Tremec transmission installation

[Popeye]

Hi all,

I'm about one year into my Mark IV build, and am soon to be installing the engine/transmission. I have a couple of questions on the install and am hoping someone could provide some input.

I purchased a TKO-600 from a shop in my area (in Taylor, MI) that upgrades Tremecs. I have been reading about the drive shaft donut that ships with Tremec transmissions (cue Homer Simpson..."mmm, donuts") and whether it's better to remove it or just slide it up the drive shaft and leave it in. My question is, does anyone have a picture of said donut? I can slide my drive shaft slip yoke all the way into the transmission until it bottoms out, which makes me wonder whether I even have a donut on this transmission. I suppose it's possible the shop I purchased the trans from removed it.

My second question is whether or not it's easier to fill the trans with fluid before dropping the engine/trans in to the car, or after. I imagine it would be easier to fill it outside of the engine bay, but if I really have no donut on the tail shaft I can see myself spilling fluid all over while the engine is swinging from the end of the shop crane.

Anyway, all this donut talk is making me hungry. I'll go get a paczki while I wait for your reply...

[edwardb]

I'm up in Lake Orion. See this is your first post. Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you're talking about Liberty's Performance in Taylor. Bought my modified TKO from them as well. Yes, they remove the seal in question when they do their work. It was nowhere to be found when I picked mine up from them a year or so ago. I'm assuming you also had them machine off the rear mount so it clears the FFR 4 inch chassis tube? They know what to do with that also. I would wait until you have the trans in the chassis to fill it. You have to put the engine/trans up at a pretty sharp angle during installation, and it will drain the fluid right out the back and make a mess. Plus if you use genuine GM Sychromesh fluid as recommended, you will not want to be dumping it out. Not the cheapest stuff in town. It's not hard to fill the trans once installed with the transmission tunnel top cover off. Once the car is done, cover in place, etc. you still have to figure out how to check the fluid and service if necessary. I have a bottle with a rubber tube and really not a big deal.

FWIW, and to encourage you, my Mk4 with the modded TKO is done, legal, and driving as of a few weeks ago. The TKO works and shifts just fantastic. They promised me it would shift as good or better than my previous T5 in my Mk3 Roadster. They were right. It's outstanding. Couldn't be happier with it.

[Popeye]

I didn't realize Liberty would take off the rear mount if asked, that's good info.

I didn't know, so I ended up taking it off myself. You should have seen me before I screwed up enough courage to start: cut-off wheel in one hand, hacksaw in the other, standing there undecided while looking at the trans on my work bench and hearing to that little voice in my head saying "You know how much this thing cost, don't screw it up!".

I went with the hacksaw... a little file work after it was all over and you'd never know there were once mounting ears there. ;)

[edwardb]

I didn't realize Liberty would take off the rear mount if asked, that's good info.

I didn't know, so I ended up taking it off myself. You should have seen me before I screwed up enough courage to start: cut-off wheel in one hand, hacksaw in the other, standing there undecided while looking at the trans on my work bench and hearing to that little voice in my head saying "You know how much this thing cost, don't screw it up!".

I went with the hacksaw... a little file work after it was all over and you'd never know there were once mounting ears there. ;)

LOL. Yea, those things aren't cheap and cutting pieces off of it isn't for the faint of heart. I've seen guys doing it with a Sawzall. I didn't see Liberty's do the actual work, but it was razer sharp, straight and smooth. Looked like the mounted the trans in a milling machine. Too bad it's completely hidden now that it's installed. I'm surprised they didn't do yours. When I described what the trans was for, the salesperson immediately asked if I wanted the rear mount trimmed off. As I recall, they didn't charge for the added work either.

[Avalanche325]

Something about an unneeded part that might deteriorate in the transmission freaks me out.

Do not fill the transmission first. You have to tilt front of the engine way up to install it. Without a driveshaft in the transmission, your fluid will pour out of the tail shaft. I did fill mine and put the donut back in. I also put a rubber glove over the tail. I still lost a little fluid.

Don't forget. Use real GM Synchromesh! Not Pennzoil or anything else that says it is compatible.

[Wjhutchings]

I'm getting ready to cut mine off, but wanted to confirm that the mod is just to the passenger's side?

[edwardb]

I'm getting ready to cut mine off, but wanted to confirm that the mod is just to the passenger's side?

The flange in question is on the tailshaft, so no real DS or PS orientation. It has to be removed to clear the 4 inch cross tube near the rear of the transmission. Unfortunately, I don't have a good pic of mine before I installed it. Here's a thread from the other forum that has a picture of the offending part. You may not choose to cut it this exact way, but hopefully clarifies the location.

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/275225-tko-transmission-modification.html

Hopefully you don't cut off one of the flanges just ahead of this, visible in the LH side of linked pic. Those are needed for the rear transmission mount!


Something about an unneeded part that might deteriorate in the transmission freaks me out.

I tend to agree. I wouldn't leave the shipping seal in place either. My one experience with the TKO was what I described here from Liberty's. They disassemble quite a bit to do their shifter mods, and apparently that means they remove the rear shipping seal as well. It was nowhere to be found when I picked up my TKO from them. So, no worries.

[first time builder]

If Liberty did your TKO 600 with the full race package you will love it !!!!!!
No missed gears.

Kenny

[thardin]

Ugh, So jealous. I moved to Panama with my car before I had time to ship my brand new TKO off to liberty for the full treatment. My motor will spin up to 7,800 rpm and I understand these things don't like shifting over 7K. Soooooo wish I had shipped it off to them before I left.....

Oh, and fill after the tranny is in the car....