ok, i will be updating this with comments from my mechanic who put this in for me, a bit beyond my reach. now, i purchased this tremec 5 speed from a forum member and it was about 1 year old and new. they have made changes in that year for the better, but they should have not put out some of this stuff a year ago cause it had issues. the tranny had a hydraulic clutch, and am told this is one of the harder upgrades to do as there is no space under car. very tight. now, after a new throwout bearing was purchased cause the original was kaka, everything went in, however, flywheel was unbalanced, so everything came back out and after balancing went back in. the job took about a week and many calls to tremec, that were answered, never put off. i am now driving the car and so far, like it. the shifting is tight but will work loose and the pattern is much tighter than muncie 4 speed. closer. i have a 3.08 rear end and will not be changing it to a 3.55 cause first is nice now, it will be useless with anything more in my opinion. my speedo is now off, but 5th gear is really nice on the freeway. i mean really nice. i like the hydro clutch as well, but that will take getting used to . all told, i spent about 6 k for upgrade. so, would i do it again. dont know. i know i will drive the car more, and i know i can smoke em if i want to. easily. i have a hell of a squeak in my console behind radio, so i have to take that off and check reassembly, but all in all. the car is much more drivable. i will post again once i get update from my mechanic on what was good and what was crap. he suggests pulling engine as it is much easier than doing with engine in. there are other kits out there, so to each his own, so far so good, after some install isssues. may have been easier off line fix to change rear end. but would not have highway overdrive. 6k is alot, so consider that as well. thought you all would like an update.

 

Thanks!

 

With a 4:11 rear end in my 1960, I'm thinking I need an od tranny.... But which one....

Presently have a Muncie M21. Some local hotrodders think a 200R4 would be the best fit if I went the automatic route. While others like the Tremec 5 speed....

Did you have to enlarge your transmission tunnel?

 

no, it fit but it was tight, i am still waiting on some floor shims as i am heavier than my mechanic and it flexes when my fat *** is in it. that causes it to rub a bit up front under radio. so far, i really like it. the first is perfect, overdrive is awesome baby..... at 2k rpm i am going 80 mph..... that is what i was looking for. now, i will say, tell tremec what you have, i think first will be useless with a 4.11. you will prob start off in second, ergo giving you a 4 speed all over again..... you will love overdrive but hate first with your *** end......

 

Putting a Tremec in a midyear is one thing but in a C1 is an entirely different story. the Tremec is quite a bit larger and doesn't lend itself to C1 applications regardless of what the vendors (K) web sites say. Use a 5 speed Richmond and change rear end to 3.08's on a C1 and save yourself the headache! I know I tried to get a TKO into a C1 and it's just way to tight. I have a lift and a transmission jack and took my time with the Tremec ... it just doesn't fit!

 

i didnt even look at the year of his vette. sorry..... it was tight on a c2. i could not imagine a c1. but maybe there are others out there....

 

Certainly your choice(auto or manual) but personally, I like shifting.
Search for yourself, we have over 100 HAPPY C1 owners with our TKO's in place. A FEW have had their issues in the past but we have too many happy C1 customers to tell you otherwise.

Now with a 4.11 rear, we would recommend a TKO-600 based on ratios alone. The TKO-500 has a 3.27 1st gear which would render your 1st gear useless. The TKO-600 has a 2.87 1st gear which makes for a very useable 1st. As for highway cruising, depending on tire size, a 4.11 rear gear with a .64 OD equates to about 2300 rpm at 70mph

Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

Richard
Tech Support

 

"Search for yourself, we have over 100 HAPPY C1 owners with our TKO's in place. A FEW have had their issues in the past but we have too many happy C1 customers to tell you otherwise".

I have talked to several of your "happy C1 customers"! One Ground a 3/8 x 3/8" chamfer on both sides of the 2nd back top cover and the other dropped his whole engine and transmission a full inch. Good Luck, the "K" BS goes on! How do you handle waranty work when someone has to radically grind on one of your transmissions?

 

A whole 2 out of over 100 Like I said, we have had a few issues in the past but certainly not enough to warrant your outlandish claims.
I am glad you got your Richmond in and working fine without any issues but because you had issues with YOUR C1 and a TKO doesn't mean EVERY SINGLE C1 guy will have the same. In fact, they haven't. I urge you to go enjoy your new overdrive and let others make their own decisions.


