Yes but that's a given, no matter what STD trans you convert to you will have to cut a hole for the stick. As you know with the TKO you have to cut the tunnel, with the RS600 you only have to cut a hole for the stifter. My convert is a factory stick car, I thought the hump was more to do with providing a surface to screw the boot down and clean things up abit around the shifter? The tunnel is still the same. Here is a 69 sport wagon with a TKO600, and if anyone is thinking about installing one of these hunt down a parts car and cut the top of the tunnel and weld it to the top of your tunnel. I also installed a hydraulic clutch, the clutch pedal only strokes 1 inch and is a blast to drive. I will attach a few pics.
I should recieve my RS600 kit, in a couple of weeks, i will take photos of the whole project and post them as i go. im going from bucket seat consol automatic, to buckets no consol.
Mine is the car in Post #33 with the extensive tunnel cutout and a TREMEC TKO600 in place. Ran into an issue with downshift 3-2 (not the 2-3 upshift), just wouldn't go.. double cluctch, various RPM. Called my dealer at Hurst Driveline Conversions in San Diego. Jim walked me through a couple in-car tests while on the phone, walked me through 'under the inspection plate' inspection, made contact with Rob at TREMEC who requested only a form be faxed to him to document the issue. He then got me in touch with the closest TREMEC Elite Dealer (Modern Driveline in Nampa, ID) and put the fix in motion. Although the 600 had to go to Boise it was no big deal since I have a pal who goes up there a lot (and it's February in N. Nevada). He dropped it off and after a few phone consultations, TREMEC parts arriving from the factory, and an agreement on the upgrades they'd do (labor free) - carbon fiber rings and shift rail improvements - as well as replacement of the broken parts, I got a call from Boise today that it's ready to ship or pickup. Cost to me was time/labor to remove trans, time on the phone, and install time (not a big deal) and only the cost of the upgraded parts.. total $250. I got excellent and PROMPT, personal service from stem to stern.. all the way from Hurst where I bought it, to the factory, and to the dealer performing the warranty work. So I had a problem with the 600.. I'll bet I won't again. But if I do, I know I'll be taken care of, and I'm glad I made this choice. Good luck with the T-45.. no really.. I hope you have good luck with them. P.S. The Hurst Driveline kit comes with hump. Get the shifter hump for '67 Chevelle and the Blackjack shifter. Get all your Buick parts from Dave Kleiner.
My tko 6oo was sent away for repair as well. (the one in post 41). Lasted a short time and was back to doing all kinds of weird stuff. Grinding from 4 to 3, nuteural to 3, 5 to 3, occassionally locking me out under hi load 2 3 shifts, once in a while it performs perfect. Frustrating. ---------- Post added at 01:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 PM ---------- My tko 6oo was sent away for repair as well. (the one in post 41). Lasted a short time and was back to doing all kinds of weird stuff. Grinding from 4 to 3, nuteural to 3, 5 to 3, occassionally locking me out under hi load 2 3 shifts, once in a while it performs perfect. Frustrating.
Hmm, I have ~45,000+ miles on my TKO-600 since 2008. It grumbles/grinds just a bit going into 4th if I'm not using the clutch pedal** but so far been trouble free. I do love rowing the gears behind a big block :3gears: **And this is likely a result of multiple not touching the clutch pedal and barely easing on the gas pedal at WOT shifts.
Pete, after I sent it away to AB for repair/update they claimed they spent over $1000 under warranty to fix it but that trans still had the 2-3 shift problem after we go it back. Many people think it is a shift rail problem that can't be fixed and I tend to agree. As long as you don't get to aggressive with it the trans seems not bad for the most part but what is the point of having that kind of power if you can't get after it! Noth'n cooler then rowing the gears at 6000 rpm in a very cool sleeper wagon.......
hey Chris how's it going. I couldn't quite remember if it buggered up right away or if it lasted for a while. memory was foggy back then. Might look at the rs600 especially if I can reuse everything else. someone on this thread said they may buy back the tko but what they give probably wouldn't cover shipping. Can't wait for winter to f off. Cheers ---------- Post added at 08:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:21 PM ---------- hey Chris how's it going. I couldn't quite remember if it buggered up right away or if it lasted for a while. memory was foggy back then. Might look at the rs600 especially if I can reuse everything else. someone on this thread said they may buy back the tko but what they give probably wouldn't cover shipping. Can't wait for winter to f off. Cheers
Anyone get the RS kit installed with no tunnel mods yet? This has been on my mind a lot lately...would love to exercise my left leg.
Yes no tunnel cutting. Check out my thread. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?248085-Kiesler-rs600-auto-to-manual-convertion
