TKX vs T56

[cli55er]

I struggled with which way to go, too. I liked the lower cost and smaller size of the TKX, and I found people beating the snot out of them without issues (outside of the one above). But the OD ratios always ended up on the shorter side to me, more so since I was planning a G3 swap with EFI and knew those could cruise at 65 mph at 1500 rpm with ease.

In the end I went with a T56 Magnum from SST. I was pretty sure I was going to regret a TKX, not because it is a bad choice but because I would always wonder if a T56 would have been better. So I just bought the one I knew I wanted.

Yeah I would be the outlier…. Or those people didn’t have near as much HP/trq. I cruise at 70mph at 2200rpm. 3.73 rear.

 

[1WildRT]

FWIW My combo is a 70 340, 10.2 C/R 230@ .050 Edelbrock heads... Probably 325ish HP flat torque curve from 1700-5000, spins happily to 6500...
3.55 gear, 3.27 1st .68 5th.... 28" tire.... 2000rpm in 5th = 70 MPH...

 

[Max65]

Care to shed some light on why someone would choose 1 over the other?

Is one more comfortable to drive? Or more fun to drive?

If you start explaining gear ratio numbers I will not know or understand anything you’re saying so say it is stupid people terms like you have to shift out of first fast, your car loses power when shifting into last gear.

Photo for fun… 70 degrees and sunny in SW Missouri for Christmas.

View attachment 1716492248

View attachment 1716492249

 

[Max65]

I have a Chevrolet T56 in my 65 Barracuda. I put in a T5 before that and it had a factory A833 4 speed originally. 5th gear is fun from 60mph to 90mph and 6th gear is fun after that. 80mph is about 2000 rpm in 6th gear. The T5 shifts REALLY smooth, the T56 is a little more notchy but not much. Motor is 475 lb ft torque so I went to T56, that extra gear is great and easily keeps up with modern cars at hwy speeds and helps a lot with fuel mpg

 

[Max65]

Pics of my install; I tried to keep the original 4-speed tunnel shape so the replacement carpet (pre-cut) fit properly.

 

[Max65]

More pics

 

[DionR]

Yeah I would be the outlier…. Or those people didn’t have near as much HP/trq. I cruise at 70mph at 2200rpm. 3.73 rear.

To be clear, I’m not knocking anyone for picking the TKX. I was only speaking about myself and how I think I would have second guessed myself. I don’t think a TKX is a bad or wrong choice.

 

[cli55er]

To be clear, I’m not knocking anyone for picking the TKX. I was only speaking about myself and how I think I would have second guessed myself. I don’t think a TKX is a bad or wrong choice.

I didn’t take it any kinda way…. But it might be pretty damn true that it only handles close to 600hp/trq. I made it too the 500 mile break in mark… was about to change the fluid that coming weekend… and it said nope… not today son… and left the chat on me. Now I’m excited to take it back out… it’s my favorite. Meanwhile… people over there bang shifting the damn thing to 7500rpm and it’s advertised as such… It’s just my luck. Maybe I just got a dud… idk… the first 100 miles was the clutch breaking in and then the next 400 was amazing. Hopefully it gets fixed and won’t happen again making me wish I had the beefier version that handles more power or something idk….I’ve seen tons of YouTube videos of people abusing them with no issues.

 

[DentalDart]

These crossmember instructions suck lol.

Milwaukee hacksaw for the win with taking all of this off, a plasma cutter would make the 30-35 minute job about a 10 minute job… it would also look a heck of a lot more clean.

I also have not a clue what I’m doing so….

 

[DentalDart]

I think it goes like this.

Pretty sure the top bolt holes on the cross member brace go to the stock holes on the cross member then the transmission brace underneath and attaches to that.