TKO600 - keep it or sell it.
 

Like the title says, I'm debating on selling my TKO600. It's new, never run, but has been mocked up. The main reason I was thinking about selling it was I've read quite about quite a few guys recently that have been having issues. Plus, after reading about what Keisler had to say about them, and they sold them for how long?! For those that don't know my build, it's a 68 Acadian (exact same as a Nova but says Acadian on it). It has a L92 which should be mid to high 500 hp. I plan on using the car primarily has a street driven car, but am building it on the off chance I ever get an opportunity to do a road race.

So here's what I was thinking: Sell the TKO and get the new Keisler RS600. Only issue I see guys are still waiting to get theirs so don't know what's going on. Get a T56 instead. Only thing with that is I live in a valley in the Rocky Mountains. Not sure how much of a benefit I would get with the 6th speed in the mountains. I could be wrong though. Or is there another option?

What do you guys think? Please expand on your reasoning as to which way your chose, if you don't mind.

How much (if you want to sell it)?

What has Keisler been saying?

Does the T56 fit your tunnel without mods? Do you care?

If you think you'll road race at all I'd be leary about a stock TKO. you can also send it to liberty for upgrades.

I like the idea of the RS600 but as you said it's not truly tested and shipping/delivery seems up in the air still.

Not an easy call but the TKO I had didn't shift very smoothly right out of the gate.

They've just been talking about how they have fixed all the flaws with the TKO600 with their RS600. They basically said that it's a truck transmission that has been made to work for cars (if I remember correctly). As for what I would want, I'm not completely sure. I know Summit wants $2200 for one, so I would probably want $1800 or $1900 depending on if I include shipping in the cost or not.

I've already cut the tunnel once so modifying it isn't a big deal for me, althogh I've already finished the underneath so would prefer not to cut it again. How much difference is there in fitting a T56? Right now I am leaning towards the RS600 as it should bolt right in and will work with the scatter shield I already have. But like you said, it's still not truly tested, although Keisler did say that they have been running that transmission, or something very similar for years now. It is the shifting of the TKO that I am worried about though.

i just did the same thing and would make the same decision over again; sold the tko for a t56 magnum. it is larger, requires a different bell, shorter driveshaft and different height trans mount setup. if you dont mind the work its the best trans out there right now. if you dont want the work, send the tko to liberty because youre still way under the 3200 for a RS.

btw, i ended up selling my tko for 2k locally with the harnesses. i kept the yoke and the poly mount. the magnum fit in my tunnel, so other than the bell and ds im all good.

I'm not that happy with mine but it is a work horse that is proven to hold up to the abuse. I'll likely send mine out to be modified eventually. Some of the tko's are fine stock. It's really the luck of the draw. I have a notchy 1-2 shift. You can actually feel that it doesn't 1-2 shift well in the garage just rowing through the gears. There is a slight catch. The other gears work great. You may want to put the shifter on it and see if all the gears are smooth. If they are, you may be fine. It's paid for, right? If you didn't already have it, I would say to get a t56 based trans. The rs600 is not a proven combination yet. At least not the way I abuse stuff.

What modifications are you guys speaking of? I'm constantly banging 5th instead of 3rd - Is there a way to fix that? Mine also sounds like a truck!

http://www.libertysgears.com/ they sell a trans modded that is really reasonable, or you can send them yours. you end up paying a little more, but the results have been good.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Todd....if it's held up for you, I guess it can't be all that bad :D

The one thing that really is detering me from getting a T56 is the possibility that I'd have to cut the tunnel again and I'm in the middle of building a custom console, which would have to be changed if I went to a T56. I'm never going to get my car done if I keep buying things, changing my mind, buying new stuff, modifying, installing and on and on.....................................

Thanks for posting the link to Liberty Gears Tim. I had forgot about them. I just email them to see what it would cost and what they would recommend to have done.

Todd...didn't you price out some mods to your trans from Liberty?

Ya, it was only $300-$500. Freight was the killer. I don't have alot of desire to tear my car apart just for fun anymore either. :unibrow: