TKO500 question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 600
Likes: 6
From: Key West Florida
TKO500 question
ive had the TKO500 in my vette for about 8 months now, and something happened yesterday, ive been noticing alittle bit of slop in shifter, dident think anything of it. yesterday while driving home, i hurd a large clunk noise and now when shifting into 2nd, 4th and reverse the shifter rotates CCW alittle and i have more play, IE in 1st you can push the shifter left and right so much it looks like its in 3rd gear! idk where to start on this one. and not having access to my own work area here makes it tougher, just need any imput to what it might be?!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 22
From: Duvall WA
ive had the TKO500 in my vette for about 8 months now, and something happened yesterday, ive been noticing alittle bit of slop in shifter, dident think anything of it. yesterday while driving home, i hurd a large clunk noise and now when shifting into 2nd, 4th and reverse the shifter rotates CCW alittle and i have more play, IE in 1st you can push the shifter left and right so much it looks like its in 3rd gear! idk where to start on this one. and not having access to my own work area here makes it tougher, just need any imput to what it might be?!
Brand? Design? (side mount or top mount design) I would start the diagnostic process by looking for your described problem with the shifter & associated shifter mounting hardware. Good Luck - Merry Christmas - Happy New Year
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
If you are using the Hurst sidewinder or other offset shifter my bet is you broke the bushing at the hip joint. PIA to take it apart. I am not impressed with my Hurst sidewinder! Even with a good bushing it is sloppy! 
I'm think about biting the bullet and going McLeod! 
I'm think about biting the bullet and going McLeod!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
It may be like this, which is from a TKO600. The 2 socket head cap screws which hold the shifter to the tranny may be loose and the whole shifter box is moving. Take both boots off the shifter and tighten the screws.
Actually, the round boot shown in the picture makes for 3 boots.
Actually, the round boot shown in the picture makes for 3 boots.
Last edited by Super6; Dec 24, 2013 at 07:38 PM. Reason: 3rd boot.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 600
Likes: 6
From: Key West Florida
super6 was right, that top part was loose, i went to tighten it up and one bolt hole is stripped! so its now going on one bolt, any idea on how to repair that stripped hole? its just in an 1/8th inch plate.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
The front one would have been much easier. I had the tranny out of the car and was upgrading the shifter, you'll notice the shifter is silver in the photo below.
Sorry for the out of focus photo. If the front hole was the problem, you could drill it oversize from the bottom, then use a longer socket head and put it in from the bottom. At the back hole there is a casting in the tail-housing that prevents you from doing the same thing. Unless the 500 is different.
If you supported the back of the tranny, removed the tranny support and lowered the back of the tranny, do you think you could remove the gold plate that the shifter box is mounted to in the car? Then replace it with a repaired or new one? It would be slow work. Not sure how far down the back of the tranny could move down before it hit the cross-member. Mine is removable.
Sorry for the out of focus photo. If the front hole was the problem, you could drill it oversize from the bottom, then use a longer socket head and put it in from the bottom. At the back hole there is a casting in the tail-housing that prevents you from doing the same thing. Unless the 500 is different.
If you supported the back of the tranny, removed the tranny support and lowered the back of the tranny, do you think you could remove the gold plate that the shifter box is mounted to in the car? Then replace it with a repaired or new one? It would be slow work. Not sure how far down the back of the tranny could move down before it hit the cross-member. Mine is removable.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
Those tail shafts are modified after the fact to accept the offset shifter to fit the C2s and C3s.
I don't think that is a Tremec part so they probably won't help you.
I'd contact the vendor you purchased the trans from and see if there is anything they are willing to do.
I can't tell by the pics but does the rear bolt screw into the aluminum casting 'ear' in that back corner? Would it be possible to drill through into that ear and instal a Heli-Coil and bolt it together that way?
Just a thought..
I don't think that is a Tremec part so they probably won't help you.
I'd contact the vendor you purchased the trans from and see if there is anything they are willing to do.
I can't tell by the pics but does the rear bolt screw into the aluminum casting 'ear' in that back corner? Would it be possible to drill through into that ear and instal a Heli-Coil and bolt it together that way?
Just a thought..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
Tremec is not involved. Who did you buy this tranny from? You can get a new adapter plate or repair the old one.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
Those tail shafts are modified after the fact to accept the offset shifter to fit the C2s and C3s.
I don't think that is a Tremec part so they probably won't help you.
I'd contact the vendor you purchased the trans from and see if there is anything they are willing to do.
I can't tell by the pics but does the rear bolt screw into the aluminum casting 'ear' in that back corner? Would it be possible to drill through into that ear and instal a Heli-Coil and bolt it together that way?
Just a thought..
I don't think that is a Tremec part so they probably won't help you.
I'd contact the vendor you purchased the trans from and see if there is anything they are willing to do.
I can't tell by the pics but does the rear bolt screw into the aluminum casting 'ear' in that back corner? Would it be possible to drill through into that ear and instal a Heli-Coil and bolt it together that way?
Just a thought..
Could cut the ear off, but need to keep chips and debris out of tranny case. Then drill oversize hole in plate.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 600
Likes: 6
From: Key West Florida
i ordered the 5 speed swap from corvette central, ide rather go with a new one, gotta keep bubba out! and about getting another one, where should i go for that?
Last edited by 1977L48; Dec 26, 2013 at 07:54 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
Who does Corvette Central get their conversions from? I bought my TKO600 from Keisler, you might call them and see if they are Corvette Central's supplier. Who else is there...American Powertrain and Hurst Driveline Conversions, but I don't know their products.
