Tremec TKX 5 Speed Transmission Installation

[RustyPile]

Betcha can't wait to try out that new volt meter...

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by RustyPile

Betcha can't wait to try out that new volt meter...

It's all about the voltmeter. Transmission? Meh

[RustyPile]

OH, Transmission!!!! I almost forgot about that... {snicker, snicker}

[pjmoreland]

Since my truck no longer has a TV cable, I replaced the bracket for the TV cable with a smaller one that is just for the throttle return spring. This is a copy of one made by Lokar, but it was about 1/4 the price on eBay. Required a little tweaking and filing to fit the Sniper.

[pjmoreland]

A friend made me some spacers to raise the rear of the transmission 13/16. This amount of lift set the transmission at the same angle as the rear end pinion. It also made the clutch bellcrank more level, and now the speedometer cable is no longer munched into the transmission crossmember.

I also installed the clutch inspection covers.

[pjmoreland]

I bought the wrong starter, so I swapped the original starter nosecone onto the new one. I also replaced the bushing with a new one I got at Napa. I installed the starter along with the little brace that attaches the forward end of it to the engine block. I started the engine, and the starter sounded fine.

[Ironangel]

Looks really good PJ, well done! Looking forward to the shake down run report...

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Ironangel

Looks really good PJ, well done! Looking forward to the shake down run report...

Thanks! I'm anxiously waiting for the call that my driveshaft is ready!

[pjmoreland]

Installed a new carpet to accommodate the high hump.

[MySons68C20]

Looks factory very nice!

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

Looks factory very nice!

Thanks. By the way, the carpet is from ACC and has mass backing. I am impressed with the quality, especially compared to the LMC carpet it replaced.

[pjmoreland]

Picked up the driveshaft just now.

[MySons68C20]

1 step closer to the edge.....

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

1 step closer to the edge.....

Yup! Now I gotta wait for the Hurst 16" shifter lever to arrive. I ordered it last Friday and it shipped from Nashville yesterday. Everything should be complete at that point.

[pjmoreland]

While installing the new driveshaft yesterday evening, I decided to do something I've never done before, which is to use a torque wrench on the pinion u-joint u-bolts. This is because I've heard that overtightening the u-bolts can damage the u-joint bearings. I looked up the spec, and it's 20 ft-lbs. I couldn't get my torque wrench to reach the nuts though, even with a swivel adapter.

I didn't have a 9/16 crow's foot, so I drove over to O'Reilly to get one. They only sell crow's feet in a full set, so I bought the set for $26 and drove back home. I was a little nervous though because these crow's feet were kind of bulky. I popped the staples out of the packaging carefully just in case, and sure enough, the 9/16 one was too big to fit onto the u-bolt nuts. I put the crow's feet back in the packaging and reinserted the staples.

I drove over to Napa this time and bought a single Carlisle slender 9/16" crow's foot for $17. Ouch. At least I got a $5 frequent flyer discount.

Then I headed back over to O'Reilly to return the first set. I told them I had repackaged it and showed them the slender crow's foot I got at Napa. They took the set back and gave me a refund.

I headed back home and started tightening the nuts with the torque wrench. I had the crow's foot pointing off at 90° so that the length of the crow's foot wouldn't mess with the torque wrench setting. I started out at 10 ft-lbs, and then moved up to 15 ft-lbs. It just wasn't tightening down for some reason, and then the u-bolt threads stripped out. I'm guessing this is a case of low-quality u-bolts. Grade 5 unplated 3/8-24 bolts should be able to be torqued to 35 ft-lbs, and grade 8 to 49 ft-lbs. These should not have stripped out at under 15 ft-lbs.

I ordered a set of Spicer u-bolts for 1350 u-joints from O'Reilly, so I'll get to drive over for a third time here in a little bit when they arrive.

I bought the 1350 pinion yoke that these u-bolts came with from quickperformance.com. I just called them, and the guy agreed that it shouldn't have stripped out at 15 ft-lbs. He's going to run a torque test on a set there, and he's going to send me a replacement set.

[pjmoreland]

Oh, and this arrived just now.

[chipmaker 1985]

Thank you for the write up. I'm trying to decide whether to piece together a kit or just bite the bullet and go with Silver Sport.

I was quoted 4k for a 700r4 rebuild to handle my 400SBC. Makes no sense not to go with the TKX. At least that's the argument I'm giving to the Mrs.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by chipmaker 1985

Thank you for the write up. I'm trying to decide whether to piece together a kit or just bite the bullet and go with Silver Sport.

I was quoted 4k for a 700r4 rebuild to handle my 400SBC. Makes no sense not to go with the TKX. At least that's the argument I'm giving to the Mrs.

You're pretty close to the Silver Sport kit price with the cost of that 700R4.

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

You're pretty close to the Silver Sport kit price with the cost of that 700R4.

Nope, not even close..

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

Nope, not even close..

Close to the basic kit, anyway. It doesn't include a lot of stuff like the clutch and bellhousing.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ist-efkc10tkx

[pjmoreland]

The driveshaft is installed with new Spicer u-bolts. I did a quick check of the other u-bolts and they stripped out at 21 ft-lbs in the vise and with a regular socket on the torque wrench. I went ahead and followed some good advice and just torqued the u-bolts down by feel in the truck. If anything, I'm a little on the loose side of the 20 ft-lb spec, but they are nice and tight.

I also filled the transmission.

The truck is down on the ground. The only thing preventing me from driving it is the shifter stick, which is supposed to be here on Friday.

In the meantime, I will be working on rebuilding an original floor-shift tilt column I was fortunate to find at a decent price recently.

[pjmoreland]

Back on its wheels

[chipmaker 1985]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

You're pretty close to the Silver Sport kit price with the cost of that 700R4.

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

Nope, not even close..

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Close to the basic kit, anyway. It doesn't include a lot of stuff like the clutch and bellhousing.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ist-efkc10tkx

I was quoted just under 5k for a basic kit without driveshaft, bell housing, or x-member. It did include a billet flywheel balanced for the 400, McLeod super street clutch kit, front mount shifter, all hydraulics, and hardware. It seems steep untill you start pricing quality parts individually.

I wasn't really happy about running the 700 anyway. I thought it would be a cheap solution to get my 70 drivable. It's worth the extra couple months of overtime to go ahead and build what I really want and not have to worry about breaking it.


I'm loving how this install is shaping up. It always looks better if it looks like it came from the factory IMO

[Rickysnickers]

You've done a really nice job!!

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by chipmaker 1985

I was quoted just under 5k for a basic kit without driveshaft, bell housing, or x-member. It did include a billet flywheel balanced for the 400, McLeod super street clutch kit, front mount shifter, all hydraulics, and hardware. It seems steep untill you start pricing quality parts individually.

I wasn't really happy about running the 700 anyway. I thought it would be a cheap solution to get my 70 drivable. It's worth the extra couple months of overtime to go ahead and build what I really want and not have to worry about breaking it.


I'm loving how this install is shaping up. It always looks better if it looks like it came from the factory IMO

The complete kit with everything and I mean everything needed from Silver Sport was $6500.00. The one addition not included was a spacer plate to set the correct hydraulic throwout bearing clearance. Not every install needs this but mine did.
Well done PJ 1st class job you've done!