Which way do I go???

[GOCATS]

Both of my shops recommended Mcleod all the way. Mine is a 10.5". Makes for solid shifts but sucks driving in city traffic. I have a rev limit on the MSD of 7k. I've gotten all I'm going to get out of the motor by then after that all your doing is stressing the motor. When the motor was installed we the whole thing on engine and tranny to make sure all the bolts were installed properly and not any crossthreading going on. That was a little hairy going in but unless you have a transmission jack to hold while everything is bolted up it maybe the way to go. We ended up having to get one of those cranks that tilts the motor as it goes into the compartment. See Harbor freight if you can't find one. Hope this helps.

[MidOHasp]

The Tremec 3550 was a response to T-5's blowing up all the time. The 3550-II is the SAME transmission, but with 0.80 OD not 0.62. The TKO is the 3550 but w/ bigger I/O shafts and higher torque capacity, TKO-II is like 3550-II w/ bigger I/O shafts.

Not as "good" of info as on ttc website, but I think this relationship helps a person decide - it helped me.

One thing to keep in mind is that the torque numbers they give are "dry" torque numbers and would be the equivalent of putting that much torque against a set of tires that won't spin on a car that won't move.

I have heard (and made my purchase as a result of) plenty of information indicating that the 3550 can handle 500+ lb-ft and if driven nicely (not my case) could even last 50,000 miles. Maybe.

[Jack21]

The T-5 is/was a Borg-Warner trans. Early '80's non-World Class trannies were rated at 260 FPTQ. A hot V-6 would blow it up. Tremec's, although actually a truck trans, were lifesavers at the time.

BW over the years beefed up the T-5 to its current T5Z configuration, rated at 330 FPTQ with 2.95 first, as opposed to Tremec 350 FPTQ.

With the Tremec, you're stuck with the 3.35 first gear. Mustangs need that running 2.73 rears. Cobras running 3.55 and 3.73 rears don't. Feels like winding and old VW beetle out in first and only going 15 - 20 MPH. Most Tremec owners short shift to second pretty quickly.

Discussed this with Liberty Trans: T5Z vs Tremec 3550. He suggested the T5Z and a good shifter. Used the Hurst. Have been very happy with this setup, now with 15,000 miles on it. Very smooth shifting, and gears right where they're supposed to be. If anything, first could be a little tighter, say 2.65 - 2.75.

Also opted for the billet steel flywheel, Centerforce clutch, but stock bellhousing.

That being said, I had to, and you will have to make a serious assessment on how you intend to drive the car to determine how to configure it.

Mine is a not very tempermental sports car, daily driver and comfortable touring car. My wife can drive it. It's not by any means a race car. But I built it the way I wanted it.

Had I weekend warrior aspirations building the car, my component decisions would have been altogether different.

[5speeds]

My 2 cents,

As I go into our 24th year into the standard transmission business it becomes hard to realize that most T10 , Toploader, and Muncie 4 speeds are 30 to 40 years old.

What appears odd to me is that people building Cobras spend a great deal of money on the initial kit, an engine and then throw a transmission in the car that is rebuilt but runs on gears that are still 30 to 40 years old. Most of these gears are hammered to death and that is why the NEW tranmissions in reality are such a bargain.

Someone mentioned that the Borg Warner designs are antiquated compared to the Tremec stuff. Oddly it is the other way around! The TKO alone used old world synchro technology ( same rings as the toploader since Tremec DID make the toploader for Ford.) By purchasing the BW standard transmission platform they were able to also purchase the inovative patents that Warner owned, and make use of these patents in future transmissions.

The new TK0 500 and 600 transmissions look quite impressive and are a big improvement and Tremec will phase out the TK0 line.

The G-Force gear sets installed in T5's are also an interesting hybrid, since you get the smoother shifting of the T5, but with increased strength and at least a selection of 5th gears.

Happy New Year

Paul

5speeds.com

[DonC]

Paul:
Any more information on the TKO 500/600? If you don't have any do you know where I can find some?
DonC

[DonC]

Paul:
Any more information on the TKO 500/600? If you don't have any do you know where I can find some?
DonC