TKO 600

[Wendell / Lynn]

Anyone else have trouble shifting to third under power with their 600's? Brad added some high dollar slick stuff to his & said it helped but not a fix.
I did a google & seems that it is a common problem & about a 200.00 fix with a transmission co. doing the internals & it IS A FIX but a winter project for me Im gonna drive awhile!
Anyway just wanted to let builders know before install that it may be something to check on, not sure if it has been fixed or? mine is older, bought before car so a 05 model or so.

Wendell / Lynn
P.S. I tried a short throw shifter with no help also, tootling fine but not in R's.

[Reptyl]

Wendell,

The hard 2-3 shift under power is common on the Tremec transmissions. The stuff Brad used may be from Cobra Valley. They have an additive and a special oil and both work great! I was experiencing the hard 2-3 upshift on mine even after I had a trans specialist go through it and one of the HCC guys recommended the Cobra Valley stuff. I bought one bottle of the additive and it immediately improved the shift characteristics. Here is the link to the additive.

http://performanceunlimited.com/cobrava ... ments.html

If you decide to order a bottle, do yourself a favor and also get a bottle of their Exotic Metal polish. It's the BEST polish I've EVER used!

http://performanceunlimited.com/cobrava ... olish.html

RT

[Wendell / Lynn]

I'll try both Randy, it's embarrassing, sounds like you can't shift & speed shifting is not even a thought!
Brad said it keeps improving but has plenty of room! The add he used I think he said stunk & hard to remove from hands.
Wendell / Lynn

[Lawler]

I ordered one of each.

Kinton

[Reptyl]

Wendell,

It's probably the same stuff because I do remember it didn't smell too good! I also noticed a gradual improvement in the shift characteristics after using the additive. I figured the next time I have to change the tranny oil I will buy their Ultra Shift fluid.

One tip on the polish it to shake it well before each use. This stuff is AWESOME! It's the only thing I've found to take water spots off my wheels and it does a great job on the ceramic coated pipes too.

RT

[Lawler]

Shake it before you polish it.......Got it!

Kinton

[66Snaake]

Being the only guy here without a clutch, what transmission(s) are recommended that will actually shift efficiently? I had a Tremec on my Christmas list!

[Wendell / Lynn]

T 5 & Jodys T 56, being threating my wife that she was gonna come home & find her Viper on blocks with her transmission gone!

Wendell / Lynn

[boilerrat]

Yea I double dog dare you Wendell.

[Roush #1]

Wendell,
I know you are smart enough not to mess with the Viper - but in case of a weak moment I would highly recommend arranging sleeping quarters in your shop DON'T CHA THINK ?
J

[Lakeway Cobra]

I have a T5z that was built up to a "Heavy duty" setup by Rosehill Performance in Houston. Supposed to handle about 400HP in a 3,500 lb car. I understand they can be built up further to withstand more.

It is lighter than the TKO's and I hear it spools up faster than the TKO's too. It shifts like butter in all gears.

[Prof]

Page 80 in the August 2010 Popular Hot Rodding says:
"The TKOs are built tight and should not be put under heavy power during the first 500 miles. After this break-in period, the shifts will feel smoother. So as tempting as it may be, hold off the power."
The article talks about the trans break-in steps and mentions using an additive as stated in the above posts. "2.65 quarts of GM Synchnromesh". A take-away would be that if you hammer the drivetrain hard during the first 500 miles, you will likely experience prolonged hard shifts.
That's from what I read.
Paul

[Bwana Snake]

Hanlon Motorsports offers a a fitted compresopm ring that can be installed that will leaviate this problme. I also added a short throw shiter and it helped.

[Wendell / Lynn]

Pat, Learned my lesson on both single & double DARES in the early years!

Jody, I dont have running water in my shop & I sure would miss sleeping with her So NOT !

Prof, I did break mine in( I was doing for the motor & car really though) & got the milage covered & did use the GM Sync as ordered but it aint happening on my car & it has to spool down a touch before it thinks about it, also have the super shifter. Brad is on his second 600 & with that super stuff & he said he could tell it helped but not the hard shift to third. I saved a thread somewhere from the co. that worked on a guys that did work w/o a additive.

Wendell / Lynn

[66Snaake]

'Bwana,

short through shiter; now that's an option I haven't thought about! (Sorry, couldn't help myself!)

[Bwana Snake]

I should know not to trust spell check.

[Wendell / Lynn]

Randy, ordered 3 of each !

Wendell / Lynn

[Roush #1]

Hanlon Motorsports offers a a fitted compresopm ring that can be installed that will leaviate this problme. I also added a short throw shiter and it helped.

Gary,
Can you explain a little about this "short throw shiter". Do they make one for a T56?
J

[Skuzzy]

Jody, I hear it goes through the shift gates smoother and faster than shit through a goose!

[Lawler]

FYI, they no longer make the additive for the trannys. They have run out of it and probably wont make more since their ultrashift transmission fluid embodies the additive. According to cobra valley (I had a lengthy phone conversation) this product wil lmake your tko feel like the shifter is broken it will shift so easily. 27 bucks a bottle, so it isnt cheap. These trannys with the old fashioned square cut gears need all the help they can get. I will give it a go anyhow.

Also, the polish, according to cobra valley, when used in conjuction with 000 steel wool will make ceramic coated sidepipes shine like chrome. We'll see.

http://performanceunlimited.com/cobrava ... shift.html

Kinton

[Wendell / Lynn]

Kinton I bought both, too early to tell much but I think its smoother but havent gone for the hard shift 2nd to 3rd yet, gotta get aligned tomorrow before I ruin some front tires then I will venture out in these COOL Days for some break in time. The polish I dont about for sure either, everything is already polished!

Wendell / Lynn

P.S. it do think it went to reverse easier too

[427HISS]

I talked with one of the owners of Modern Driveline ,a Tremec dealer, yesterday. There are mods you can get to slow down the tranny between 2nd & 3rd gear.

For over 600 lb.ft. and higher rpm's.

Finger kit.
Carbon fiber rings.
Slow down ring.

I will trry to get details about these upgrades.

[Wendell / Lynn]

Talked to Rob at C&S Perf and he said the TKO600 2nd to 3rd shift was a concern a couple years ago but Tremac put a fix in that modified the rail which cured the problem. As far as the dual plane vs single plane Rob said it's the height of the single plane that is the issue in Cobras.

This is a post on C Cobra, not sure what is the fix ?

Wendell / Lynn