Tko 600

[Grubby]

Originally Posted by MKS427

Joe,
If what I have heard (I cannot say where, but someone who would definitely know) is true, you may want to hold off until ~ July. There may be a better option that is a direct replacement for the TKO.
Mark

Mark,

What is the rumor? I have an ERA on order and don't really like the TKO, but it is the only OD that will fit.

John

[ERA 626]

I owned ERA 626 for 17 years, I had a 2.88 rear gear with a richmond 4+1 transmission. The 5th gear was a 1-1 ratio. the car was geared perfectly for the street.
However the richmond shifted very bad... it was not a good shifting transmission at all.
i am now building a CSX car. I went with the 3.54 rear gear (the car came that way) and a Tremmic TKO 600 RR version with a .82 overdrive. one thing I cant stand is a really annoying low RPM overdrive. I think the .82 Road Race version will be just right... any one else out there with this setup?

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by ERA 626

I owned ERA 626 for 17 years, I had a 2.88 rear gear with a richmond 4+1 transmission. The 5th gear was a 1-1 ratio. the car was geared perfectly for the street.
However the richmond shifted very bad... it was not a good shifting transmission at all.
i am now building a CSX car. I went with the 3.54 rear gear (the car came that way) and a Tremmic TKO 600 RR version with a .82 overdrive. one thing I cant stand is a really annoying low RPM overdrive. I think the .82 Road Race version will be just right... any one else out there with this setup?

You will love the 0.82 overdrive. It feels just like another gear, no big gulps and a reasonable engine speed at highway speeds. If you use a 295 x 55 rear with a 3.54 your 2500 rpm highway speed will be about 68 mph. If you switch to a 295 x 65 tire your 2500 rpm highway speed will be about 74 mph.

If you used a T-56 box with a 2.66 first gear, your 2000 rpm highway speed in 6th gear with a 3.54 R&P would be about 71 mph — and it would shift nicer.


Ed

[Dwight]

I had a TKO 600 (.64 OD) in my Cobra with 3.55 rear gears 26" tires, small block Ford 500 hp / tq. My motor had 350 foot lbs of torque at 2,200 rpms. Which made low speed cruise easy in any gear.
I put about 15,000 miles on it before I gave up and bought Liberty Gears street upgrade. I should have bought the tranny from them with the upgrade to start with. Lesson learned.
High dollars shifters did not work, super lubes did not work, more mileage helped but sometimes on a fast 2nd to 3rd I would miss. I loved burning tires in third.

The 2.97 first gear worked great with my set up. I could cruise at 2,000 rpms with easy in 5th gear. Any gear was a passing gear.
With the upgrade I could shift without the clutch if I wanted to. It was smooth and easy to shift.
Sold the Cobra.

I have a 390 in a 1966 Fairlane. When I bought the car last year it had a wide ratio top loader, 26" tires and 3.50 rear end. It turned 2,900 rpms at 60 miles per hour. I swapped a '95 T-5 and could cruise at 75 mph at 2,000 rpms. A couple of weeks ago I bought a 3550 to swap when I finish my 427 for the Fairlane.
I have driven a couple of Cobras with 3550s for thousands of miles. That's why I love the 3550. They shift like a T-5, sweet!
One of the Cobras had a 487 c.i. 427 618 hp and 637 tq. motor and the 3550 held up for over ten years and it's still going. Sold the car last fall. 12" rear tires and it would lay rubber for 109 feet. We did beat on it.

The other Cobra was a 408 with 530 tq / hp but we never spun the tires. It shifted very smooth. Very smooth! I know that one will last for ever.

You did not tell us how you drive or what the top loader is in.

Bottom line: I think a TKO 600 with the Liberty Gear street upgrade will work great. Probably more tranny than you need but with the limited trannies available it's the best choice.

[saki302]

I'm able to get this car to spin the tires on the 1-2 and the 2-3 shift pretty easily- with sticky Avons. I had read the 2-3 shift complaints, but this doesn't seem to do it, or I'm not noticing it.

Then again I did tear the shifter off my friend's M coupe at the track. It's only pressed down, but there is that...

It IS a very notchy feeling trans. Firm and stiff with the short shift kit. I like it, matches the car.

Though.. i didn't buy the trans myself, so it could have been worked over, that bit I don't know.

-Dave

Originally Posted by eschaider

You will always find varying reports of shifting experiences with a TKO. The spectrum will go from terrible to awesome. Terrible is usually the owner that didn't believe the issue was an issue and then felt snookered when he experienced the issue first hand. The awesome report will come from the individual who drives the car almost like a daily driver never taxing the shifting mechanism of the transmission.

[blykins]

I’ve been hearing that rumor for a year or so now. I wouldn’t hold my breath....

[RET_COP]

I have the TKO 600RR (.82) with the Liberty upgrade. 26.5 Dia. rear tire, 3.73 gears.
This combination gives me a perfect autocross 1st 46 mph and 2nd 70mph @ 6500 rpm.
The upgrade has smoother shifting but I don't rip a 6500 power shift 2nd to 3rd with what I do with the car. It's also difficult to power shift with no traction (tire spin). At the drag strip with some nice asphalt and a sticky tire it should be a little easier. If I was a serious drag racer (Again) i would have a trans made for it. I thought of face-plating my TKO 600 as I know that would be fun to drive, but resale forget it. I probably ruined the resale anyway with a solid cam.

[Dwight]

I had my 600 face plated (their mistake). On the street you could hear me shift from 100 yds away. It sounded like something broke every time I shifter. I tried to shift quietly but after a month I pulled the tranny and send the parts back to Liberty to exchange for a street upgrade.

Dwight