SPF Trans Swap

[jhv48]

I'm swapping my Tremec TKO 600 for a Levy custom built T-5. Are there any frame mods that need to be made in order to fit the new T-5?

The trans bolts right up to my existing Roush block and QuickTime bell housing. Clutch appears to be interchangeable also.

Aside from trimming the lower fin on the tail of the trans, are there any other mods I need to make? My SPF is #2932 if that makes a difference.

[Mark IV]

No frame mods. Uses the same trans mount and adjust the mount bracket if needed.

[blown871]

Jim,
Share with us why the tranny update/upgrade....

(We are all looking for good reasons to blow your cash... and sell ourselves.. on it.) l

Thanks,
B
spf1413

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by blown871

Jim,
Share with us why the tranny update/upgrade....

(We are all looking for good reasons to blow your cash... and sell ourselves.. on it.) l

Thanks,
B
spf1413

I currently have the .64 fifth gear and the traffic has increased quite a bit on our freeways over the last few years so that my average cruise speed now is less than 70 MPH. It used to be about 80 MPH. That puts my engine speed at around 2000 RPM making fifth gear pretty lame. I got tired of constantly rowing back and forth between fourth and fifth when traffic slowed to 60 MPH. That 1000 RPM drop wasn't making freeway driving in the summer alot of fun.
I was going to swap the trans for a TKO 600 with the .82 fifth gear but decided on a custom built (able to tolerate at least 600 horsepower) Levy T-5 with a .80 fifth gear. I could pick the fifth gear ratio that I wanted and the first four gears are about the same as my TKO 600. This box is (supposed to be) lighter, smoother and stronger than my current box. I opted for the Steeda Tri Ax shifter too. With the .80 fifth gear, I will now have a usable fifth gear and my engine will be alot happier at 70 MPH turning 2550 RPM. And 60 MPH will still be spinning 2200 RPM so no more down shifting when traffic slows down.
The price for the custom T-5 was about the same as a blueprinted TKO-600, so I figured, why not? It's only money and it's still alot cheaper than a mistress!

[Varmit]

Originally Posted by jhv48

I currently have the .64 fifth gear and the traffic has increased quite a bit on our freeways over the last few years so that my average cruise speed now is less than 70 MPH. It used to be about 80 MPH. That puts my engine speed at around 2000 RPM making fifth gear pretty lame. I got tired of constantly rowing back and forth between fourth and fifth when traffic slowed to 60 MPH. That 1000 RPM drop wasn't making freeway driving in the summer alot of fun.
I was going to swap the trans for a TKO 600 with the .82 fifth gear but decided on a custom built (able to tolerate at least 600 horsepower) Levy T-5 with a .80 fifth gear. I could pick the fifth gear ratio that I wanted and the first four gears are about the same as my TKO 600. This box is (supposed to be) lighter, smoother and stronger than my current box. I opted for the Steeda Tri Ax shifter too. With the .80 fifth gear, I will now have a usable fifth gear and my engine will be alot happier at 70 MPH turning 2550 RPM. And 60 MPH will still be spinning 2200 RPM so no more down shifting when traffic slows down.
The price for the custom T-5 was about the same as a blueprinted TKO-600, so I figured, why not? It's only money and it's still alot cheaper than a mistress!

I agree on the mistress thing, that can be BLOODY expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[1795]

I agree with the concern over the usability of a .64 overdrive. It can be difficult to get into depending on where you are driving. While you can say that your car has the potential to go 180 mph or better, when are you ever really going to be even close to that? At first I was concerned about using a wide ratio top loader, worried about fuel consumption at highway speeds, reality is that with a mid-range rear end you are turning similar rpm's or better, than if you had an overdrive that you could not get into gear.

Jim

[Mother]

Just a question, but would it not have been cheaper to change the finals from what you have to the next ratio, or two up? Then you could have looked for a mistress as well. Or, had a wee bit of coin to use to buy gas that the increased engine rpm will use.

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by Mother

Just a question, but would it not have been cheaper to change the finals from what you have to the next ratio, or two up? Then you could have looked for a mistress as well. Or, had a wee bit of coin to use to buy gas that the increased engine rpm will use.

My thought too, until I found out that I would have to change the entire rear end out, as the one I have doesn't have interchangeable gears.

[blown871]

Cool; thanks for sharing.

[THE ITALIAN]

So you didn't blow - up your motor.
I was wondering why you pulled it
Mike

[jhv48]

Don't get me started on the motor, Mike.

Now get back to the FFR forum where the rest of the kit car owners are.

See you at Huntington Beach this year?

[PANAVIA]

This is why I out a T56 in my cobra - so I am never caught without the correct gear for the situation.

[vatdevil]

Originally Posted by jhv48

I'm swapping my Tremec TKO 600 for a Levy custom built T-5. Are there any frame mods that need to be made in order to fit the new T-5?

The trans bolts right up to my existing Roush block and QuickTime bell housing. Clutch appears to be interchangeable also.

Aside from trimming the lower fin on the tail of the trans, are there any other mods I need to make? My SPF is #2932 if that makes a difference.

Are you selling the TKO?

[jhv48]

The TKO is already claimed.

And, to finish this thread, in order to install the T-5, a new rear trans mount needed to be fabricated, a new bracket and slave arrangement was needed, and we needed a new yoke and dual u-joint to mate the T-5 to my driveshaft.
That .80 fifth gear puts my engine at 2600 rpm at 70 mph now. Perfect!

[blykins]

You will need to change the adapter ring out on the bellhousing. The input shaft bearing retainer OD is smaller on the T5.