Nice:thumbsup:

x2
whats even funnier is that having such an off topic video (to the main thread subject) fall right in line with the majority of this thread!:lol:

Todd's Tranny Shop
 

It ain't no secret that I've hated the way my transmission has shifted since day one. Mainly a super notchy 2nd gear that has improved a little over time but not enough to make me happy. A TKO 600 just isn't a worthy race transmission in stock form. Down ****ing is like sticking your prick in a virgin. :lol:

There are a few shops that modify these things to make them shift up to 7-7500 rpm reliably. Liberty in Michigan and American Powertrain in Tennessee. Liberty wants about $750 plus freight both ways and American powertrain is around $1250 but they harden the parts to make them more durable. From my understanding, they only add upgraded synchros to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear. Neither price includes a new shifter.

Since I do all kinds of racing with this thing, I'm replacing the brass synchros with carbon fiber empregnated synchros in 1-5. I've downshifted into 1st 2-3 times running misc. autocross events. See paragraph one. I figure while I have it apart, I may as well do them all. The carbon fiber synchros are $50 a piece.

I was hoping to find a red flag tearing this thing apart. I did find a broken spring retainer in the shifter but seriously doubt that's affecting anything. I ran it through the gears with the inspection cover removed. I noticed that second required the shift sleeve and synchro to move much farther to mesh than any other gear. These carbon fiber synchros are supposed to slow down the shaft more aggressively than the brass and aid in making the synchro and sleeve mesh faster. Everything is in excellent shape so far.

It really wasn't that difficult to dissasemble. I went out after dinner and had it out and apart in about 3 hours. You need to be careful because it's a needle bearing nightmare.(Especially in the 5th gear race) There are misc. shims beind bearing races that you need to be careful with. The front plug for the lower gear shaft is known to leak when they sit and mine did as well. It sets the preload on the bearing on that end and it will get glued back in to stop the leak. I am going to add a Pro 5.0 shifter with adjustable stops....

I'll be into this deal about $600 including synchros, shifter, gear oil, and sealer.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...earDown001.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...earDown004.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...earDown005.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...earDown006.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...earDown011.jpg

Todd, if my transmission was out of the car sitting on a table apart in that condition it would scare the hell out of me! Kudo's to you for jumping in with both feet and taking care of business. I'll just sit here w/a beer in hand and applaud.:lol: :lol: :thumbsup: Nice work.

You might want to hold off on the Bud Light till you get that thing back together.:cheers:

Don't congratulate me yet. It's still got to go back together and work BETTER than before and not leak. :unibrow:

When I moved here back in 1999, I was an auto mechanic for GM. Two year degree, ASEP student apprentice, ASE master tech, the whole nine yards. I was 22 and landed a job at a GMC/Pontiac dealer. Anyway, I could do anything bumper to bumper. These guys in Vegas all had specialties and that's all they did. Brakes, interior, engines, alignments, trans, suspension etc. Premadonnas... I'd been there about a week and ripped the auto trans out of a firebird and tore it down for an overhaul. I ended up meeting one of my best buddies to this day that was a tech in that shop. I found out later that all the techs in the shop were placing bets on whether the car would ever move again. :rofl: It did...

You're right, I'll drink Corona's until it's back together. :cheers:

$600 bones, not a bad deal. Pretty ballsy taking it upon yourself to do this so close to September.

Hope it works out bro, dont want to miss you in September.

I scheduled a Thunderhill trackday for August 12 to flog my car. I adjusted my watts link by matching it up with my rear leaf roll center yesterday and it feels alot better but really dont like the way the vette wheels feel out front. The turn in and the way the rest of the front suspension is reacting feels sketchy but I wont know until August 12 if its a good or a bad sketchy. Taking a set of my old torque thrusts with me to get a real feel for the difference.

Way to go brother---inspiring for sure---no fear from you ever with tearing into it---i'm always amazed at your persistence and willingness to do it yourself.

Next, I'd like to see you repaint the car in a weekend---just a scuff and shoot. Just let me know before hand please. I'll bring the Apple Pie for that one.

D

Great work Todd, nothing like grabbing the bull by the horns.

Greg

Cool story man...it is really cool though how you don't hesitate to tear into something on your car and then share it. I think your new nickname should be "The Professor"...:D

Show off

****, you are probably designing and making your own trans for your car.:D

Yeah - no kidding! Between the two of you and your skill-sets, I really do wonder what could be achieved.

And Todd, well, you just plain scare the bejesus out of me sometimes the way you take on these projects. A shifter, convertor, shift-kit and fluids - there, that's my trans repertoire! Always an inspiration man and appreciate you sharing your hard-core engineering. Icing on the cake that you go out and beat the snot out of it too.

Awesome!
Gregg

Thanks Gregg:cheers:

I'm a fair mechanic and a shade tree engineer, but Jason is a super star with fabrication. We both have one trait in common, we tend to overbuild and definitely over think. I've learned so much building this car. I know why Stielow has built 10 of them. I could build a better car. I'd rather enjoy this one.:thumbsup:

I ran a local SCCA merry go round tonight in my Audi S4. It's all wheel drive, super charged, blah blah blah, but it wasn't even close to the same. My car would've done very well on this short course tonight. I'm guessing in the 3 second range better. Sometimes I dislike the rawness of my car. Then I remember the beauty. I'm one with my car. I can feel EVERYTHING. A little tire slip, throttle response is there, right now!, brakes are gradual not touchy... Most of all, ain't nobody racing anything even close to as cool.

