Tko 600

[eschaider]

You will always find varying reports of shifting experiences with a TKO. The spectrum will go from terrible to awesome. Terrible is usually the owner that didn't believe the issue was an issue and then felt snookered when he experienced the issue first hand. The awesome report will come from the individual who drives the car almost like a daily driver never taxing the shifting mechanism of the transmission.

I have yet to hear of any T-56 Magnum owner complain about the shifting. For those who feel six speeds are too many gears to shift through, remember it is a four speed with two overdrives for highway. You won't shift anymore but you will shift much more smoothly and easily.

The T-56 is a bigger transmission than a TKO so some chassis might need a little lovin' to fit it into the transmission tunnel. It is heavier than a TKO. TKO's come in right around 100 lbs. The T-56 Magnum is typically around 135 depending on options like tail shaft choice.

The install is not a straight forward bolt in but it is also not a lot of pushups. They are strong, shift effortlessly and seem to have a gear for any road condition you are likely to encounter. They are not cheap.


Ed

[Dwight]

I had a TKO 600 (.64 OD) in my Cobra with 3.55 rear gears 26" tires, small block Ford 500 hp / tq. My motor had 350 foot lbs of torque at 2,200 rpms. Which made low speed cruise easy in any gear.
I put about 15,000 miles on it before I gave up and bought Liberty Gears street upgrade. I should have bought the tranny from them with the upgrade to start with. Lesson learned.
High dollars shifters did not work, super lubes did not work, more mileage helped but sometimes on a fast 2nd to 3rd I would miss. I loved burning tires in third.

The 2.97 first gear worked great with my set up. I could cruise at 2,000 rpms with easy in 5th gear. Any gear was a passing gear.
With the upgrade I could shift without the clutch if I wanted to. It was smooth and easy to shift.
Sold the Cobra.

I have a 390 in a 1966 Fairlane. When I bought the car last year it had a wide ratio top loader, 26" tires and 3.50 rear end. It turned 2,900 rpms at 60 miles per hour. I swapped a '95 T-5 and could cruise at 75 mph at 2,000 rpms. A couple of weeks ago I bought a 3550 to swap when I finish my 427 for the Fairlane.
I have driven a couple of Cobras with 3550s for thousands of miles. That's why I love the 3550. They shift like a T-5, sweet!
One of the Cobras had a 487 c.i. 427 618 hp and 637 tq. motor and the 3550 held up for over ten years and it's still going. Sold the car last fall. 12" rear tires and it would lay rubber for 109 feet. We did beat on it.

The other Cobra was a 408 with 530 tq / hp but we never spun the tires. It shifted very smooth. Very smooth! I know that one will last for ever.

You did not tell us how you drive or what the top loader is in.

Bottom line: I think a TKO 600 with the Liberty Gear street upgrade will work great. Probably more tranny than you need but with the limited trannies available it's the best choice.