T5 vs TKO500
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
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From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
T5 vs TKO500.......Ending up with a T-56 :)
Still pondering, researching, dreaming, and trying to figure out what I would like to do with the tranny.
We all know the story...stroker motor with a TH350 behind it (sucks) and it sounds like the end of the world on the freeway
So I am going to do a manual conversion (auto-to-manual) and I like the 5 speeds.
Any thoughts on the differences between a T5 and a TKO500?
I currently make mid 400's HP/Torq and would like to supercharge it in the future (the engine is built for that). I have been trying to keep to the theme of 900HP someday (whether or not I reach it is a different story, but the parts should be able to handle it).
We all know the story...stroker motor with a TH350 behind it (sucks) and it sounds like the end of the world on the freeway
So I am going to do a manual conversion (auto-to-manual) and I like the 5 speeds.
Any thoughts on the differences between a T5 and a TKO500?
I currently make mid 400's HP/Torq and would like to supercharge it in the future (the engine is built for that). I have been trying to keep to the theme of 900HP someday (whether or not I reach it is a different story, but the parts should be able to handle it).
Last edited by 25th silverbullet; Oct 3, 2005 at 06:03 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I don't think the TKO500 can withstand 900 horsepower. Even the top of the line 6 speed is only good for 650 hp. You may be able to have one custom built by Keisler, but I don't think you'd ever want to drive it on the street. The clutch alone will make smooth driving an impossibility.
trw
trw
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
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From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Vette Magazine had an article about an 89 C4 that looks and is a daily driver. The owner says "sick power". Having put in a 400cid TT it is running 1300 hp, as the article says, with A/C. He took it to a track and did 151 mph in the quarter but got kicked out due to no parachute, so no additional runs to try and improve. He wants it to stay stock looking becuase he does drive it every day...
I don't drive mine everyday, it is just for fun.
I don't drive mine everyday, it is just for fun.
East bound and down...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 987
Likes: 3
From: Jonesboro Arkansas
If you are already making over 400 ft/lbs the T5 is out of the question. The TKO-500, would probably be ok, but why not go ahead and get the TK0-600? Deeper first gear, taller OD, rated to handle your kind of power easily. I have heard that torque rating of the TKO-600 is very conservative, tests performed on them in a controlled enviroment have shown them to handle over 1100 ft/lbs. Anyway, your IRS will give up way before the tranny does unless you get a 12-bolt setup. Just my 2 cents.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
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From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by LS-Five
If you are already making over 400 ft/lbs the T5 is out of the question. The TKO-500, would probably be ok, but why not go ahead and get the TK0-600? Deeper first gear, taller OD, rated to handle your kind of power easily. I have heard that torque rating of the TKO-600 is very conservative, tests performed on them in a controlled enviroment have shown them to handle over 1100 ft/lbs. Anyway, your IRS will give up way before the tranny does unless you get a 12-bolt setup. Just my 2 cents.
I did do alot of suspension work (VBP package) do you think that covers the IRS or should I do more. I would have to do more work in the rear end maybe some diff stuff... hhhmm I hadn't thought of that yet. Any recommendations on a bullet proof diff set up?
Sounds like the 600 might be a better way to go.
Thanks LS-Five
East bound and down...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 987
Likes: 3
From: Jonesboro Arkansas
I have the TKO-600 behind my 496 and so far I love it. I will be "beefing-up" my IRS ( Independent Rear Suspension) this winter.
Follow this link for details: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...071&forum_id=3
Of course if you do the supercharger, you might seriously consider a full 12-bolt-setup instead of going my direction. It costs money to go fast with our cars.
Follow this link for details: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...071&forum_id=3
Of course if you do the supercharger, you might seriously consider a full 12-bolt-setup instead of going my direction. It costs money to go fast with our cars.
Last edited by LS-Five; Aug 25, 2005 at 10:07 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Transmissions are all based on 24 hours at that torque.
I ran a T5 behind my blown bigblock for one season and never hurt it even though I put out almost 3 times it's rating.
On street tires and NO power shifting you won't hurt even a T5.
3rd gear is the weak gear, 1st will never blow but 3rd will if you power shifts.
The TKO is far superior but costly.
I ran a T5 behind my blown bigblock for one season and never hurt it even though I put out almost 3 times it's rating.
On street tires and NO power shifting you won't hurt even a T5.
3rd gear is the weak gear, 1st will never blow but 3rd will if you power shifts.