A rare moment of you selling yourself short. :D Much better than fair my friend!

And thank you for not building a different car that would undoubtedly smoke the rest of us. :thumbsup: :lol:

Man, you said Doug. Good for you Todd.
Good luck!

ZACKLY!:thumbsup: :hail: :cheers:

Kudos man....theres no better feeling than putting something like that back together and it works!

"Needle bearing nightmare" :rofl:

I demand a "fab-off" competition. Imagine what kind of metal jewelery could emerge!

I was looking at one of those shifters when I was installing my TKO-600. The vendor really steered me clear of them. The trans has internal stops and they are not needed. Thats what I was told. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I hope it turns out awesome. :thumbsup: I have never had any shifting problems with my trans. Are your shifting issues due to the increased rpm you're shifting at? I was wondering when they start to have issues. The highest I shift is usually 6,000 -6,500 rpm.

I've also seen that info online. All the shops that modify them reccommend a shifter with stops. The internal stops are probably fine for 95%. When you race them, you tend to put things in a position of compromise. With the external stops, it's going to eliminate internal stop wear and possible over engagement.

Did I just quote myself? Yes I did. :D Are they cf synchros the only internal mods you have planned. I know you looked into the Liberty mods and stuff.

I ain't real quick, so forgive me. :D I've had a notchy second gear and some high rpm troubles. More the notchy second and downshift issues. All I have planned is the the synchros and shifter. The whole polished shafts deal is a farse. They are mirror polished already. I'll report back on the change once I row some gears. :thumbsup:

I've got a Muncie that will take 800/fp/torque. Its called a Spec-25 and I could keep my foot in the peddle slamming into 2nd.:thumbsup:

Gee, I'm real sad to hear about the t-5's having syncro problems :D

Just kiddin' bro, have to raz you a bit, but according to my trans guy, what he says best be true, but so far soo good after 6 years.

I like overdrive....:unibrow:

Cant say that I blame you. My car is strictly track and dont have tha balls to screw around on the street.

Hope it all goes back together well, looking forward to seeing you in September.

To be honest, I'm looking more forward to the bench racing at barbecue time.:thumbsup:

Maybe a little off topic but how does everyone know everyone else? Are you guys in the same location or just attend the same events. Sometimes it sounds like a car can be pushed across the street to the next shop if you know what I mean.

A bunch of us have met at functions like SEMA and RTTC.

Look at you Mr. Transmission
 

I have a pro 5.0 on a T56. The stops work, but they are harsh to the hands. I have taken mine out. You may try putting some type of rubber on the end of the bolts to lessen the shock. You will understand the first time you bang the gears.

for me unfortunately for me i gotta live in the same city as todd !:P but we did end up meeting through this site. for others its like he said sema and other events (just spend more time here and before you even meet others youll feel like you've known them for years!)

yo iceman when u putting it back in ?

Dear Crew Chief Whitesides,
Hoping the parts come in today and I can start assembling the trans. I have another trick up my sleeve so it may delay the install a little while. You are still welcome to come over Sunday. There is work to be done and lots of **** to be talked.:lol:

I'll wear gloves. :unibrow: :lol:

No one likes a c0cktease. :D

Don't worry, my giggle juice will just negate your clutchless tranny. :unibrow:

Turning the corner and have all the surfaces and parts cleaned and dissasembled the main shaft to inpsect the components.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...andLeak011.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...andLeak006.jpg

For those of you with TKO's that leak when they sit in the garage, here is what causes it. The lower shaft plug that houses the end bearing race has a tiny little o ring on it. I made a video but I'm not in the mood for the ridicule. :D Anyway, the oring is a little chewed up. Seems to me that teh plug spins from time to time and compromises the oring. I'll be gluing mine back in with silicone and a new oring.
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...andLeak005.jpg

If you can't find em, grind em. We all know and have experienced this deal. Well, my inspection of the main shaft gears, synchros, and slides made this all to real. The third/fourth gear slider needs replaced. It's hard to tell, but the teeth should be sharp and they are beat up.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...1969/006-6.jpg

My parts did come in today but now I'm waiting on the slider before I can reassemble the main shaft. I did replace the pins in the shift forks as they tend to get bent and one was a hair tweaked. I reassembled the 5th gear assembly with the needle bearing fiasco. This is the only carbon fiber that will ever be part of this car. :unibrow:
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...1969/008-5.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...1969/002-9.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...1969/001-7.jpg

Hey Todd, want to rebuild a T56? :unibrow:

I'm continually amazed by the projects you keep on undertaking,

Matt

Let's see how this one goes first. :lol:

I'm probably the last guy that would ever want to tell you this but you are the man. Great effort dude!!

If she dont hold up in September I'll probably be as pissed off as you will,.

Are the carbon fiber syncros upgraded or standard parts?