[chuckies76ta]

Hi: Have any of you folks installed the new TKX transmission in a mid 75,76,77 or second generation Firebird? Curious where you ended up with the shifter location with a console? Also, did you upgrade the shifter from the one Tremec supplies to an aftermarket one?


Thank you.

[Scarebird]

I did one in my 71 Lemans - not different than the TKO in my 79 TA. This is what the best solution is:





What I did was press out the pivot pin (the nylon balls will melt if you do not).



Then cut the shaft at the base and weld in an offset. Press the pin back in and mount.

I should still have the AutoCAD file for the offset piece.

[Formulajones]

They end up right in the console like a factory piece when you order the kit specific for that particular car. They have different shifter locations as well as different shifters that have a bunch of adjustability.

Yes I always uprgade the shifter. I prefer stop bolts is the big reason why, but also for more options. The White Lightening shifter that I like to use for instance, the stick can be moved around to dozens of different location options on it's pedestal to fine tune the location within a console. You can order it with the offset needed for a particular car and then also move the stick around to suit your preference.

[chuckies76ta]

Wow. Nice work. Thanks for taking the time to post and the pictures. much appreciated. Gives me more ideas..

[chuckies76ta]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

They end up right in the console like a factory piece when you order the kit specific for that particular car. They have different shifter locations as well as different shifters that have a bunch of adjustability.

Yes I always uprgade the shifter. I prefer stop bolts is the big reason why, but also for more options. The White Lightening shifter that I like use for instance, the stick can be moved around to dozens of different location options on it's pedestal to fine tune the location within a console. You can order it with the offset needed for a particular car and then also move the stick around to suit your preference.

Thanks for the info. I ordered the TKX with the stock Tremac shifter. I will be upgrading the shifter. I'm gonna see how it works out and will have to do my own mods. I sold my TKO tranny and guy is putting it in a 69 Buick. I will probably have to change the shifter rail back to stock as Silver Sport made the change for installing the TKO in my 76 Firebird. Pic is of the mod S/S did. I guess what Silver sport has done is called a dry shifter box.. I'm gonna leave it as such and install the Shifter lever socket so a stock shifter can be install in the forward position for the 69 buick.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by chuckies76ta

Thanks for the info. I ordered the TKX with the stock Tremac shifter. I will be upgrading the shifter. I'm gonna see how it works out and will have to do my own mods. I sold my TKO tranny and guy is putting it in a 69 Buick. I will probably have to change the shifter rail back to stock as Silver Sport made the change for installing the TKO in my 76 Firebird. Pic is of the mod S/S did.

They offer the shifters with the correct offset. For a 2nd gen bird it's a 2.75" offset shifter. Summit sells them if you don't want to go through the dealer.

Hang on let me look.........

Here's one example.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...bird/year/1973

[chuckies76ta]

Thanks, Ya I've seen that. I went with the one from MDL. I found my shifter from Silver sport was two far left. I'm gonna try this one as I have heard that the White Lighting one has or had leaking issues from the seal on the shifter.

https://www.moderndriveline.com/shop...y-rear-socket/

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by chuckies76ta

Thanks, Ya I've seen that. I went with the one from MDL. I found my shifter from Silver sport was two far left. I'm gonna try this one as I have heard that the White Lighting one has or had leaking issues from the seal on the shifter.

https://www.moderndriveline.com/shop...y-rear-socket/

Never had a White Lightening leak and I've used a half dozen of them, and have one in my daily driver as well, going on a few years and about 30,000 miles of use.

[chuckies76ta]

Thanks good to know. See how this one works if not that my next option. I appreciate the info. Do you have any input into the shifter location on a 69 Buick? I guess they are like a Chevelle.

[Formulajones]

Yeah the 68-72 A bodies are pretty straight forward. What dictates shifter offset is how the console is placed in the vehicle.

[Formulajones]

Sitting here thinking about it, I can't even fathom how a shifter would leak past a seal. Someone had something extremely wrong, lol.

When you see how these Tremecs are made, the shifter basically sits on top of a housing cast into the trans that is for the most part separate from the internal workings. It has shift rails that run through that housing with 0-ring seals. You can see what I'm talking about with the pics Scarebird provided.

Oil doesn't ever really enter that housing where the shifter sits from what I've seen. You would either have to overfill the trans by a large amount or flip the thing upside down LOL. The fill level of the trans is way below the shifter housing by a large margin.

