American PowerTrain TKO with the whitelightning side shifter
03-20-2016, 11:43 AM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
American PowerTrain TKO with the whitelightning side shifter
Anyone using this "White Lighting Side Shifter" from Americam PowerTrains to fix the problem of 2nd to 3rd up-shifting on the Tremec TKO 600 ? 
Last edited by MotorHead; 03-20-2016 at 11:44 AM.
03-20-2016, 01:02 PM
#3
Race Director
For me, the shifter issues were internal to the transmission. I have a 2012 vintage TKO 600 that would not shift from 2-3 above about 4000 RPM. When I switched to a 400 with better heads and a roller cam, I also had Liberty's Gears go through mine and it shifts 2-3 every time now, even with an extra 700 RPM on top thanks to the new engine (shift point ~6200).
03-20-2016, 01:59 PM
#4
Race Director
Thread Starter
Yeah I can't afford to ship mine out anywhere, was looking for a bolt on solution.
03-20-2016, 09:03 PM
#5
For me, the shifter issues were internal to the transmission. I have a 2012 vintage TKO 600 that would not shift from 2-3 above about 4000 RPM. When I switched to a 400 with better heads and a roller cam, I also had Liberty's Gears go through mine and it shifts 2-3 every time now, even with an extra 700 RPM on top thanks to the new engine (shift point ~6200).
This is why I went with a T56 magnum because of these type of issues. For me in Canada 
I needed a direct bolt on no fixes required.There are a lot of reports of these problems but most of the current vendors selling TKO 600 usually address these issues before they ship.
03-21-2016, 02:11 PM
#7
Race Director
Most of the stuff they do to fix the shift problems are not in the shifter itself. You can try replacing the shifter, but I suspect you'll be wasting money.
03-21-2016, 04:35 PM
#8
All of our Tremec conversion kits for Corvettes come with a custom CNC machined tailshaft housing designed specifically for use with the Hurst Sidewinder shifter. As such, the Hurst Sidewinder shifter is not a bolt-on replacement shifter. All of our Corvette kits come with pre-modified transmissions and Sidewinder shifters installed.
Last edited by Tech@HurstDrivelines; 03-24-2016 at 12:53 PM.
03-22-2016, 09:18 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
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03-22-2016, 09:41 AM
#10
Tko-600
I'm wondering the same thing. I love my TKO, shifts smoothly, but I did upgrade to carbon-fiber lined synchro rings and brass fork pads. Maybe that's why I'm not having any issues. I think it took a few miles to get used to the shift pattern but that was it.
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CheezMoe (03-22-2016)
03-22-2016, 09:59 AM
#11
Melting Slicks
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The issue is with high RPM shifts between 2 - 3.
I also have this problem and it is the main reason I stopped going to the drag strip. I've got a solid flat tappet cam and a tall power band and shift between 7-7200 rpm. Well, at least that's where I 'try' to shift. I've even had problems with the 1-2 shift at this RPM. If there's a bolt-on solution I'd LOVE to hear about it!!!
I also have this problem and it is the main reason I stopped going to the drag strip. I've got a solid flat tappet cam and a tall power band and shift between 7-7200 rpm. Well, at least that's where I 'try' to shift. I've even had problems with the 1-2 shift at this RPM. If there's a bolt-on solution I'd LOVE to hear about it!!!
03-22-2016, 01:03 PM
#12
The issue is with high RPM shifts between 2 - 3.
I also have this problem and it is the main reason I stopped going to the drag strip. I've got a solid flat tappet cam and a tall power band and shift between 7-7200 rpm. Well, at least that's where I 'try' to shift. I've even had problems with the 1-2 shift at this RPM. If there's a bolt-on solution I'd LOVE to hear about it!!!
I also have this problem and it is the main reason I stopped going to the drag strip. I've got a solid flat tappet cam and a tall power band and shift between 7-7200 rpm. Well, at least that's where I 'try' to shift. I've even had problems with the 1-2 shift at this RPM. If there's a bolt-on solution I'd LOVE to hear about it!!!
Last edited by Tech@HurstDrivelines; 03-24-2016 at 12:54 PM.
03-23-2016, 12:20 AM
#13
Race Director
Hurst posted a great article... and I'm going to have to read it a few times.
FWIW, this is the article that convinced me to go with Liberty's. Duane, there's a chance you may be able to save quite a bit on shipping if you're willing to dig into the trans yourself: http://www.w8ji.com/tko_600_shifting_problems.htm
FWIW, this is the article that convinced me to go with Liberty's. Duane, there's a chance you may be able to save quite a bit on shipping if you're willing to dig into the trans yourself: http://www.w8ji.com/tko_600_shifting_problems.htm
03-23-2016, 02:23 PM
#14
Race Director
Thread Starter
Although this is a little more involved than “bolt-on”, there is a solution that may help. We recently featured an article from Classic Trucks magazine on our Facebook page about installing carbon-fiber-lined synchros to aid in high-RPM shifting. You can check that out here: http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/transmi...chros-upgrade/
Also are is there anything else that can be installed while apart to make the TKO shift better ?
03-23-2016, 05:03 PM
#15
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St. Jude Donor '05
Friend had the same issue same trans in an earlyMustang again wasnt in the shifter. Had to ship it back to them it was something internal works fine now been a number of yrs.
03-23-2016, 06:21 PM
#16
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Although this is a little more involved than “bolt-on”, there is a solution that may help. We recently featured an article from Classic Trucks magazine on our Facebook page about installing carbon-fiber-lined synchros to aid in high-RPM shifting. You can check that out here: http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/transmi...chros-upgrade/
The carbon fiber lined syncro rings are the answer to the difficult shifts.
I currently have the carbon synchros and brass fork pads sitting on the shelf in my garage, waiting until I have to remove the trans for some reason.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/262344945623?...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
https://bowlertransmissions.com/p/51...-blocker-rings
https://bowlertransmissions.com/p/26...rass-fork-pads
http://www.thegearbox.org/catalog/it...2/10207581.htm
http://www.thegearbox.org/catalog/it...42/5133017.htm
http://www.libertysgears.com/ttc2.htm
http://www.rsgear.com/technical/diag...smissions.aspx
Last edited by 7t2vette; 03-23-2016 at 07:14 PM.
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M. Young (03-24-2016)
03-24-2016, 12:51 PM
#17
Unfortunately, HDC does not currently offer carbon fiber synchros. We receive our transmissions direct from Tremec and have no plans to offer internal components.
Last edited by Tech@HurstDrivelines; 03-24-2016 at 12:51 PM.
03-24-2016, 06:49 PM
#18
Drifting
All of our Tremec conversion kits for Corvettes come with a custom CNC machined tailshaft housing designed specifically for use with the Hurst Sidewinder shifter. As such, the Hurst Sidewinder shifter is not a bolt-on replacement shifter. All of our Corvette kits come with pre-modified transmissions and Sidewinder shifters installed.
03-25-2016, 01:45 PM
#19
I wish one of you guys would offer the tailshaft housing for sale with say a swap / core process. I have the standard non-corvette TKO and for the right price would love an option to be able to get the modded tailshaft housing rather then mess with offset shifters, etc.