I am trying to decide what transmission to put in a Superformance Shelby Daytona Coupe. Anyone have an idea on a 5-speed or 6-speed?
I have spoken with Tremec folks, but I need an owners response.

Thanks

I don't think there is any general consensus. Some like the 5 and some the 6. I have a 6 speed and like it , others with 5 speeds like them also. There is one being set up for an automatic, so that gives you one other possibilty.

I really like the TKO 600 in my Cobra. Great gear spreads on 1-4 and the best shifting "feel" out there IMHO.

Mod Note - split posts to new thread.

I have the Tremec TKO 5-speed in my coupe have also had this same transmission in two other roadsters. In my SPF it was not as much fun, the rear end gears are the issue, with the 3:73 gears in the rearend it made first gear unusable. I had 3:54 gears in my Unique and have 3:55 gears in the coupe and it is a great all around combination of 1-4 performance and 5th gear comfortable cruising with good gas mileage. I have driven 6- speeds and find them too busy as a driver --- may be a function of my age and expectations.

Tony R.

dang, double post

Tony,

I have 3:73's in my coupe (347 stroker) and was planning on a Tremec 5 speed. Are you saying 1st gear is too short? Since you've had that setup, how was 5th gear on the Hwy? I don't want to be screaming in 5th gear while cruising but would like a lil' punch out of the hole.

Which 5spd would be better:

TKO-500 (Ratios: 3.27, 1.98, 1.34, 1.0, 0.68.)
or
TKO-600 (Ratios: 2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.0, ???)

I see there are 2 different 5th gear ratio's for the TKO-600. (0.82 and 0.64). Out of those 3 transmissions, which one is closer to my needs? Car will be street driven 95% of the time.

Thanks, Joe

Hi I have 3.57 diferen. jaguar, in my cobra (302 comp cam Magnum 280 pistons KB head EDL RPM. intake Weiand stealth, holley 750 .msd 6AL .dino test 362 Hp rear wheels weight empty 920Kg = 2028.25 Lb 1/4 miles 10.67
please let me know is good 3.57 or 3.73
what can I do so as has been quicker
thank you

...and some like 4, (as the original version). Cobra Daytona was a race car, it was designed for track use, not for the cruising. It is the reason of my choice: one T-10 4 ratio (from Tex Racing): 2.67, 1.75, 1.33 and 1. This gear box is combined with a 11x41 rear end (3.73) and this couple is working well on short and medium tracks. My Daytona is powered by a special 302 engine and the max power is about 7600rpm. However, below 3800rpm the available torque is not good enough and it is the reason why I don't need a 5 ;)

Nanard289, just thumbed through your pics....very nice coupe. I can see it's a driver, and not a trailer queen.

Hi Guys,

Joe...3:73's in my coupe (347 stroker) and was planning on a Tremec 5 speed.

I had the TKO with the .63 overdrive behind a 460/530hp/530lb.ft. motor, 3:73 rear end and first gear was useless but, on the highway cruising in 5th it always had the torque to pull anytime with very little gas. I currently have the same transmission in my Coupe with a 418/560hp/580lb.ft. of torque, 3:55 rear end and first gear is a joy to wind up and I still have the torque on the highway to accelerate with no problem. The motor in the Coupe makes 500 lb.ft. of torque at 2400 RPM. In both of these applications the 2-3-4 shift with the engine wound up to 5000 + it will take your breath away. I put the TKO with the .63 5th into my Unique with a 427 and 3:54 rear end and it was always great in all gears, that was a very good combination for the street.

Given the above experience you can play that against what torque your motor will produce at what RPM and you decide what you need for how you plan to drive it. I would suspect that the 302/347 would not have the torque to pull at lower RPMs. I had a 300 hp 302 in my Shell valley with a t-5 behind it and 5th gear on the highway was only good if I had it turning 3000 RPM + and then really had to downshift if I wanted any acceleration. If you go with the TKO 600 and the higher 5th gear (.82) that should eliminate the problem I ran into with my 302.

I case you are wodering I have had four Cobra Roadsters and currently have CSX4264 427/toploder in the garage sitting with the Daytona.....the other three have gone down the road to make other guys happy.

Best Regards,

Tony R.

Tony, thanks for your reply. I guess it's something i'm going to have to experiment with. The only thing in the equation that could change would be the rear end gearing. I guess i'll be like everyone else here........I'll have a garage full of spare parts when i'm done......lol

Hi FIACobra
As my English langage is very poor, I have a look on the dictionary to understand what mean a "trailer queen"

trailer queen definition:

A person who takes his classic car to car shows on a trailer, then jumps out and starts polishing off all the invisible dirt that might have attached itself. Trailer queens don't drive their cars. They just drag them around on a trailer to be admired.

So I agree with you, I am not a specialist of the polishing, my car as well my worksop are a little dusty ;)

T56 and don't worry about it.

:D

Excuse my ignorance, i didn't realize you're English was poor.

I meant that as a compliment. It's nice to see that you drive the car the way it should be driven, instead of trailered to a show just to sit there. Awsome car you have there.

Transmission choice for a coupe is a function of use. Remember that these cars were originally GTs...cars that could be raced on open roads for long distances, like the Tour de France. Coupes are meant to be high speed cruisers and having more ratios in the trans' makes 'em more flexible for whatever conditions prevail. Superformance Coupes come with only a single rear end ratio that is too high for most T56 six speeds, unless you opt for for lower profile tires. This isn't a "period look", but the combination is fantastic as the smaller, lighter tires have less inertial and unsprung weight and combined with BRE wheels save about 53 lbs in rotating weight! Turn in is faster too and the proof can be seen in the Road & Track test of SPC 073 in the March '06 issue. It set new records for skid pad adhesion and the fastest slalom speed for ANY production car ever tested...that includes the Ford GT, Corvette Z06, Ferrari 430, Viper Comp Coupe and just about any other car you can think of. If you opt for a T56 I'd recommend having it "blueprinted" to insure there's minimum gear whine and smooth shifting. Badger

"Tour de France" LOL......Man, Lance would've been screwed if Basso had had a coupe!

Sorry Badger, I know you meant Le Mans. I just couldn't help it!
Steve

No steve...I DID mean the Tour de France! If you'll look at the schedule the Cobras ran in 1964 you'll see that they raced in the Tour de France, which actually started in Belgium that year and went all around france for several days. You can find the whole story in "Daytona Cobra Coupes" the full history of the Cobra/Ferrari wars in '64 and '65. In addition to the Tour de France the Cobra team ran on other public road circuits like Reims, Spa/Francorchamps, Nurburgring, Enna (in Sicily) and of course Le Mans. Race courses in those days weren't the sissified billiard table smooth tracks that we race on nowadays. Try going over a raised European railroad crossing at over a 120 in a modern race car...it would be destroyed when landing..that is if it didn't take off and fly! Badger

Hey Badger,

I love a guy who know's his snizz...........**)


Joseph

I have a TKO 500 in a FFR Coupe. I'm very happy with it.
Rich