In fact I just pulled one out of my sons car that he's been running for 2 years. He broke a 3-4 shift fork and decided he wanted a G-force setup so I swapped the trans last weekend. I removed the shifter he was using and put it on the new G-force. The housing the shifter sits on top of was bone dry. There is no oil up there. So how someone would have a leaky shifter has got to be rare as hens teeth

[chuckies76ta]

Thanks. Well from the pic of mine post # 5 you can see how it is a dry shifter sump. The mods from Silver sport is they cut the tail housing side to accommodate the shifter placement. There is also a pipe plug installed under the shifter rail, I believe is a drain if fluid gets in there. I've been told that the shifter box is a wet sump, that oil can get in there. Just what I was told. When I removed my shifter from the TKO I had maybe a half teaspoon of oil in there, maybe even less. I like you believe it is designed as a dry sump, which would make sense or that sump area would need to be fill with oil which makes no sense. Some oil does get in there as I've mentioned, probably through the seal or seals on the shifter shaft, but minimum. So I'm agreeing with you. Remember this is all new to me as I have never had to deal with this till now. Learning as I go. Thanks again.

[Formulajones]

When you get it all squared away you'll love it. Best mod for a classic car there is.

[grivera]

I just finished installing CF syncro rings in mine. The area in front of the shifter well where the 3 rails are has a small hole, about 1/4” at the front of the cavity. When I was reassembling mine there was residual trans fluid in the cavity- I can’t see how it would leak from the shifter gasket…

[Don 79 TA]

i know my response is gonna be way topic a little, but in 98 when i put the TKO in my 79 TA, i went with a hurst billet plus 95 mustang TKO shifter
stick, base fit perfect, and i LOVE it
i also have the large hurst ball on the handle (stick is metric), which took a little getting used to, compared to the ole Hurst setup i had on the M20
i didn't need to modify the shifter hole opening, as i had already done that with the hurst setup on the M20, that is when i converted from the auto to 4spd
i do use the larger hurst shifter boot

only part is... now... while i LOVE the steep first gear of the TKO, i do miss the ole h pattern 4spd shift feeling and rarely use 5th, just something about hearing it rev as we cruise, but my setup is strictly a weekend toy car, i'm in no rush at all when driving it, and live is a small area now
to me, there are pros/cons of doing this upgrade, and some personal preferences too....
this is one of those things, that as the price of gas goes up, becomes an investment that starts to pay for itself, especially the more you drive it
also, depending where you live, speeds on the roads have significantly increased, so helps to keep up with the flow if you get what i mean....

[chuckies76ta]

Thanks for posting Don. No issues here with any info provided. I use my o/d lots when out there. I think it it one of the best upgrades, as mentioned by Formulajones. In today's ever changing world I'm just glad I can go to the gas station and get gasoline. I remember growing up when I was told, the days of driving around for fun with the older cars is gone forever. I believe it was early 70's and gasoline went up and people were selling their older cars. I've just been grateful were still able to enjoy the hobby today. Oh, I've read good things about the Hurst shifter also. Thanks again.

[chuckies76ta]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Never had a White Lightening leak and I've used a half dozen of them, and have one in my daily driver as well, going on a few years and about 30,000 miles of use.

I think this problem was sometime ago like 2013.

https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=40430

[Formulabruce]

I believe that Silversport Transmissions now offers a Bolt in NO MOD Tkx For second gens. They build a correct location shift adapter right on the transmission. Use Original looking shift handle too.
Just set up one of their 5 speeds and test fitting showed it has clearance. And shifter location is perfect.
These are modified Tremecs with warranty and drive shaft.

[R 70 Judge]

Originally Posted by chuckies76ta

Thanks for the info. I ordered the TKX with the stock Tremac shifter. I will be upgrading the shifter. I'm gonna see how it works out and will have to do my own mods. I sold my TKO tranny and guy is putting it in a 69 Buick. I will probably have to change the shifter rail back to stock as Silver Sport made the change for installing the TKO in my 76 Firebird. Pic is of the mod S/S did. I guess what Silver sport has done is called a dry shifter box.. I'm gonna leave it as such and install the Shifter lever socket so a stock shifter can be install in the forward position for the 69 buick.

Did you get the standard TKX or did you do the upgrade with cryogenic treatment and polishing? Silver Sport told me it is good to 985 lb/ft with the upgrade. Converting to a manual is probably going to be my next upgrade, even before turbos. I'm still deciding between the TKX and the Magnum.

[grivera]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

I believe that Silversport Transmissions now offers a Bolt in NO MOD Tkx For second gens. They build a correct location shift adapter right on the transmission. Use Original looking shift handle too.
Just set up one of their 5 speeds and test fitting showed it has clearance. And shifter location is perfect.
These are modified Tremecs with warranty and drive shaft.

That’s awesome