Hi Folks,
I just wanted to pass on my experience to everyone out there thinking of putting a TKO600 tranny in their ride. This started out as a pleasure and quickly turned into a nightmare.
In June of 2006, I purchased a complete TKO600 tranny kit from a company called Keisler Engineering that cost me almost $4000. I installed it and even spent 4 hours re-dialing in the bellhousing after I was told that it would be machined out exactly of the existing center (it was a Lakewood shield that was already dialed in to within .003") It came back to me with the machining way off. I then installed the tranny using the proper GM Synchromesh fluid and broke the tranny in for over 1000 miles properly. After driving it around for approx. 1400 miles or so and only 2-1/2 months, I decided to go to the track just for fun.
This is a street car and I have put it on the chassis dyno (two different places) and it only put out 385 Rear Wheel HP and 445 Rear Wheel torque. Even if you add a generous 100 to those numbers for drivetrain friction, I am still well within the SUPPOSED 650 Ft.lbs. it's rated at. I have Mickey Thompson E.T. Street radials that are pretty soft tires (295-60-15)
My VERY FIRST RUN DOWN THE TRACK, the transmission broke third gear; sheared all of the teeth off. I took off at 3000 rpm and shifted 1-2 and 2-3 at 6000 rpm. Not powershifted. I definitely did NOT miss the shift and it was in gear (the dog teeth and synchro blocker ring are in mint shape -indication there was zero missed or grinded shift).
I pulled the unit and sent it back to Keisler for warranty inspection.
They looked at it and told me it was determined that it was classified as ABUSE because it was raced at the track. They don't warranty anything that is driven at the track. The gear broke and it is abuse? Have you seen the advertisement from Tremec showing the Mustang pulling the wheels off the ground at the track and stating "Whether it's the endurance needed for Road Racing or the sheer strength necessary to win at the Drags, there's a Tremec Transmission built for you" (Hot Rod magazine, December 2006, P. 67). It shows the TKO600 in that ad.
That to me means the transmission was built for the street as well as the strip (at least occasionally). I wouln't even complain if I took the car to the track many times and put many runs behind it, but the very first run, and it breaks. Remember, only 385 Horse at the wheels and 445 lb./ft. at the wheels.
So, I just wanted to warn you if you car is more powerful than this and you are looking for a tranny, keep my experience in mind (especially if you want to race it) when shopping around
as well as the integrity and honor of the company that you purchase from. NOT ONE THAT YOU PAY ALMOST $4000 TO AND THEN THEY BASICALLY TURN THEIR BACK ON YOU WITH LEGAL LOOPHOLES, when they advertise the tranny is strong wnough for 650 lb./ft, when it breaks, they can say, well it wasn't driven on the street so we don't have to cover it.
So, beware and choose you tranny and supplier wisely. I have also found another user with exactly the same destructive results with 3rd gear in the same tranny. COINCIDENCE - I DON'T THINK SO.
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o.../100_0849a.jpg
Good luck and I hope this prevents the aggravation and financial loss to someone else looking for a tranny, that it caused me.
Tko600 Warning!!!!
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