse in the first gears, as they are the strong ones. 4th and 5th aren't any better than a T5 in the TKO. Do you still have the inner shift boot? I'm not sure I buy into it, but several people in here have claimed it makes a pretty big difference in the interior noise.
There is a pretty small window on the centerlines for perfection- I've seen some pretty hairy things happen. The dowel pins don't come with it, I had to buy mine separately from Summit. I think I paid about $25 for three different pairs, not knowing which one's we'd need. I noticed with my Lakewood scattershield that I should maybe have gone with the extended clutch fork too- but it works, just a little close. All in all it was worth it for me. Your idle will come back after awhile, unless he messed something up in there and didn't know it. If you have some decent mods, then the 'puter will have to relearn the ropes, that's all. I don't remember having a clearance issue with the header, not sure about that one. Good luck.

 

[Grn92LX]

If I ever do a new motor i'll check the alignment definatly and i'll be buying an extended fork.

Anyone else have noisey tremec tko's?

 

[Grn92LX]

^

 

[87'GTstang]

Thanks stangbear. Somethings are just a bit over my head (litteraly in this case since i'd be on my back ) I think im gonna go for a drive and see if any noise is gone since some fluid spilled out. Im also gonna tighten my header bolts.

What throws me off is that it doesn't do it in 4th gear. It does not vibrate or anything. It goes into gear just fine at 6k rpm, doesn't grind and my clutch doesn't chatter. Im extremely happy just not sure what the F the howl is. The scattershield will hit the header so I put some rubber in between to stop the banging. The guy did put silicone on the shifter base.

I dont think he checked the alignment. If it was off I dont think there was anything he could do because it didnt come with off set dowel pins.

It is just a theory but because it is just 4th gear then maybe this might make sense. Gears 1-3 are underdrive and make use of the various gearsets through the counter cluster before power is force upon the output shaft. 5th is the same principle except it is overdrive. Now 4th is the only gear in a 5 speed tranny that is direct drive. If vehicles didn't have trannies then we would all essentially be running around in 4th gear because it is 1:1. So it doesn't need to make passes through gear sets to multiply or divide power. Power goes to the input shaft, passes through a gear the same diameter of the input shaft gear, and then right back to the output shaft. So yeah, i've made it too complicated probably but it's a good enough explanation for me
Otherwise i'de say gear mesh is your whine, but you say except 4th, which is the odd part. I have also heard the "tko whine" story befire, so it's not the first time i've heard of someone complain about it. We just get accustomed to something and if we hear something unusual we assume it is bad, when it can easily be by design. - Just my thoughts on the topic