The TKO is far superior but costly.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: San Marcos CA
Tom's differentials has all the cool stuff for drag racing and beefing the rear.
http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/
If you run drag slicks you will need a good trannie but if you run street tires they will give up way before you hit max on the trannie. Which brings up the question of why change to a 5-speed. You could build a really awsome automatic with high stall and really have fun.
I tried the 1/8 mile with my car (high 400's rwhp) on my street tires and just smoked 1st and 2nd. I'm not into drag racing but it was fun none the less.
Good luck!
http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/
If you run drag slicks you will need a good trannie but if you run street tires they will give up way before you hit max on the trannie. Which brings up the question of why change to a 5-speed. You could build a really awsome automatic with high stall and really have fun.
I tried the 1/8 mile with my car (high 400's rwhp) on my street tires and just smoked 1st and 2nd. I'm not into drag racing but it was fun none the less.
Good luck!
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by 72 RAY
Tom's differentials has all the cool stuff for drag racing and beefing the rear.
http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/
If you run drag slicks you will need a good trannie but if you run street tires they will give up way before you hit max on the trannie. Which brings up the question of why change to a 5-speed. You could build a really awsome automatic with high stall and really have fun.
I tried the 1/8 mile with my car (high 400's rwhp) on my street tires and just smoked 1st and 2nd. I'm not into drag racing but it was fun none the less.
Good luck!
http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/
If you run drag slicks you will need a good trannie but if you run street tires they will give up way before you hit max on the trannie. Which brings up the question of why change to a 5-speed. You could build a really awsome automatic with high stall and really have fun.
I tried the 1/8 mile with my car (high 400's rwhp) on my street tires and just smoked 1st and 2nd. I'm not into drag racing but it was fun none the less.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
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From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
The driving fun really goes up with standard. I love shifting gears. After destroying 3 automatics and 4 torque converters I made the swap to 5 speed and regret not doing it years ago.
It sounds like beefing up the IRS and rearend are the things that I would have to address after the tranny.
Does anyone have any idea about how the VB&P (part #42003) High perf. suspension reacts under the conditions we are talking about? I installed this last year do you think I would I have to do more?
I'm not in it for the drag racing as much as for the pure enjoyment of driving. Getting up to speed quick and cornering through the mnts. out by Julian, CA while rowing through some gears sounds like a blast. I already beat the fart tubes off the line...LOL
Thanks for all the good insight.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Chambersburg PA
900 hp is going to be less fun
The VBP suspension is designed to improve cornering and overall balance. There is nothing in any of those systems that will help durability due to crazy HP. If it were me (and it soon will be after I install the stroker motor) I would install the TKO 600 from Keisler. Especially if doing a Auto to Stick conversion. They have all the parts to facilitate that and have done hundreds...why not use their knowledge. It is expensive but building the car your talking about is going to be.
You mention 900 Supercharged HP and then talking about driving in the Mountains. I would NEVER run more than about 500HP in a car that is going to be driven hard in the curves. That is plenty of HP for power oversteer. 900 hp would be too nerve-racking to enjoy. One false throttle push and yout spinning of the side of the Mountain *** first.
You mention 900 Supercharged HP and then talking about driving in the Mountains. I would NEVER run more than about 500HP in a car that is going to be driven hard in the curves. That is plenty of HP for power oversteer. 900 hp would be too nerve-racking to enjoy. One false throttle push and yout spinning of the side of the Mountain *** first.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
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From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by 75rag4sp
I would install the TKO 600 from Keisler. Especially if doing a Auto to Stick conversion. They have all the parts to facilitate that and have done hundreds...why not use their knowledge. It is expensive but building the car your talking about is going to be.
That is plenty of HP for power oversteer. 900 hp would be too nerve-racking to enjoy. One false throttle push and yout spinning of the side of the Mountain *** first.
That is plenty of HP for power oversteer. 900 hp would be too nerve-racking to enjoy. One false throttle push and yout spinning of the side of the Mountain *** first.
It is nerve racking already but that is part of the fun... I would like the extra HP for in town and on the freeway, but am building it to enjoy on the mnt road too...
Good point about oversteer though, I had better be careful
East bound and down...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 987
Likes: 3
From: Jonesboro Arkansas
Originally Posted by 25th silverbullet It sounds like beefing up the IRS and rearend are the things that I would have to address after the tranny. -(Most definitely.)
[B
[B
Does anyone have any idea about how the VB&P (part #42003) High perf. suspension reacts under the conditions we are talking about? [/B]I installed this last year do you think I would I have to do more?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
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From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by LS-Five
-This looks like a good kit, it has the smart struts which will help out with higher horsepower applications, You will probably want to adjust the rear spring on that kit to be pretty stiff. The general school of thought is that the rate should be at least a minimum of 360lbs to eliminate some of the squat in the rear. Of course this is only necessary if you ever plan on launching the car hard, which, is inevitable if you ever find yourself at a stoplight lined up next to a Rustang or the like.
