T56 in a SPF -- We did it.

[Great Asp]

Originally Posted by blykins

and doesn't offer any advantage to a prepped TKO 600.

An extra gear and modern cones for shifting?

TKO 600 even with the Liberty Gear kit does not shift like a well prepared T-56...IMO

E

[blykins]

That's because the Liberty gear setups are not synchronized....

The TKO has a modern gear cone and you can get it in two different overdrives, one being the same the T-56 comes with.

I would never advocate a T-56, especially when a modified TKO 600 is rated for over 700 lb-ft of torque and will shift much smoother up to 7000 rpm.

The '56 is worthless in my eyes and is only good for the guys that wanna say, "Yeah, I have SIX gears..."

[scottj]

My current car is the 4th iteration in 12 years. The foundation of the current build is a close-ratio T56 Magnum and EFI. While I would not have been have been able to realize the full potential of 6 speeds with past engine combinations, modern EFI and 6 spd retained past performance AND provides unheard of drivability.

[Great Asp]

Originally Posted by blykins

That's because the Liberty gear setups are not synchronized....

The TKO has a modern gear cone and you can get it in two different overdrives, one being the same the T-56 comes with.

I would never advocate a T-56, especially when a modified TKO 600 is rated for over 700 lb-ft of torque and will shift much smoother up to 7000 rpm.

The '56 is worthless in my eyes and is only good for the guys that wanna say, "Yeah, I have SIX gears..."

I do not mean to argue, more trying to learn something and have a conversation.

I had a problem with my stock TKO-600 so I turned to Geroge Rockland at Rockland Gear for help. My 2nd-3rd shifts under power just would block out 3rd. I bought the Liberty kit, George installed it.

George's opinion was that the T-56 mod'd was not only a better shifting transmission but it could handle more power to the TKO-600 (George called the TKO a "truck transmission").

Tremec T56 - Rockland Standard Gear, Inc.

For me, I would have liked the 6-speeds only because with the 3:56 rear I felt that no matter what I did with the TKO selection there would be compromise either at the low end or at the high end.

With the Liberty kit my power shifts are easier from 2-3rd, no question. But I have run a Tranzilla before in a high horsepower Mustang before, and it shifts better.

E

[blykins]

The TKO 500/600 out of the box takes a while to break-in, and even then does not like to be speed shifted at high rpms. However, that's easily remedied and the torque capacity can be increased to the capacity of a Magnum T-56.

You will pay $2895 for a T-56 that weighs 30 lbs more than a TKO, is several inches longer (which is a major deterrent in non-IRS Cobras), is much bigger around in girth, and on top of that needs machine work to work with a lot of applications.

A TKO 600, prepped for shifting modifications and 700 lb-ft torque rating is $2825.

Sure, you don't have two overdrives, but I haven't seen a scenario yet where two overdrives are needed. I grew up with T-56 Camaros/Firebirds and 2003/2004 Cobras that had T-56's, and 6th was never touched. In a Cobra with a rowdy SBF/FE, the extreme overdrives can not be tolerated anyway. A very mild engine with EFI will make a difference, but there again, I don't see any reason for the extra weight, dimensions, cost, etc.

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by blykins

The TKO 500/600 out of the box takes a while to break-in, and even then does not like to be speed shifted at high rpms. However, that's easily remedied and the torque capacity can be increased to the capacity of a Magnum T-56.

You will pay $2895 for a T-56 that weighs 30 lbs more than a TKO, is several inches longer (which is a major deterrent in non-IRS Cobras), is much bigger around in girth, and on top of that needs machine work to work with a lot of applications.

A TKO 600, prepped for shifting modifications and 700 lb-ft torque rating is $2825.

Sure, you don't have two overdrives, but I haven't seen a scenario yet where two overdrives are needed. I grew up with T-56 Camaros/Firebirds and 2003/2004 Cobras that had T-56's, and 6th was never touched. In a Cobra with a rowdy SBF/FE, the extreme overdrives can not be tolerated anyway. A very mild engine with EFI will make a difference, but there again, I don't see any reason for the extra weight, dimensions, cost, etc.

I agree, and unless you're racing the autobahn @ 140 mph(+), I just don't see the extra gear advantage in our Cobras. The prepped TKO has many advantage's including cost over several transmissions. Unless you Cobra is a dedicated drag car or extreme powered Pro-Street with,.... BIG slicks, and dumping the clutch, the rated 700 ft.lb's of torque is just fine in any Cobra because of it's,.... light weight. It's not a 4,000 lb Camaro with large slicks.

[Luce]

I love my T56 magnum. With a 3.55 rear, I have a very usable first and cruise 75 MPH at 2000 rpm in sixth, and the Ford Racing 427W has plenty of torque down there to pull around someone without downshifting. But if I feel a little saucy, I will stay in 5th.