Tremec

[JoesEdge]

Holley has some interesting stuff for Gen3 swaps in an A-Body. One thing they have now is a bolt in crossmember brace for a TKX swap - https://documents.holley.com/199r12231.pdf

The pictures of the floor cut in the above pdf is really pretty minimal.

Unfortunately I think the part will not work without the matching Holley motor mounts for the Gen3. Their kits says it will fit a 6.4 in the car with the SRV without cutting the firewall. So I think it moves the motor forward several inches and a standard SBM location would create interference between the mount and the brace.

But it does make me think a TKX swap might be able to be done with much less surgery on the floor. Still need a crossmember but maybe not a complete tunnel beyond that??

Interesting! So, instead of brace going OVER the transmission (like the factory did) the Holley torsion bar cross member braces from underneath. I just don't like that it is bolt in, but I guess that aids in getting the transmission in and out of position.

I was just quoted about $7,000.00 for everything to do a Tremec Magnum 6 speed swap but I did question a few items on the list considering I already had them, such as the '71-'74 B-Body pistol grip shifter handle, flywheel, etc. One of the expensive items in the quote is the ToddRon torsion bar crossmember brace. That piece alone is nearly $1,000.00 including tax (if applicable).

 

[JoesEdge]

Gold duster 318's trans tunnel does not look much bigger than what mine is going to be with a TKX.

View attachment 1715850678

That is really nice metal work! I wish I had that kind of talent!

 

[DionR]

I just don't like that it is bolt in, but I guess that aids in getting the transmission in and out of position.

I thought about that myself. But if the brace isn't a bolt in, no idea how the trans would come out. Maybe a removable tunnel and out the top?

I was just quoted about $7,000.00 for everything to do this swap

Quoted for a TKX swap? Or the T56?

I've been getting quotes for a T56 swap, and so far they have been $7.2K plus/minus. I asked for a follow up quote for a TKX, but don't have the numbers yet.

Doubt I can swing $7K+ all at once either way. Didn't know what to expect so I figured I would ask for a quote.

 

[JoesEdge]

I thought about that myself. But if the brace isn't a bolt in, no idea how the trans would come out. Maybe a removable tunnel and out the top?

Quoted for a TKX swap? Or the T56?

I've been getting quotes for a T56 swap, and so far they have been $7.2K plus/minus. I asked for a follow up quote for a TKX, but don't have the numbers yet.

Doubt I can swing $7K+ all at once either way. Didn't know what to expect so I figured I would ask for a quote.

For the 6 speed swap. I updated my post to mention that. I agree it was confusing.

I figured if I am going to cut the torsion bar support, I might as well go 6 speed. I know it's more expensive than a TKX. I'm not sure how much of a savings there would be with a TKX. By the way, I have a 4 speed now.

 

[DionR]

I figured if I am going to cut the torsion bar support, I might as well go 6 speed. I know it's more expensive than a TKX. I'm not sure how much of a savings there would be with a TKX. By the way, I have a 4 speed now.

I've been running a spreadsheet of major parts based on the list goldduster318 posted in his thread using current pricing. That is running about $6600 including tax and shipping as best I can guess. I ran the numbers with a TKX and the cast Lakewood bell and no juice clutch and got it down to $4200. That's enough that I have to answer the question (for myself) if the added gear and better splits is enough to make it worth it. And with the (IMO) potential for a smaller tunnel...it's hard to say.

 

[DC Dart]

I am still mocking up the sheet metal. So I may be doing something like what was posted above maybe removable plate behind shifter. Was thinking the smaller hole would make trans removal a bit harder. I currently have a bench seat so I was watching my clearance there.
I had the 4 speed hump so my floor had to be redone. An automatic floor would not need much done. The TKX like TKO is less invasive than t 56 but still requires the car being cut up. With mechanical linkage, simpler crossmember set up maybe cheaper bell. The 5 speed could save some dollars. I am running big block so it should pull pass that missing gear?

 

[goldduster318]

I would look at the T56 Magnum as this: A 4-speed with twin OD's. So, honestly the big advantage to it in my case was 2-fold, I run 3.23 rear axle gears so the 2.97:1 first makes it hit a little harder at the beginning and easier to drive, and it has a .8 and .64 OD. The .8 OD is great for 40-55 mph and the .64 is good for 65+ MPH. Here in MI I drive a lot of 45-50mph roads and the freeways are 70 speed limit, 70 mph is 1900 rpm for me which is ideal. My engine is totally fine with 1500 rpm running so it helps a lot there.

If you bought one of the member's mounting brackets for the hydraulic clutch, a .81 tilton or wilwood MC and a 2002 Camaro LS throw out bearing, spacers, and an AN line plus the adapters, you can do it cheaper. I ended up swapping the throw out to the 2002 Camaro one later because the APEX universal one had so many spacers on it and didn't like being concentric and would make noise on the centerforce clutch weights.

