Tremec TKX 5-Speed Conversion

[Kern Dog]

That seems to be the case.

 

[CoronetDarter]

Here's the view of the shifter trim ring from the side. The hole for the TKX is smaller than the TKO but the shifter still extends above the tunnel.

 

[CoronetDarter]

The SST kit comes with a new trans crossmember and isolator mount. The crossmember is painted black; the crossmember in the TKO kits looked gold anodized. The TKX looks more OEM, but Greg's Charger has more bling underneath.
The H pipe rears its head again. The crossmember has a leading edge that contacts the top of the H pipe, not giving enough room for the exhaust to bolt up to the header collector. Not much you can do to plan for this. SST doesn't know each car's layout, and if the H pipe had been welded a couple inches back towards the mufflers there'd be no interference.
The leading edge not structural so I'll cut it back and repaint it black. Depending upon how room it gains, we may have to dent the H pipe a little.

Close up of the isolator

A cut across the flange without getting into the weld should give enough clearance.

 

[CoronetDarter]

As we were lining up the crossmember and isolator bolts we ran into another clearance issue. A boss on the left side of the tail housing, unused in a Mopar application, was hitting the tunnel.

It's a quick fix as Greg delicately cuts back the boss with his SawzAll.

There's two bosses directly in line with each other. One has to go.

 

[CoronetDarter]

This is what it's going to look like once installed.

Several pics of Greg's view as I was cutting out the tunnel.



This is a good view of how close the H pipe is to the crossmember

 

[Kern Dog]

With the flange cut back to the weld and the underside of the "ears" tapered to an angle, they might clear the H pipe.

If not, the H pipe can be dented 1/4" or so for clearance without affecting the performance at all.

One thing many of us already know.....
A well sorted automatic transmission car is hard to beat. You'd have to be Ronnie Sox to beat a 727 when driving a 4 speed . (or even a 5 speed)

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

Construction workers always use the one on the right.... Mechanics use the one on the left...

at my job where we have a Clean Room for medical device assembly, we also use the one on the right. I never realized there are two types.

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

Rich, I know that an additional cost could be a factor, but at this point with a few times that the H-pipe location has become an issue, do you have any appetite for avoiding further mods to accommodate the existing H-pipe location and just have an exhaust shop cut and weld to re-locate the H-pipe in a more user friendly location after all is said and done? That way you can also provide easier access for future repairs. You'd have a few extra welds, but they wouldn't need to replace everything back to the rear, only some of the middle section and it might be worth it.

 

[hunt2elk]

Construction workers always use the one on the right.... Mechanics use the one on the left...

I must be classified as a construction worker then. All mine are like the one on the right as they are by far the most popular in my neck of the woods. I don't think I have even ever seen one like shown on the left.

 

[CoronetDarter]

I must be classified as a construction worker then. All mine are like the one on the right as they are by far the most popular in my neck of the woods. I don't think I have even ever seen one like shown on the left.

Mine was the one on the left.
My friend who was helping with the bodywork back in 2012 used the left one so that's what I chose to be compatible.
He said that was the style most body shops used.

 

[CoronetDarter]

Rich, I know that an additional cost could be a factor, but at this point with a few times that the H-pipe location has become an issue, do you have any appetite for avoiding further mods to accommodate the existing H-pipe location and just have an exhaust shop cut and weld to re-locate the H-pipe in a more user friendly location after all is said and done? That way you can also provide easier access for future repairs. You'd have a few extra welds, but they wouldn't need to replace everything back to the rear, only some of the middle section and it might be worth it.

Greg and I discussed that a few times.
We came real close to cutting it when pulling out the 727.
By now we're so close to the finish line I'm leaving it.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

My solution, knowing I'll be doing a TKX someday soon..

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I must be classified as a construction worker then. All mine are like the one on the right as they are by far the most popular in my neck of the woods. I don't think I have even ever seen one like shown on the left.

Do you keep your tools in bags attached to your waist??? Maybe you need to try it out???

 

[hunt2elk]

Do you keep your tools in bags attached to your waist??? Maybe you need to try it out???

Not anymore. Used to do a lot of electrical work along with HVAC. Strictly HVAC now though for the past 26 years.

 

[coloradodave]

Rich and Greg, Glad to see that ingenuity and persistence got the bellhousing job done. I'm enjoying following your adventure. Thanks for taking the time to post it. It's a great roadmap for those thinking of following in your footsteps...

 

[Kern Dog]

Thank you.
I enjoy writing about the journey we take when making a change like this. So often, these projects are not a simple "plug and play". Most of the time, there are other changes that need to be made, stuff that gets moved, modified and altered to make it all work.
The threads I've made are always LONG winded with a lot of off topic or redundant detours. THIS thread so far isn't as scattered as mine are.
My own goal is to put out as much information as I encounter it with the goal of informing others of what obstacles lie ahead for them.
One of my biggest gripes is encountering huge obstacles that I was not aware of. Sure, most can be dealt with but it still sucks to think you will sail through and be done in a week, then every single task requires a special tool, a fabricated part, EPA approval or far more time than you expected.
Clearly, I am an optimist. I look at a project and horribly underestimate the time, money and complexity of it all. I always think I can knock it out in far less time than it usually takes. In the end, I also always seem to enjoy the journey and am thankful to have been able to come up with solutions for the problems. Sometimes the solutions come from members of this forum.

@1 Wild R/T has been popping into my threads for years to offer guidance. His suggestions have often steered me back on course.

I'd love to hear from someone that did this job in a week's time.
Seriously....The swap from an automatic to a 5 speed manual in a week. Does anyone know someone that has done it that fast?

 

[HawkRod]

I enjoy writing about the journey we take when making a change like this. So often, these projects are not a simple "plug and play". Most of the time, there are other changes that need to be made, stuff that gets moved, modified and altered to make it all work.
...
My own goal is to put out as much information as I encounter it with the goal of informing others of what obstacles lie ahead for them.
...

Greg,

I feel very much the same way. When I restored my 70 Road Runner, I wanted to document everything that happened - good and bad. I've since done threads where I rebuilt a 727 transmission, cleaned up and drove my 73 Road Runner across country, etc. In all those threads I tried to be "real". That is, report what actually happened. When I do dumb **** (which I do), own it, post it, and maybe someone else will learn from it too.

Similarly, in all my threads there have been great FBBO members who have helped me, pushed me, challenged me and motivated me. That is just as important.

This is a great thread guys - carry on (and I will try to provide helpful thoughts and/or advice when I can)!

Hawk

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I'd love to hear from someone that did this job in a week's time.
Seriously....The swap from an automatic to a 5 speed manual in a week. Does anyone know someone that has done it that fast?

For a shop it needs to be done a lot quicker than that... Try to bill a customer 40+ hours for a transmission swap/conversion....

And that time it's on your lift but you can't work on it cause there are parts problems? That's lost income cause the lift is supposed to make you money.... So you better find a way to keep moving....

The hope is everything goes according to plan... But guys who've done this for years try to have options/backups in place before starting the job...

 

[Kern Dog]

Since I’ve never worked in a repair shop, I can only guess that they’d need spare stalls so the mechanics can alternate between projects to maximize profits.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Since I’ve never worked in a repair shop, I can only guess that they’d need spare stalls so the mechanics can alternate between projects to maximize profits.

Nice thought but usually not the case.... And if there is a spare stall it probably won't have a lift... Or there would be another mechanic working in it...

I've pushed many cars outside to wait for parts....

And that often means finding a way to support the engine..