Tremec TKX 5 Speed Transmission Installation

[xr4tic]

Thanks for this thread, this is definitely on my list of things to do eventually.

Is your motor in the forward or rear mount position?

To add to the swap info, if you have a newer bellhousing with the larger hole, you can use this adapter to reduce it, I used this on my manual 70 C10 to mount a Muncie M20

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ADD-716078

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by xr4tic

Is your motor in the forward or rear mount position?

My truck came with a V8 originally (E in the VIN), so the engine is in the forward position.

[chipmaker 1985]

Finished my install in the 6-banger position a couple weeks ago. The shifter clears the bench fine. Decided to make my own shifter and left it straight for now. I'll angle it to wherever is comfortable after I log some miles.

Thanks for the nice carpet. Mr. Patrick

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by chipmaker 1985

Finished my install in the 6-banger position a couple weeks ago. The shifter clears the bench fine. Decided to make my own shifter and left it straight for now. I'll angle it to wherever is comfortable after I log some miles.

Thanks for the nice carpet. Mr. Patrick

Excellent! Are you happy with how it drives?

[chipmaker 1985]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Excellent! Are you happy with how it drives?

Loving it from what I can tell so far. I've only driven it about 25 miles. I haven't had it properly aligned since the front end rebuild and still waiting for my 3-point belts to arrive. 1st-4th have been awesome, I get a little antsy in 5th gear speeds. Unfortunately I have kissed a metal dash before, I'm not willing to risk it, till she's safe-ish.

[Rickysnickers]

Flipped

[chipmaker 1985]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Flipped

Awesome! Thank you.

[Rickysnickers]

[pjmoreland]

I replaced the Race Tuning mid-shifter with one that Tremec recently started selling. It is a big improvement.

1) It has a much shorter throw

2) The centering springs are much stiffer which makes it way easier to shift from 2nd to 3rd

3) It incorporates a 5th-reverse shift inhibitor

4) It is half the price

[gringoloco]

Hey PJ, thanks for the excellent write-up! Taking notes, specifically on your shifter stick and the new Tremec mid-shifter.

How are you liking the TKX? My TKO has to come out because 1) it’s whiny and I’m tired of hearing it complain, and 2) I beat on it until it broke something inside the bellhousing this morning. Im thinking about upgrading to a TKX or maybe Magnum while it’s out, curious what your experience has been like with your transmission, especially shift quality and noisy-ness (not my TKO’s strong suit).

Thanks -Chris

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Hey PJ, thanks for the excellent write-up! Taking notes, specifically on your shifter stick and the new Tremec mid-shifter.

How are you liking the TKX? My TKO has to come out because 1) it’s whiny and I’m tired of hearing it complain, and 2) I beat on it until it broke something inside the bellhousing this morning. Im thinking about upgrading to a TKX or maybe Magnum while it’s out, curious what your experience has been like with your transmission, especially shift quality and noisy-ness (not my TKO’s strong suit).

Thanks -Chris

Hey, Chris. I don't have any experience with the TKO, but I'd say the TKX is pretty quiet. It does make a very slight high-pitch whine that I can hear when coasting. It's not distracting though. Shifting is reasonably smooth. The 1-2 shift can be slightly rough when the transmission is cold, but it smooths out after a couple of miles. I have found that the TKX doesn't really like to be shifted fast and aggressively. It likes a slight pause before shoving it into the next gear.

[xr4tic]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

The 1-2 shift can be slightly rough when the transmission is cold, but it smooths out after a couple of miles.

Out of curiosity, what fluid are you using?

I found this on the ShiftSST site:
"TREMEC approves the following fluids for all of their 5 and 6-speed transmissions: TREMEC HP-MTF, Pennzoil Synchromesh, Dexron III/Mercon ATF (non-synthetic), and Mobil 1 ATF. We recommend the ATF fluid for break-in and the TREMEC or Pennzoil fluid thereafter."

I bought Mobil 1 ATF for mine to start with and was planning on Synchromesh for later, but haven't filled it up yet.

[pjmoreland]

I am running ACDelco Synchromesh which is one of the fluids listed in the installation instructions from SST.