ImThatGuy

Hey all!

Former Mustang owner, FINALLY once again!!

I am swapping my T-5 WC with 10 splines out for a TR3550 TKO that has 26 splines.

LMR has the McLeod Street Pro Clutch MCL-part# 75107/75107 as a recommendation. Just wondering what other options (maybe cheaper?) are available that anyone else is using. Not planning on taking it to the track. The TR3550 came extra with the car, and the T5 is blown.

Thanks!

1991 Ford Mustang GT 5.0

drhoward

I've used a spec stage 2 (10 spline) for years on my supercharged 347 and haven't had any problems, they're pretty stiff though. It doesn't look like they're much cheaper though, they're all around the 300-500 dollar range unless you go with a dual clutch

ImThatGuy

Thanks for the response drhoward!

I didn't start the conversion, the previous car owner did. I'm a "shade tree", hobby mechanic, I've replaced clutches before in other vehicles with original equipment. But this kind of took me a step back when I started researching how to finish the swap. Going from a T5 WC to a TR3550 TKO, T5 input was a 10 spline but the TKOs I have is a 26 spline input, and the car was originally an automatic. But I think I have it pretty well figured out now, I'm just trying to keep it straight and not turn into a total Frankenstein!

For what its worth, I ended up going with McLeod Street Pro Clutch (MPN# 75107). LMR calls it out for this "typical" TKO swap, and I read a couple postings where folks had no issues. I also found that McLeod has a street level version (MPN# 75007) that was about $50 cheaper, as well as an EXEDY Mach 400 (MPN# 07801), a Hays Classic Conversion kit (MPN# 490-83-2100) and their Hays Street 450 Clutch kit (MPN# 490-91-2003T) which all could have been a good option.

drhoward

I'm actually thinking of doing a tkx swap in my 94 soon (surprised that my T5 has lasted this long to be honest), let me know how that clutch works out for you

ImThatGuy

Will do! Should have it all put back together in a couple weeks. Waiting on some other parts. From what I found, the original T5 bellhousing can work after you modify the bolt holes which was kind of involved; drill the old out, fill 'em, drill new holes, then install helicoils. For me it was cheaper to just find a good used bellhousing that was made to fit to the TKO/TKX to begin with. My luck, if I had modified my original bellhousing, one of my bolts would be just a hair off that I would have do it that one over again!

drhoward

I'd probably just buy the swap bellhousing rather than try to mess with the original one, I've heard the transmissions are a bit clunky but that might just be from people that aren't used to them

ImThatGuy

Well couple weeks turned out to be 4! But, its done! Finally got to drive it around for a bit the other night. Clutch feels great, couldn't be happier.

To me the TKO is more "notcher", meaning shifting into gears feels more precise but smooth. There is no slop.

To finish the conversion I also found that I had to modify the transmission crossmember, so instead of modifying the original I just went with a crossmember from Stifflers, not 100% certain but it worked out really good and I think gave me a little extra room to work with the H pipe I have.

I also found that I needed to check the bellhousing alignment, being this is not the original transmission or bellhousing. It was easy to do and I'm glad I did to, it was way out of spec. So installed some new alignment dowel pins and lined it up. I also replaced the pilot bearing with a bushing, as folks were saying that a bushing is a little more forgiving if the engine/transmission alignment is a little off. Never used a bushing before. But this thing fit snug, not tight, but snug. in fact it fought me a quite a bit to get it to line up the input shaft. If I hadn't checked before putting the bushing in, I would have swore I had the wrong size.

But all in all, awesome upgrade. Happy to have been given the option, and knowing what I know now, if I had an opportunity to buy a good used TKO/TKX, I would do it no hesitation.

Hope that helps!

drhoward

That's great to hear, I'm hoping to do the swap sometime this upcoming year