I doubt you'd get a bench in with a T56 magnum though, the shifter is a little further back and its wider behind the torsion bar crossmember. Its even tight with my bucket seat on the passenger side (I moved it outboard slightly)

 

[DionR]

I would look at the T56 Magnum as this: A 4-speed with twin OD's. So, honestly the big advantage to it in my case was 2-fold, I run 3.23 rear axle gears so the 2.97:1 first makes it hit a little harder at the beginning and easier to drive, and it has a .8 and .64 OD. The .8 OD is great for 40-55 mph and the .64 is good for 65+ MPH. Here in MI I drive a lot of 45-50mph roads and the freeways are 70 speed limit, 70 mph is 1900 rpm for me which is ideal. My engine is totally fine with 1500 rpm running so it helps a lot there.

I'm looking at the close ratio TKX, 2.87/.068 trans with a 3.55 gear. This makes 1st and OD about the same as my current A833OD with a 3.21 gear. But with better splits. Looks like 40 would be about 1800 rpm in 4th or 1300 rpm in 5th. Might be ok? Hard to say for sure, but I know it won't be any worse than the setup I have now and it is workable.

The T56 has the best gear splits of any of them just by the function of more steps. Really good ratios.

If you bought one of the member's mounting brackets for the hydraulic clutch, a .81 tilton or wilwood MC and a 2002 Camaro LS throw out bearing, spacers, and an AN line plus the adapters, you can do it cheaper. I ended up swapping the throw out to the 2002 Camaro one later because the APEX universal one had so many spacers on it and didn't like being concentric and would make noise on the centerforce clutch weights.

I though I remember that you had swapped out your juice clutch parts, but didn't know for what. Any more info on the "member's mounting brackets"? Don't remember anything about that.

 

[goldduster318]

This is what I was thinking of:
Clutch Master Cylinder Mounting

This is the camaro TOB in the bellhousing. I have a thick spacer that summit sells plus some other thin spacer. Don't remember all of it off the top of my head. The throwout bearing itself without the fittings is about $50. The fittings are probably under $15 ea, and the spacer kits, well, I don't remember but probably under $100 total. Then you need the hoses and a remote bleeder kit if you want one. Though you could probably use the camaro one if you wanted to.

 

[go-fish]

Tremec Transmissions:TUET 11009
Tremec T56 Magnum 6-speed .63 overdrive (GM)
1 X $3295

Quicktime bell housing: RM8074
$600.00

Dederichs Motorsports:HKM104
Mopar Hydraulic Kit for GM Magnum 6-speed
1 X $650

McLeod Racing:75325
MCLEOD STREET EXTREME KIT, CHEV V8 '55-'85
1 X $300

Modern Driveline: MD-MA6376-T56
67-76 A-body crossmember (ToddRon)
1 x $699

Total: $5,544

Tremec Transmissions and Performance Parts | Dederichs Motorsports
Transmission Conversions | TREMEC Solutions & Kits | Modern Driveline


Don't know what the Silversport kit is but I know that back in 2008 my TKO kit for my E-body was around $5,500.

 

[DionR]

Tremec Transmissions:TUET 11009
Tremec T56 Magnum 6-speed .63 overdrive (GM)
1 X $3295

Quicktime bell housing: RM8074
$600.00

Dederichs Motorsports:HKM104
Mopar Hydraulic Kit for GM Magnum 6-speed
1 X $650

McLeod Racing:75325
MCLEOD STREET EXTREME KIT, CHEV V8 '55-'85
1 X $300

Modern Driveline: MD-MA6376-T56
67-76 A-body crossmember (ToddRon)
1 x $699

Total: $5,544

Tremec Transmissions and Performance Parts | Dederichs Motorsports
Transmission Conversions | TREMEC Solutions & Kits | Modern Driveline


Don't know what the Silversport kit is but I know that back in 2008 my TKO kit for my E-body was around $5,500.

That's about the same list and prices I have, except I'm seeing $915 for the bellhousing and I had some miscellaneous parts and a driveshaft in my list.

 

[go-fish]

That's about the same list and prices I have, except I'm seeing $915 for the bellhousing and I had some miscellaneous parts and a driveshaft in my list.

My list is 2 years old. Just looked at SUmmit and yes, $915 now!
Buy now. Inflation won't stop.

 

[DionR]

I can get the cost down to $5744 if I used the Camaro TOB setup and the cast aluminum bellhousing.