I end up at the stoplight with alot of people...you guys probably have the same expiriences there
Everyone wants a go 
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 534
Likes: 2
From: Cookeville TN
we can do it
Hello -
Keisler Engineering can build you a complete auto to 5 speed conversion which will handle your power needs and be very street friendly.
Please give me a call if I can answer any questions for you!
Robert Hall - aka The Driven Man
423-773-9789
Keisler Eng.
Keisler Engineering can build you a complete auto to 5 speed conversion which will handle your power needs and be very street friendly.
Please give me a call if I can answer any questions for you!
Robert Hall - aka The Driven Man
423-773-9789
Keisler Eng.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Originally Posted by Robert Hall - Keisler Sales
Hello -
Keisler Engineering can build you a complete auto to 5 speed conversion which will handle your power needs and be very street friendly.
Please give me a call if I can answer any questions for you!
Robert Hall - aka The Driven Man
423-773-9789
Keisler Eng.
Keisler Engineering can build you a complete auto to 5 speed conversion which will handle your power needs and be very street friendly.
Please give me a call if I can answer any questions for you!
Robert Hall - aka The Driven Man
423-773-9789
Keisler Eng.
Will do...but I think I'll be asking about the TKO-600.
Thanks Robert
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: phila pa
I would not throw caution to the wind here. I was talked out of the six speed for by keisler themselves, thank god because i have had nothing but trouble putting in this 5 speed. the six speed had a completely new X member that had to go into it.
Besides that Keisler has some of the worst customer service that i have ever come accross. In this world mind you. It will be nothing but an annoyance to you. it seems like there are many people who will tell you the same thing on this fourm
Besides that Keisler has some of the worst customer service that i have ever come accross. In this world mind you. It will be nothing but an annoyance to you. it seems like there are many people who will tell you the same thing on this fourm
East bound and down...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 987
Likes: 3
From: Jonesboro Arkansas
Originally Posted by 25th silverbullet
That is what I keep hearning...
Someone mentioned the Richmond... Any thoughts on that?
Someone mentioned the Richmond... Any thoughts on that?
I had to call customer service when I installed my TKO-600. I found them to be very helpful and they were more than willing to do whatever they had to do to make it right. Don't let everyone scare you away from them, my kit bolted right in without ANY modifications to my car in any way. But, I'm not trying to talk you into buying from them, I'm just saying that my experience was positive.
As for the Richmond, it really necessitates a gear swap if you don't already have a 3.08 or taller gear. I believe that 5th gear is 1 to 1 which is just like 4th in a Muncie. The benefit here is that the Richmond has a deep 1st gear so the highway gears don't end up giving you a weak launch. I'm not sure exactly what modifications have to be made to the car in order to get it setup correctly, I'm sure someone will chime in on this...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 343
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From: San Diego CA
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Found a nice T-56
So I found the tranny, a T-56 out of a '95 Camero LT1. The car was never wrecked he is just swaping to an LS1 and new tranny.
Comes with the Clutch, bell housing, drive line, hydrolics, and pedal assembly...$1150!!!! I am not sure that I will be able to use all the parts but we'll see when I pick it up.
I'm planning on picking it up Sat. Does anyone have advice, or buyer bewares about this tranny for my '78 stroker installation?
Any ideal about the pedal assembly? Will the Camero one work in the 'vette? It sure is cramped under the dash....
I know most of what has been said on the forums already about how hard the installation is going to be, but hey I'm not doing it! I'm only finding the parts and trying to assist in figuring out what needs to be done. A tranny swap is beyond my schedule and technical abilities.
Thanks for all the help and advice.
Comes with the Clutch, bell housing, drive line, hydrolics, and pedal assembly...$1150!!!! I am not sure that I will be able to use all the parts but we'll see when I pick it up.
I'm planning on picking it up Sat. Does anyone have advice, or buyer bewares about this tranny for my '78 stroker installation?
Any ideal about the pedal assembly? Will the Camero one work in the 'vette? It sure is cramped under the dash....
I know most of what has been said on the forums already about how hard the installation is going to be, but hey I'm not doing it!
I'm only finding the parts and trying to assist in figuring out what needs to be done. A tranny swap is beyond my schedule and technical abilities.Thanks for all the help and advice.
Last edited by 25th silverbullet; Oct 3, 2005 at 06:11 PM.