Keisler TKO 500 install
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
You certainly don't have to but I cut my crossmember. It made the install much easier. I have had the trans out 2 other times for other reasons and I'm glad I cut the crossmember. Other than that the install is pretty straight forward. It will take some time but it will be worth it. It changed the whole car and made it fun to drive above 60 mph again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
i had mine way before i changed the engine last yr. and i also cut the x-member while everything was out. if your not up to that, just follow the directions. i thought i could put it in the traditional way, but you cant. its weird but it works. i also had to enlarge my tranny mount holes on the supplied x-member mount to get the tranny away from the floor pan. best mod i ever done to any car was the 5 spd. swap. i got wood the first time i shifted into overdrive.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by redc3
i had mine way before i changed the engine last yr. and i also cut the x-member while everything was out. if your not up to that, just follow the directions. i thought i could put it in the traditional way, but you cant. its weird but it works. i also had to enlarge my tranny mount holes on the supplied x-member mount to get the tranny away from the floor pan. best mod i ever done to any car was the 5 spd. swap. i got wood the first time i shifted into overdrive.
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Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Pilot bushing can pressed out hydraulically by filling the hole with bearing grease (the heavier, the better) and pounding a CLOSE_FITTING dowel in through the pilot hole. The dowel will displace the grease and force the bushing out. If the dowel is too loose, the grease will just ooze out through the gap. If you don;t get enough grease into the hole, the dwel will just "bounce" on air as you pound.
HTH.
An install tip form me would be to ditch the included bellhousing mounting hardware and go with socket-head cap screws or ARP style reduced hex head bolts. The webbing on the tranny case makes accessing two of those bolts a real nightmare.
HTH.
An install tip form me would be to ditch the included bellhousing mounting hardware and go with socket-head cap screws or ARP style reduced hex head bolts. The webbing on the tranny case makes accessing two of those bolts a real nightmare.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 119
From: St. Charles Mo
CI 5 & 8 Veteran
Originally Posted by CGGorman
An install tip form me would be to ditch the included bellhousing mounting hardware and go with socket-head cap screws or ARP style reduced hex head bolts. The webbing on the tranny case makes accessing two of those bolts a real nightmare.
One of the Best tips you will get For the life of me I will not understand why they even included those hex head bolts......they can't be used
Bullshark
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 1
From: Pineville Kentucky
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
Originally Posted by CGGorman
Pilot bushing can pressed out hydraulically by filling the hole with bearing grease (the heavier, the better) and pounding a CLOSE_FITTING dowel in through the pilot hole. The dowel will displace the grease and force the bushing out. If the dowel is too loose, the grease will just ooze out through the gap. If you don;t get enough grease into the hole, the dwel will just "bounce" on air as you pound.
HTH.
An install tip form me would be to ditch the included bellhousing mounting hardware and go with socket-head cap screws or ARP style reduced hex head bolts. The webbing on the tranny case makes accessing two of those bolts a real nightmare.
HTH.
An install tip form me would be to ditch the included bellhousing mounting hardware and go with socket-head cap screws or ARP style reduced hex head bolts. The webbing on the tranny case makes accessing two of those bolts a real nightmare.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville TN
Keisler tips from the source
Follow the instructions! As stated earlier in this thread, the process is a little wierd, but it works. A lot of guys who have trouble and call us about it say they don't need any darned instructions, but trust me, if you follow them you will avoid throwing wrenches and kicking the dog.
Also, we have officially killed the two annoying hex bolts and put in Allen Socket bolts for those two top positions. Would you guys prefer the reduced hex-head bolts? The Allen Socket heads seem to install very quickly and easily and they will stay on the end of the tool while you thread it up above the bell. Comments are welcome.
Also, for those of you who have had positive experiences and are enjoying your Keisler 5-speed Systems already, we would love your car photos, comments and stories for our webpage. It always helps those who are reading our site to have feedback from customers who already have our transmissions.
Good luck, and always feel free to e-mail me or call if you have questions or feedback. Gray.
Also, we have officially killed the two annoying hex bolts and put in Allen Socket bolts for those two top positions. Would you guys prefer the reduced hex-head bolts? The Allen Socket heads seem to install very quickly and easily and they will stay on the end of the tool while you thread it up above the bell. Comments are welcome.
Also, for those of you who have had positive experiences and are enjoying your Keisler 5-speed Systems already, we would love your car photos, comments and stories for our webpage. It always helps those who are reading our site to have feedback from customers who already have our transmissions.
Good luck, and always feel free to e-mail me or call if you have questions or feedback. Gray.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 546
Likes: 0
From: Pinellas Park FL
Thanks to all that posted. I was able to get the kit installed in a few days. The biggest problem was removing the Pilot Bearing. I tried a puller which didnt work. I tried cutting it out. That didnt work. Finally I tried drilling out the beasring and threading threading the bearing housing. This worked great. I threaded a 3/4 inch bolt into the housing and walked it right out. Only took about 20 minutes. I spent 2 hours on the other methods. I replaced it with a Bushing which I had placed in the freezer for a few hours. I was able to tap it in easily using a socket and small hammer.
Everything else when fairly smooth. Thanks again for everyone who posted thier experiances and recommendations for the install.
- Ron
Everything else when fairly smooth. Thanks again for everyone who posted thier experiances and recommendations for the install.
- Ron