Tremec TKO Transmissions Part 1 – TKO-500 and TKO-600 Features and Background

Tremec is an OE transmission supplier that manufactures handbook transmissions for Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Aston Martin, TVR, and lots of diverse medium and heavy obligation truck purposes. Their TKO is a higher energy 5-velocity overdrive manual transmission that was at first intended to be retrofitted into Mustang Fox body automobiles to swap the weaker T5, but will also bolt up to the standard Ford four velocity passenger car bellhousing. When Tremec realized that fanatics have been adapting it for GM apps, they made a decision to make it a minimal easier for folks (and capitalize on a enormous prospect, as well) by generating a GM edition of the TKO.

The GM model will bolt straight up to practically any regular Chevrolet/Buick/Olds/Pontiac passenger vehicle 4-speed bellhousing. While only Ford and GM variations of the TKO are accessible, Mopar fans can get all the custom made parts they need to adapt a Ford variation TKO to virtually any Mopar V8 motor. The TKO has never been OE machines in any manufacturing motor vehicle, whilst its fantastic-grandpa, the Tremec TR-3550 was in a restricted-production Ford Mustang Cobra in the mid 1990s. The TKO is purely an aftermarket transmission built for superior-overall performance automobiles.

There are 3 basic products obtainable, the TKO-500 and two versions of the TKO-600. The huge-ratio TKO-500 is rated for a ongoing 500 lb.-ft. of torque, and delivers a deep 3.27:1 to start with gear ratio and a .68:1 overdrive ratio in fifth equipment. The close-ratio TKO-600 is rated for a constant 600 lb.-ft. of torque, and has a 2.87:1 1st gear and possibly a .82:1 overdrive or a .64:1 overdrive ratio in fifth equipment. The rated torque capacities are reported to be really conservative, as there are a significant amount of autos in the area with engines that exceed the torque score by a large margin, and failures are scarce.

The TKO takes advantage of a a few-rail inside change mechanism, eradicating any external linkage and the challenges that go with it. The brief throw billet aluminum shifter can be removed, flipped 180 degrees, and then reinstalled to deliver an additional change situation. Optional tailor made shifters are readily available in several unique configurations to mimic the shift positions in many musclecars. The TKO makes use of forged iron shift forks, a a person-piece counter shaft, and tapered roller bearings on the input, output, and counter shafts for included toughness.

Each and every TKO transmission delivers the two mechanical and digital speedometer outputs. The mechanical output is a Ford style, but you can get hybrid speedometer cables for GM or Mopar applications. They also characteristic a reverse mild change and a neutral security switch that can be wired into your vehicle’s existing harness. The transmission has an interior reverse lockout feature that prevents you from unintentionally likely from fifth gear into reverse. You have to go into the middle of the “Neutral” gate before it will allow you to shift into reverse.

The Tremec TKO is an exceptional choice for the musclecar or road rod owner that enjoys rowing his very own gears and would like to generate his automobile to distant motor vehicle displays or other occasions. I have one particular in my 1967 Pontiac Firebird and have pushed a amount of other vehicles with TKO transmissions put in. The overdrive makes a big variance on the highway, and there aren’t quite a few other transmission alternatives out there with overdrive that will stand up to the sort of electricity that the TKO can acquire. None of the other overdrive transmissions offered at this time offer as a lot flexibility as the Tremec TKO.