Prices are cost and then tax and shipping

Transmission Tremec TUET-16885 $3,295.99
Bellhousing American Powertrain BHCH-10009 $425.00 $30.40
Pilot Bearing Advanced Adapters 716156GM $25.77 $7.25
Clutch Disk Centerforce DF384161 $159.99
Transmission Mount Prothane 6-1605 $66.99
Crossmember Modern Driveline MD-MA6376-T56 $699.00 $95.98
Shifter Handle SST SLG-00300 $89.95 $12.87
Shifter ball TwistedShifterz White 3/8-16 $29.95 $7.62
Driveshaft Strange U1699F60 $345.00 $65.01
Mount FABO Clutch Master Cylinder Mounting $100.00
Master cylinder Tilton 76-812 $114.75 $10.04
TOB LUK LSC265B $49.75 $12.99
Mics Parts/hose/fittings $100.00
Total $5,502.14 $242.17
Total w/ Tax/Shipping $5,744.31

 

[DionR]

Here's my numbers for a TKX swap:

Transmission Summit Racing AWR-TCET17805 $2,795.00 $235.19
Bellhousing Lakewood LK7000 $314.95 $87.56
Pilot Bearing Advanced Adapters 716156GM $25.77 $7.25
Clutch Disk Centerforce DF384161 $159.99
Transmission Mount Prothane 6-1605 $66.99
Shifter Handle SST SLG-00300 $89.95 $12.87
Shifter ball TwistedShifterz White 3/8-16 $29.95 $7.62
Driveshaft Strange U1699F60 $345.00 $65.01
Total $3,827.60 $415.50
Total w/ Tax/Shipping $4,243.10

 

[goldduster318]

There's a lot of little stuff that can get you, like for example if you order a strange driveshaft, you need to either adapt 1350 U-joints to 7260 or 7290 or swap the yoke (which I had done previously to my swap, I have an 8.75 with a 742 center so it was easy but still). Hoses, bolts, AN fittings, sheet metal for floor patches, welding wire, welding gas, etc, all adds up. I think I used about $50 worth of CO2/Argon to do my swap since I have a pony tank and I used basically an entire tank on it.

Also think of the speedometer, connectors, reverse lockout override, etc. I had an electric speedo already, and I have megasquirt so the reverse lockout was just a program in there, a relay, and some wire. If you have a carb you either need to make a push button for it or to buy one of those "boxes" that reads the VSS output to do it for you on the T56. It's just a solenoid anyway.

 

[DC Dart]

On the TKX parts list you have no bolt in crossmember. Would not be hard to build or modify original. I made mine.
The little stuff does add up as mentioned. I will likely go the 1350 drive line route. I went speedo cable and gear. All those parts and hydro clutch came from SST.
Can post a pick of my bolt in mount if interested.

 

[DionR]

There's a lot of little stuff that can get you, like for example if you order a strange driveshaft, you need to either adapt 1350 U-joints to 7260 or 7290 or swap the yoke (which I had done previously to my swap, I have an 8.75 with a 742 center so it was easy but still). Hoses, bolts, AN fittings, sheet metal for floor patches, welding wire, welding gas, etc, all adds up. I think I used about $50 worth of CO2/Argon to do my swap since I have a pony tank and I used basically an entire tank on it.

Also think of the speedometer, connectors, reverse lockout override, etc. I had an electric speedo already, and I have megasquirt so the reverse lockout was just a program in there, a relay, and some wire. If you have a carb you either need to make a push button for it or to buy one of those "boxes" that reads the VSS output to do it for you on the T56. It's just a solenoid anyway.

I generally double my estimate to come up with a more realistic budget for this stuff. Usually I am within 50% of actual costs at that point.

 

[DionR]

On the TKX parts list you have no bolt in crossmember.

Far as I know there isn't one. I expected if I went the TKX route I would build my own and so I didn't include a cost.

 

[DionR]

One option would be to use the ToddRon crossmember with a TKX trans. Not sure how it would interface, but best guess is that it would clear the trans fine just be larger than it needs to be. It would give the option to upgrade to a T56 someday without having to redo the tunnel again, assuming the ToddRon crossmember wasn't modified to much to fit the TKX.

 

[DC Dart]

Would not go that route. An advantage of the TKX is smaller size and you are able to use more of the original crossmember. If you make the floor larger best off putting the t 56 in it. And the time to alter it would not be to far off from building a new one.

 

[Sublime one]

I put a T60 in my 72 Demon, I had to modify/fabricate my tunnel. Fabricated my own supports. It was a pain but when I did it the swap was not as well supported on the secondary market yet. I made my tunnel a bit to large but I did not want to fight pulling tranny in or out. There is a bunch of pix on my build thread. Attached pix is one that gives a pretty good idea.

 

[DC Dart]

Looking good. I am running the TKX as well as the silver sport hydraulic clutch. Mine will not be on the road anytime soon. I am hoping it works out awesome. Please keep Us posted.

 

[jcolman]

Thought I would add a bit to this thread concerning tunnel modifications. You do have to cut out a portion of the cross brace. My car was a center console auto to start with.

tunnel cutting finished, painting underside

topsides

sound deadening completed

Underside nearly finished

New carpet went in yesterday but no pics yet.

I'm also having the shop install Hotchkiss frame connectors to stiffen up the car a bit. Once all that is done, it will be time for a road test, then a chassis dyno tune session once the clutch has been broken in and seated. Can't wait to get my car back on the road!