“No bells, no whistles. Just a hot rod.”—Chris Nolff
In this edition of Build-in-Progress, TREMEC is shining the spotlight on Chris Nolff of Michigan and his 1932 Ford highboy classic, outfitted with a TREMEC TKO 600 transmission. The vintage-style Blue Oval is not his first adventure in old iron, having owned other 1932s, as well as a 1937 and 1940. In fact, parked in the home shop next to this project is a 1966 Ford Mustang that he has been renovating simultaneously to be a Pro Street dragstrip car. Read More “Chris Nolff’s 1932 Ford Coupe Highboy Build in Progress”
The TREMEC engineering team has been hard at work on yet another groundbreaking transmission. The all-new TREMEC TKX is a 5-speed RWD manual transmission with a compact design, increased torque capacity and very smooth shiftability at high engine RPM, making it the ideal addition for resto-mod projects. Read More “New TREMEC TKX 5-Speed Manual Transmission”
Tim Casto barely made it to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the NMRA All-Ford World Finals and to patriciate in the 2020 TREMEC Stick Shift Shootout. He worked late the night before the event to swap ignitions just to get the car running. Then, during one of his test passes, Casto hit fluid near the top end of the track and spun the Electric Red 1993 Mustang LX in a wild 360. Using creative driving, he managed to miss both concrete walls. Read More “Tim Casto Wins His First Ever TREMEC Stick Shift Shootout”
Twice a year, Ford drivers lay it on the line in the ultra-competitive TREMEC Stick Shift Shootout. This special event is run in conjunction with NMRA and offers racers with a manual transmission a chance to compete for more than $2,000 in cash and prizes, including McLeod products. Read More “Drag Racing Action from the TREMEC Stick Shift Shootout”
Don Kingore had a lifelong dream of owning and cruising an early Corvette. In winter 2019, he began tearing apart and rebuilding this 1960 Corvette in his home garage. He chose a design theme that reminded him of 1960s when early used Corvettes were affordable sports cars that could be owned by young enthusiasts.
Don did just about all the work on the Corvette himself, except for occasional help from a close friend. He swapped in a TREMEC TKO 600 5-speed purchased through TREMEC Elite Distributor Silver Sport Transmissions, upgraded the suspension, redone the interior and replaced the original 283 with a built 383 fuel-injected small-block. The car now looks stock when you first approach, but upon closer inspection, reveals its modernized and more cruise-friendly state. Read More “Don Kingore’s TKO-Equipped 1960 Corvette”
It’s time to take a break from all the craziness that has been the year 2020 and join the TREMEC Stick Shift Shootout. This has become an annual part of the NMRA All-Ford World Finals in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and we’re happy to say that the shootout will go on as planned this year!
When you read about a stick-shift car setting a new record in drag racing, it’s never a surprise that the car has a TREMEC transmission. Alan Morgan recently put his name in the record books with his Magnum 6-speed–equipped 2000 Chevy Camaro, running a 5.42 e.t. at 130 mph in the 1/8-mile on nitrous. Read More “Fastest H-Pattern Stick-Shift LS-Powered Nitrous Car”
When building a vehicle, selecting a TREMEC 5- or 6-speed transmission gives you the opportunity to change the vehicle’s axle gear ratio in order to maximize the driving experience. The TREMEC Gear Ratio Calculator makes it easy to experiment with the affect that various ratios will have on the engine rpm at various speeds, letting you choose the ratio that will be best for the way you want to use your vehicle. Read More “How to Use the TREMEC Gear Ratio Calculator”
Our transmissions are manufactured to strict original-equipment vehicle manufacturing standards, and they do not require much maintenance. The popular Magnum, TKX and T-5 transmissions are often installed in high-performance or race vehicles that require somewhat regular inspection.
In this article, we’ll provide a rundown of what to check, as well as how to perform an oil change on a TREMEC transmission built for aftermarket use. If you have a transmission that came as factory equipment in a vehicle, we recommend that you follow the vehicle-manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule and procedures.
For all of this work, the car will need to be elevated to give you access. Secure the car safely using appropriate jack stands. It’s important to check that all transmission and bellhousing bolts are tight, including the transmission mount fasteners. If these work loose, transmission damage can occur. Look for signs of oil leaks. Specific areas to check are where the transmission bolts to the bellhousing which could indicate an input-shaft seal leak, where the sections of the case come together and the rear-output shaft seal. Any leaks should be remedied; replacement parts and service are available through TREMEC distributors. Also check the driveshaft U-bolt fasteners. If these become loose, it can cause a driveline vibration, and can eventually cause a leak at the rear output seal. We recommend that the fluid in a TREMEC Magnum, TKX or T-5 transmission should be changed after its initial 500 miles. The fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles after that. You can use a high-quality Dexron III fluid, or TREMEC HP-MTF™ manual transmission fluid. We developed HP-MTF to provide rugged protection while maintaining responsive shifting. It takes the guesswork out of which oil is correct for my TREMEC aftermarket transmission.To drain the transmission oil, locate the drain plug. There are two plugs on the side of the transmission. The lower one is the drain and the upper one is for filling. Use a 3/8-inch square drive in the plug to remove it. Capture the drained fluid and dispose of it properly.Once the transmission is completely drained, clean the threads on the plug and apply a mild thread-locking liquid. Insert the plug and tighten until snug – do not overtighten! Then remove the upper plug.For most vehicles, you will need to use a pump and hose to get the new fluid into the transmission. Fill the transmission until fluid comes out of the fill hole. Let the excess fluid escape. Apply mild thread locker to the cleaned fill plug and install it in the same way that you did the drain plug. Wipe excess fluid from the outside of the transmission.
The Chevrolet Vega has a very colorful history. It was designed to replace the Corvair as the brand’s economy car. During its seven years of production, two million Vegas were built. Drag racers liked the Vega because it was lightweight and a small-block V8 fit easily, giving it a great power-to-weight ratio. Read More “David Carroll’s 1973 Chevrolet Vega”
