buds68a77

Has anyone put a Tremec TKO 500 in a 68 - 72 442?
Mine is a '68.
What part of the floor has to be cut to fit?
Is there an available template for same?
I knows GM a-bodies etc. do have interference w/stock floor humps.

Thanks

Bud

dejavu442

here is a bump for your thread as I have interest in the Tremec as well...

gearheads78

I don't have 1st hand experience but i have been told the sure fit kits from Keisler will clear a 68-72 without cutting. On my 66 I made my hump from scratch.

buds68a77

Thanks,

I will also need a FORD oldschool speedo cable a little longer than normal it seems
(std 60" need 64"+ -), there has to be a std item out there at this length. Not lucky enough to have Keisler kit, a just tool box, SUPER CLEAN, rattle cans, and time.


Bud

That cleaner took a grundgie, totally dirt and oil black BBC engine in my 72 Dodge work van and showed it used to be a yellow block and heads, steering parts turned out to be red!
Spray on, wait to soak in, water from another spray bottle to remove and maybe a parts cleaner brush for chunks and amazing.......

malibu406

A guy on ROP did one in a 68 and I saw it in person. He said it was a pain in the rear, but it was the best thing he ever did as he liked it much better than the muncie he ran for years. His author name was GregVM. Try searching for that because I know he posted some threads.

gregvm

I'm not familiar with the TKO-500, if there are any diffs with a 600.....but
for my '68 TKO-600 w/.64 overdrive:

1)cut tunnel in front near bellhousing and rear near shifter
2)make sure you get the CORRECT speedo cable('68's have a thread on NOT clip on end to the speedo)
3)shorter driveshaft than muncie
4)move crossmember back(I just elongated factory frame holes for the rear two)
5)custom length intermediate parking brake cable(from moving crossmember rearward)

I went with the HYDRAULIC release bearing.....absolutely smooth as glass,even with a 3000 lb static pressure plate,easy to release.
With 3.73's in the rear, I cruise @ 2200 @70 MPH, with plenty of torque to pass a slower moving vehicle like a freight train past a bum.
I got my kit from Keisler, but not the "Perfect fit"(which is basically a stock unit with some shaving done to the case to fit easier)
They seem to be confused about the shifter location: a '68's is NOT offset to the left, I had to exchange the shifter for a straight one from the offset one(easy swap)

With a little metal working, common sense, and money(ugh), do it: you'll be impressed with the results. Best money I every spent on my project.
NEVER a missed shift(even at 6000)
My .02
Greg

442ric

Doesn't Keisler now advertise that their new TKOs have a redesigned main case that no longer requires modification of the floor pan/tunnel?

buds68a77

Trans all in. (Re-built the '65 425 to .030 while it was out.)
From other GM sites that had replaced 4's to 5's I got an idea of how much floor to cut. Only a few extra trims and grinds. No pattern avail.
Must keep trans and pinion angles as close to stock as possible. New drive shaft and yoke. Cross member hole elongation minor.
Still need ford t-5 speedo cable and some panel beating for the trans cover. But its sweet, stronger, and makes the fun last longer.
Even with the 4.33 to 3.30 gear swap and 29" tires, the grunt is still there.

dejavu442

great info!

Can you post pics? Also if and when parts are needed can you post where you got them and p/n(s) . Congrats on the swap, I bet it is really sweet.

oldzy

What would be really cool is an in-car vid driving around. Seen a few vids, but nice to see more.

442ric

Guys, before you start cutting up your floor pans, look into the new round-case Tremecs. You may be able to save a lot of time and sheet metal hacking.

garys 68

Keislers new RS400, 500, 600 are based on the T45. No cutting is necessary. But check on shipping, I hear there's quite a backlog.
You also might check into a Richmond 5 or 6 speed.

gearheads78

FYI the 5 speed is just an old Doug Nash trans. No overdrive.

garys 68

Yeah, Richmond still offers that, but they have both a 5 and 6 speed with OD now. The 5 speed OD is more expensinve than the 6 speed, go figure.

buds68a77

gregvm



In sync w/ steps 1-4

#5 TIP Cheap way around new cable..Just bend up a new "hook" from the cross member to make up the difference. No bucks if you save scraps.

Bud

buds68a77

One major item not accounted for was the crank. Being an original t400 auto crank it should have been drilled deeper when the motor was rebuilt to accept the manual trans nose length difference.
Oh so obvious when mocked up prior to installation, should have mocked up prior to sending the motor out for rebuild.
Soooo.... a FWC (friend with connections) came thru with a 1/2" aluminum spacer between the trans and bell housing ensuring freedom of movement.

Run to Rund

Did you make sure that the trans splines were fully engaged in the clutch disk after spacing the trans out 1/2"?

buds68a77

Its actually 3/8" upon remeasuring and all that was all checked prior to install. Because the clutch spline hub faces away from the crank end there was enough play for the spacer.