Richard

 

Richard you are amazingly correct! I have only met 2 C1 owners that have used your kit ... so this means that if you really have 100 installs (I have met 2% of them) ... so 2% of the alleged 100 had bad luck. I suppose if I meet another Tremec installed in a C1 that would make it either 3% or still 2%??? Did you help design the kits?
Both guys liked the Tremec (not your kit) after they hacked the transmissions and their car up. So I do agree with you: A side wheel grinder and Sawzall will make your "perfect fit kits" fit in a C1!

 

A local 1969 Chevelle owner that regularly attends most of our car shows and cruise-ins installed a Tremec into his Chevelle.

After taking with him about the conversion from a Muncie M21, he is more then impressed with the results. This conversation got me thinking about doing an upgrade on my 1960. So I've been searching on the net.

I did find this discussion at Vetteheads.

http://www.vetteheads.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5128

It appears most that used the Tremec ona C1 had to hackup their trans tunnnel. A Richmond 5 speed appears to be an easier fit.

 

I don't know about C1 problems but I had a Keisler TKO 600 installed in my C2 and the only mod was to slip a donut under the driver side floor at the cross-member due to the normal floor sagging. Engine did not need to come out. No issues. Not saying that is the transmission you want but I had no problems, received it in a timely fashion, and Richard was making sure it all went well including my follow up questions. So I gotta say thanks to the boys at Keisler

 

I see Corvette Central sells the Keisler transmissins. They are listed in their current catalog... Now how is a Keisler different then a Tremec?

 

Keisler sells the Tremec and adds their installation kit. Driveline, shifter, transmission mount, etc. It's still a Tremec weather you buy from them or someone else.

 

For all the money spent, you have to ask yourself - "am I getting that much extra fun and how often do I have to drive the car before I recover the money spent". I still like the 4-speeds. Bought a brand new Autogear Muncie M20 wide ratio for my '62. 3:55 rear (going to a 3:50 when I install the 9" Ford rear this weekend). Excellent combo. engine has approx 425 hp and cruising I get a little over 14 mpg.

 

Well said Kensmith. A Tremec TKO is a Tremec TKO no matter where you buy it. What we do here is modify the shifter position to fit in a particular classic musclecar. In this a case a corvette. We then add the rest of the components to make a complete kit, i.e. shifter handle, driveshaft, speedo cable and gear, backup light wiring, pilot bearing etc... If the car happens to be an automatic to begin with, we also supply the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch assembly, pedals and linkage.

GCD1962 brings up a great point as well. Obviously the biggest advantage to a 5 speed is the overdrive which not only reduces the engine rpm and saves gas, it will extend the life of your motor by lowering the cruising rpm's.


Richard

 

that is the important question. is it worth it. since i will be driving it more and driving it to cruises with 2 hours, i guess for me yes. 6k is a lot of jack. dont get me wrong. will i get that back out? dont know. time will tell. the car is MUCH more drivable on the highway. noise, rpm, speed, etc..... so, you decide. i am driving mine much more since the upgrade. for me it was worth it..... to each his own. one final deal. keisler has answered all questions and addressed all complaints very timely. i can say that. i think with the new kits, they have worked out most of the issues. i bought a one year old one, so had those issues still but they talked my mechanic thru many issues and problems....

 

You say you have a 3:08 gear in it now and you do a good amount of highway driving. What do you expect to gain for the $6G ? Autogear sells an overdrive Muncie for approx $1,800. You might accomplish the same for far less.

 

Richard: Thanks for the hate mail! I'm sorry but Keisler never offered me a free transmission for all of the trouble that you caused me. However he did offer free shipping on yet another one (that would make it 3).
Let’s get back to the subject of making TKO Tremec's fit in our C1's and Midyears. As someone else recommended, it seems that if some of the vendors that add "Engineering" to their names were really engineering oriented they could engineer and cast a new short tail housing that would be the same length as a Muncie/T10. At the same time they could make a permanent fix to the rails and shifter location (not the existing band aid). This would make it friendlier to us Corvette guys. I'm hoping someone that has some hands on internal Tremec experience can jump in and add some light to this??? Alternatively, it seems that the market is so open for this transmission, Tremec would step up themselves and start producing one?

 

no, that was not the main reason. main reason was hated the muncie 1st gear. now, a new rear would have fixed first but taken away from highway. so, my throwout bearing was going and somemone on forum had a complete tko600 for sale. new and still in box. so,,,, i went ahead and bit the bullet. it cost more to put in cause it had to go in twice, but that is cool. live and learn. i am not gonna drive it cross country, but highway rocks now. i was doing 95 last night barely pushing 2500 rpms. so, i am passing along my information in case anyone is considering the same... hope it is useful....