Tremec TKX 5 Speed Transmission Installation

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Yup. I like how much I can get done when I stay up late.

No calls, no Wifey bugging you I get it!

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

No calls, no Wifey bugging you I get it!

Exactly!

[pjmoreland]

Here's the completed clutch safety switch.

I started rewiring the engine harness last night. I removed the wiring for the 700R4, and I added a connection to the Holley Sniper A/C WOT shutdown signal. I still need to wire in the lines for the new backup lamp switch on the transmission. I don't have an accurate way to determine the length of the wires without the transmission installed, so I will make them extra long for now and will trim them to length later.

I called the machine shop yesterday, and they said the flywheel should be done by Friday.

[pjmoreland]

Got my flywheel back from the machine shop.

[MySons68C20]

Cool!

[pjmoreland]

Installed the high hump, flywheel, clutch, bellhousing, transmission and crossmember last night. I'm going to need to make a fairly thick spacer for the rear of the transmission because it is hanging low. The bellcrank is sitting at an angle. A 1" spacer should be in the ballpark. I'm going to take some angle measurements of the transmission and pinion to see how close they are to each other.

[pjmoreland]

More photos

[pjmoreland]

And a few more

[MySons68C20]

Going with the high hump was a smart move. When I installed mine (low hump) it was quite the trick getting it shoehorned in.
Great progress you'll be driving soon!

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

Going with the high hump was a smart move. When I installed mine (low hump) it was quite the trick getting it shoehorned in.
Great progress you'll be driving soon!

I see now that it probably wasn't necessary. It did make Installation easy, although I did have to remove the shifter anyway. I'm not sure I would have the ability to raise the rear of the transmission as high as I want to without it.

It's getting close, but I still have a lot of stuff to do before I'm driving it.

[pjmoreland]

I placed an order with the local driveline shop for a one-piece driveshaft to accept 1350 u-joints. It measured out at 56-1/4" center-to-center with the slip yoke pushed all the way into the transmission, so they're gonna make it 55-1/2" long. They're going with 3" tube.

[MySons68C20]

Badass!

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

Badass!

I'm definitely overbuilding some of these things a little bit based on my current engine, but I'd like to leave room for future enhancements

[pjmoreland]

I just ordered a Hurst 53801HST 16" shifter stick. I cut a metal rod to 16" and put a bend in it like the photo, and it feels about right. I owe my wife for helping me put the seat in my truck temporarily just so I could sit there and pretend I was shifting.

***EDIT***
I ended up going with the 53851HST shifter instead.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...&postcount=191

[pjmoreland]

I didn't get a lot done tonight specifically on the TKX install other than painting the clutch pedal push rod. I installed a relay under the dash that will allow the Holley Sniper to disable the Vintage Air A/C at WOT.

[Chevy nutcase]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

And a few more

I'm grateful to you for posting this process and the pics as well because I'm in the early stages of doing the same swap in my truck. Same tranny but mine is a 66 that already is standard shift. My main concern is earlier in this thread you mentioned a midshif kit being necessary. Now that I see where the midshift kits puts the hole in the hump I'd like to know where the stock location would have been compared to where it is now.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Chevy nutcase

I'm grateful to you for posting this process and the pics as well because I'm in the early stages of doing the same swap in my truck. Same tranny but mine is a 66 that already is standard shift. My main concern is earlier in this thread you mentioned a midshif kit being necessary. Now that I see where the midshift kits puts the hole in the hump I'd like to know where the stock location would have been compared to where it is now.

Here are some photos of the shifter that comes with the transmission. It was mounted where the flat red blanking plate is now installed on mine. It is my understanding that the stock shifter can be flipped around to move it a bit farther forward but not as far forward ad the center position shifter is.

[Chevy nutcase]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Here are some photos of the shifter that comes with the transmission. It was mounted where the flat red blanking plate is now installed on mine. It is my understanding that the stock shifter can be flipped around to move it a bit farther forward bit not as far forward ad the center position shifter

What would you guesstimate the distance between your current shifter location and the more forward position you didn't use? 6" -8"? I remember a friend of mine in high school had a early 70s chevelle with a bench seat and 3 spd on the floor. That shifter was bent to clear the seat and I kinda like that feel and look. The pic I uploaded isn't a chevelle obviously but you get the idea what I mean

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Chevy nutcase

What would you guesstimate the distance between your current shifter location and the more forward position you didn't use? 6" -8"? I remember a friend of mine in high school had a early 70s chevelle with a bench seat and 3 spd on the floor. That shifter was bent to clear the seat and I kinda like that feel and look. The pic I uploaded isn't a chevelle obviously but you get the idea what I mean

The distance you are asking about is a little less than 4". Below is a diagram that shows the positions of the three shifter locations. This diagram is from the TKX service manual.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...S9Qhx0FNmcwqFF

[pjmoreland]

The backup lamp switch, which is located on the driver side of the transmission, is now wired in. Also, the clutch linkage is fully assembled. The clutch pedal is fairly easy to press.

[pjmoreland]

The driveshaft center support bracket is off. I sure miss the air chisel I would use to remove rivets at a wrecking yard I used to work at. That thing would remove the head of a rivet in about 10 seconds.

[RustyPile]

Patrick, step away from the computer.. Take run to Lowes and pick up one of these..

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchT...ammer%20chisel

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by RustyPile

Patrick, step away from the computer.. Take run to Lowes and pick up one of these..

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchT...ammer%20chisel

I know, I know. I should have done that years ago.

[RustyPile]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I know, I know. I should have done that years ago.

Done what??? Give up the computer.. Run to Lowes?? Or both????

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by RustyPile

Done what??? Give up the computer.. Run to Lowes?? Or both????

Probably both