TKO or T56?

[mstennes]

Here's my delima I'm almost ready to start tearing out my old 383 and 2004R and I picked up a a LS7 and cant decide which way to go TKO 5 speed or a T56 6 speed, what is the best setup for this engine? Its going in my 69 Camaro if that helps.
Thanks,
Mike

[Bandit]

Since no one else wants to play, let me give you my 2 cents' worth: I say TKO 600 5-spd, that's what I went with for my big block Trans Am.
From research I've done it seems that the TKO is a bulletproof tranny and the "downside" of having 1 less gear is really not an issue, IMHO, unless you plan on running 4:50+ rear gears or plan on going 200 mph.

Paul

P.S. To be fair, I can't vouch for either one personally yet, I am waiting for my driveshaft to get here to try out my TKO, I am just going off of what I have read in other reviews.

[coolwelder62]

I had a tko in my in last 69. The thing work great w/ no problems. I used a turbo 400 crossmember & just cut the mount off the back and welded it to the front of the crossmember.The 93 LT1 was mounted in the stock location and the mount worked as if GM had wanted it too. The T56 you will have to rise your trans tunnel up some to make it fit.And shorten the drive .W/ the TKO my stock drive shaft worked. There both great trans But install what will really make you happy. Good luck.

[mstennes]

The reason I wondering is I have a T56 out of a Viper I bought off a friend a while back but it would be nothing to sell it and go with a TKO, I have a set of 4.56s that were for another project and I just kinda thought 6 speeds, 4.56's that could be fun????? I dont care about how fast it will go, anything over 140 in a convertable (anything over a 100) gets kinda interesting. So its TKO 500/600 than? What is the optimum rear ratio with a 500 horse LS7 and a T56? How about a TKO?
Thanks!
Mike

[coolwelder62]

My car had 4:11s at 70 mph 2200rpm. I had 315/35/17 rear tire 26.5 inches tall.If you have a T56 use it. good luck.Scott

[SS454]

Is that a stock T56 that you are running at 2200 rpm's at 70 mph, cause your tire size,trans, and gears are the same as my 70 Chevelle's got, I'm just waiting on the T56 to get back from the shop. I was wondering what I would be turning at 70mph.

[71Nova]

If you already have a t-56 I would use it. I like them better anyway. Both great choices. I love my t-56 and instalation was easy.

[mstennes]

Actually it wasnt out of a Viper it had Viper internals added, I decided to go with the T56. Now I need to figure out 3.73's, 4.11 or something else? Its going to be hooked up to A LS7 (Gen 3). Going in a 69 Camaro.
Thanks,
Mike

[BThibodeaux]

The 5th gear ratio in the TKO 600 is .64, and the sixth gear ratio in the T56 is .62; so they are essentially the same. Therefore, mileage and drivability is not the issue on the highway. Both transmissions shift really nicely. Both are very strong. The T56 requires transmission tunnel modifications due to it's larger size. The TKO does not. I had a T56 in my first 69, and am going with the TKO in the one I am currently building. For me, 6 gears were a bit much. I also like the idea of not having to make the tunnel modifications.

Good luck,
BT

[Mkelcy]

Originally Posted by BThibodeaux

The 5th gear ratio in the TKO 600 is .64, and the sixth gear ratio in the T56 is .62; so they are essentially the same. . . . The T56 requires transmission tunnel modifications due to it's larger size. The TKO does not.

Viper sixth gear is 0.5:1, not .62, so there is about a 20% difference in top gear and a significant potential fuel economy advantage for the 6 speed. I did not have to modify the transmission tunnel on my '68 for the T56; maybe '69's are different.