I have a TKO600 from MDL w/carbon fiber syncros and their shifter in my 69. TKOs, in general, are just notchy when shifting especially at high RPM, they are not Toploaders where you can just bang gears and shift quickly.

after 2 years with their transmission, they are still notchy when shifting at high RPM but when driving casually, shifts are clean and smooth. Might just save up for the TKX as the new revised version from tremec fixes this issue.

also, I would recommend getting a short shifter from Hurst or MDL's Quick Shifter to help with the shifts.

 

TKO's are known to be poor shifters. Like rwcstang said, the new TKX is probably your answer.

Silver Sport Transmissions 1994-2004 SN95 / New Edge Mustang TREMEC TKX 5-Speed

Silver Sport Transmissions TREMEC TKX 5-Speed PerfectFit Conversion Kits for 1994-2004 Ford SN95 / New Edge Mustang

shiftsst.com

 

I couldn't shift into the next gear above 5K rpms with my TKO. It was very notchy / hard shifting. I sent my TKO to Liberties Gear, they added carbon fiber blocking rings, added bronze fork pads, changed the shift finger, modified the top cover, 5th shift rail and selector rail rear extension. $567 plus freight. All problems were solved. shifts like a dream up to 6200+.

 

Had one in a 2002 Mach 1, didn't really care for the shifting either. Great for a road course or something though...

 

Thanks fellas,ill look into liberty gears plus start saving my money for new one.

 

What fluid are you running in it?

 

I'm with RyanS: Might just be the gear lube, or, ah, many of these new-age trannys take an automatic trans like shifter lube.

 

Fluid in the 5/600 makes a huge difference. I had Royal purple in mine when I first got my car on the road. Shifted terribly, wouldn't go in to gear when driven in anger, was incredibly disappointed. Thought it might even be my clutch adjustment or something, but no bleeding or adjusting made any difference.

I swapped it out for pretty annoyingly expensive GM syncromesh (got mine from my local Chevy dealership, parked my fastback right in front, LOL) and after a bit of driving, it shifted like a T5. I've had it like that for a few years now, and I thrash the crap out of it in the canyons, never skips a beat.

 

As far as I can recall, Tremec has always spec'd GM Synchromesh for their transmissions. My 3550 is old and shifts like a dream.Yes, it is notchy, but not in a detrimental way. The other thing important thing to consider is a 2000k break in period. Just drive the car around and shift through traffic to let it loosen up and knock the shine off of everything. It is pretty common that beating on these right out of the box can lead to clunky shifting for the duration.

 

I use GM synchromesh in my TKO. Just my opinion..... The TKO's are aftermarket units, with no large OEM approvals for their use. Not to say some perform better than others, but the common theme is they have material and design flaws.

 

i have always used the GM synchromesh but i guess mine is one of the bad ones , i have put 4500 miles on it an still can't shift above 5500 rpm.

 

GM Syncromesh in my TKO.