*TKO Transmission Disclaimer*
The TKO transmission has been discontinued from Tremec. The TKX transmission has superseded this transmission. The basic swap steps are similar; however, the TKX will have slight differences that should be noted before swapping. Click to find out more about the TKX transmission.
Mustang TKO/TKX Swap Parts
Street Car Bellhousing
79-95 5.0L or 5.8L Engines: We recommend the Ford Performance Bellhousing - M-6392-R58
- Fits 79-93 with a 5.0L or 5.8L Windsor based motor and retains the factory clutch fork and pivot stud.
- Can be used on 94-95 Mustangs but may experience exhaust to clutch fork clearance issues. Clutch fork is positioned at 9 o'clock position unlike 7 o'clock position of 94-95 Mustang. Requires a 79-93 Clutch fork, but can reuse factory pivot stud.
79-04 Mustang with 4.6L, 5.4L, or 5.0L Coyote Engines: We recommend the Ford Performance Bellhousing - M-6392-M46
- This is the bell-housing to use if bolting a Tremec to your 1996-2004 4.6L or 5.4L equipped Mustang and retains the factory clutch fork and pivot stud.
- Also the bellhousing you need if you have a Fox Body with a mod Motor or Coyote Swap. You’ll need a 94-04 Clutch fork and pivot stud.
Street/Strip or Track Car Bellhousing
79-95 5.0L or 5.8L Engines: We recommend the Quick Time Bellhousing – RM-6065
- Fits 79-95 with a 5.0L or 5.8L Windsor based motor and retains the factory clutch fork and pivot stud.
- Can be used on 94-95 Mustangs but may experience exhaust to clutch fork clearance issues. Clutch fork is positioned at 9 o'clock position unlike 7 o'clock position of 94-95 Mustang. Requires a 79-93 Clutch fork, but can reuse factory pivot stud.
79-04 Mustang with 4.6L, 5.4L, or 5.0L Coyote Engines: We recommend the Quick Time Bellhousing – RM-6081
- This is the bell-housing to use if bolting a Tremec to your 1996-2004 4.6L or 5.4L equipped Mustang and retains the factory clutch fork and pivot stud.
- Also the bellhousing you need if you have a Fox Body with a mod Motor or Coyote Swap. You’ll need a 94-04 Clutch fork and pivot stud.
Crossmember
You will need a TKO/TKX specific crossmember for your applicable year model:
- 79-81 Mustang has narrower frame mounting points and requires a custom fabricated crossmember as there are currently no pre-made units available.
- 82-93 Mustang we recommend the heavy duty Stifflers Chassis adjustable crossmember, TCB-M09. You will also need the TCB-TKO spacer kit to obtain proper driveline angle.
- 94-98 Mustang GT and 94-95 Cobra, Stifflers Chassis adjustable crossmember, TCB-M03. You will also need the TCB-TKO spacer kit to obtain proper driveline angle.
- 96-98 Cobra does not require a crossmember as the bolt in mounts can simply be relocated on the frame rail to allow the use of the stock crossmember. If you desire a different crossmember, you can use TCB-M03, but the frame mounts will still need to be moved. You will also need the TCB-TKO spacer kit to obtain proper driveline angle if using the Stifflers piece.
- 99-04 Mustang, we recommend the heavy duty Stifflers Chassis adjustable crossmember, TCB-M20.
Clutch
There are many clutch choices available to accommodate whatever combination you may have. For TKX, TR3550, and TKO500 applications, you will need a 10-spline clutch disc. For the TKO (3550 series) and the TKO600, you will need a 26-spline clutch disc. You can select the best clutch for your needs below:
Driveshaft
The TR3550 transmission uses a 28-spline output shaft. TKO (3550 series), TKX, TKO500, and TKO600 Tremec transmissions use a 31-spline output shaft. Here is what you’ll need to connect the transmission to the rear end:
- 79-93 Mustang using a TR3550 can re-use your existing manual transmission driveshaft or use Ford Performance Aluminum Driveshaft M-4602-GA. If using a TKO (3550 series), TKO500 or TKO600 can re-use your existing manual transmission driveshaft by swapping out the yoke with M-4841-A or use Ford Performance Aluminum Driveshaft M-4602-J.
- 94-95 Mustang can follow the same driveshaft information for the 79-93, but you will also need a driveshaft spacer.
- 96-04 GT, 96-98 Cobra, and 03-04 Mach 1 using a TR3550 can re-use your existing manual transmission driveshaft by swapping out the yoke with M-4841-B or use Ford Performance Aluminum Driveshaft M-4602-GA. If using a TKO (3550 series), TKO500 or TKO600 can re-use your existing manual transmission driveshaft or use Ford Performance Aluminum Driveshaft M-4602-J.
- 99-04 Cobra will need a custom length driveshaft made for all Tremec applications.
Fluids
- For all TKX 5-speed models, TREMEC recommends TREMEC High Performance Manual Transmission Fluid (HP-MTF™), Dexron-III, GM Synchromesh™, Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF, or Pennzoil® Synchromesh. Fluid capacity is 2.7 quart / 2.6 liter
Tremec TKO500/600 Transmission Information
The TKO-500 and TKO-600 five-speeds are Tremec aftermarket units that have been Mustang enthusiast favorites for many years. They are a great addition to help with extra horsepower and torque. All Ford TKO500/600 transmissions are 31 inches in overall length and weigh 105 pounds. They are equipped with an internal three-rail shift system, cast-iron shift forks, and heavy-duty tapered roller bearings on the input, counter, and output shafts to reduce noise and improve the TKO's transmission performance. The single-piece countershaft and gears manufactured from 4615-grade steel allow the TKO series units to perform well under high RPM and torque applications.
Tremec TKOs have dual speedometer hook-ups, suitable for both cable-operated and sensor-operated speedometer systems, and a beefy 26-spline(TKO600) or 10-spline(TKO500) input shaft with a 31-spline output shaft ensures that the TKO-series transmissions can handle a wide range of torque and horsepower requirements.
Source: Tremec.com
