okay, so I'm really glad, I'm going to have either a TKO 500 or a TKO 600 in my car by the end of the year. I don't know exactly when, someone else is paying for the swap so that I don't have to. I need to know though, what else do I need to get this done? Should I just let someone in town do the work? I would only assume its like a 20hr job? so that would only be roughly $800 at 40hr for labor. What other parts do I need to absolutely buy, or will they have the stuff I need

Oh, and something I would really like to know. Being that my car doesn't have a Ford transmission in the first place, or the 8.8rear, would the ABS still work on the car if I switch transmissions? Will I need to buy new transmission mounts.

Im guessing the King Cobra clutch or whatever would not work for my car? I love the way they feel, and I would really love to have one, whats another good clutch that has a pretty stiff clutch pedal? I don't mind pedal effort at all, and I would really like one with a really stiff clutch.

I'm going to pick up a short throw while Im at it, and have that installed along with the transmission. Would something like the MGW keep the synchro's from getting screwed up? I would think that since everything is beefed up that with the TKO's it would be semi-okay to powershift every once and a while?

I'm guessing that since I want to do a little highway driving, that the TKO 500 would do well for me? or is it the 600 that has the lower overdive gear?

Any light you guys can shed on this would really help.

 

Do the swap yourself I know for my car its a little different but its nothing complicated, ditch the POS king cobra and get a decent clutch, either way if you get the 500 or the 600 get one with a 26 spline input, the trans has nothing to do the abs, a new trans mount would be good. I have an mgw on my 600 and its an awesome shifter, the tranny has taken 5k launches on slicks without worry and shifts like butter all day

 

I have a drop in 9" rear, so I think I would have to get a custom driveshaft, I'm not sure though. I thought the King cobra was a pretty clutch? which one would you suggest that has a pretty stiff pedal effort?

I really want to do the swap myself, and I have a lift in my dad's garage that I can use and put my car up on, but I don't know if I need to get the car retuned and what not.

What RPM's do you see at 75mph in 5th gear? if its not that big of a difference, I'll just get the 600

 

I use spec clutches myself you either love em or hate em.. for me I love mine, the od is actually better on the 600 but the first gear is different, You shouldnt need any re tuning after the swap.. Its really just plug and play, and I have no idea about the driveshaft

 

I'm guessing a decent tranny shop would be able to tell me whether or not I need a new driveshaft? I'm glad that I don't need a retune, but wouldn't the computer think that its in gear when its not or something? or am I thinking way into this? First gear is almost a waste on my car, so I guess I will go with the 600. For the most part I just want this to get me closer to having a road course car, so this should be a good start.

 

your thinking way to far into it, the trans has the same plugs as factory, like I said plug and play, as for the ds, swap the trans in and see if the stocker will fit, if not measure for a custom one. Keep in mine you'll need a new bellhousing, clutch, yolk, syncromesh etc..

 

This is why I was thinking of having a shop do the install. Money isn't a problem, but knowing that it will work would be pretty nice.

I have a few months to start gathering parts, I still don't know if I should do the install myself though. At least I have a while to decide.

So I need a new bellhousing, I need a clutch, a Throw out bering, or does that come with the clutch? I'm guessing I'll need a pressure plate, or does that come with the clutch as well? You said I need the 26spine input, are you sure? I have heard people say that the 4.6's needed a 28 spline. I'm not totally sure.

I'm guessing I should go with D&D performance to get all this stuff? Im pretty sure I'll need a clutch pedal, does that require any special knowledge as far as routing goes? are there mounts for the clutch cable? The only car I have worked on extensively is my nissan sentra, and FWD is a lot different I have noticed than RWD as far as just ease of access.

If I were to go with Spec, which stage would you reccomend? with my current output, would that put it in the Stage III? or would I need something more aggressive?

Sorry for the sheer ammount of questions.

 

OP brudda, Primetime's pretty right on as far as my personal knowledge takes me. I have a TKO-600, on a Ram HD 6-puck clutch, with a billet aluminum flywheel.. When I changed mine out I had to get a new throw out bearing, 26 spline input drive-shaft (I went with the light-weight billet aluminum one from Steeda althought maximum motorsports makes good ones too..).The spec's are good also, though with your power I would probably go stage IIIas you saidbroham. I honestly don't know the spec clutches well enough to say whether or not what I have is more aggressive than what you have, but I can say that the Ram HD's are rated between 500-900 RWHP, depending on which kit you get..For the tranny, as you stated you'll need the bellhousing, new slip-yoke for the tranny, and possibly a new K-member also, though I can't see yours so I don't really know if it would work theTKO or not.. (I say that because the shop that did my install had to grind a new one because the stock k-member on the mach's wasn't fitting. At least that's what they said anyway.)

Don't know if that helps any brudda, I know it's a bit rambling.. lol

 

I put the TKO 600 in my car. Instal was a Little Frustrating. While your underthere i would get a New Tranny mount. If you call D&D they will get you everything u need. bellhousing, yoke the Crossmember has to be Modified a little bit. you get a Driveshaft Spacer to Extend it like 1/2 inch. The 600 IS 26spline....


I didnt need a new Kmember when i did my install. you should be good with that.