what exactly have you heard? i am in the process of installing one now, i have only heard good thing about it. i am so psyched to try it out. i have the stock tremec 6 speed in my trans-am and absolutly LOVE it, the shifts are so crisp and tight, infact it is the main reason i wanted to put one in my skylark.
I put one in my 72 with very, very little mod to the floor other than the shifter hump. I used the Keisler kit and it was a piece of cake to install and what a blast to drive! Go for it!!
The only bad thing I've ever heard was a rare shifting problem at high rpm if you don't follow the break-in procedure correctly. Then again, you can cause anything to fail if you don't beak it in right.
Some TKO 600's had problems shifting under hard acceleration. I think the production numbers of the problem transmissions are known so do a little digging before buying. I have a 4 speed in a Skylark and I rarely use more than 2 or 3 gears. Some people on here like having 6 gears but it seems to me it would get annoying shifting all the time with a Buick engine that typically has a narrow rpm band.
I've done a half dozen or so TKO600 installs, including one in a 710hp Procharged Mopar. No issues to date. Used the Keisler Engineering kit on the Mopar and Classic Motorsports kits for a few Chevys including one Corvette. Both the Keisler kit and the CM kits were vey good... very complete, detailed instructions, and great tech support from both companies if needed. One of the key factors in a good installation, and prevention of the shifting issue that some others mentioned, is to carefully follow the instructions for checking the bellhousing to crankshaft centerline runout. This isn't an easy task if the installation is being performed with the engine still in the car. It is, however, very necessary to check and correct any runout by means of offset dowel pins.
Most of the 5 and 6spd trans are over drives remember. I have a 6spd behind a v8 (not a buick) but i dont drive over 5000rpm, and the first 4 gears are just like the muncie. I only use 5 or 6 if im commuting on the highway, to save some gas. So youre not goin thru 6 gears from stop light to stop light..... A muncie would be JUST as annoying.
Google (tko 600 shifting problems) it is a well known problem,2-3 up shift. Its just like hitting a wall. Fun on the street but you won't be banging through the gears at the track. Chris
This is going in my 2007 Hemi Ram so there is plenty of room for it. It is similar to a Muncie with the 1-4 and then it has a .64 OD 5th. I thought about a T56 6 speed but they're a little bit more money and I don't need 2 over drives. I just want decent gearing till about 120 and then a good OD for cruising. The TKO600 is perfect. Unfortunately there is no kit for the Rams so I will be the first to put all the parts together and see if it will work. Since you can't get a hemi ram in a stick all the parts are aftermarket. I've been talking to a few companies but Bruce from Modern Driveline has got most of it figured out and the parts he is putting together for me should work. The things are heard were that they are hard to shift or that you can't shift them fast and they feel like a truck transmission. The main reason I want to get rid of the stock auto is because of the gearing. 3:1 1.67:1 1:1 .74:1 .67:1 My truck doesn't really start to move until about 3500 so those long ass gears aren't helping me any. Who came up with that crap? I barely hit 3rd in the 1/4 and you can't stay in 4th for more than .5 seconds because it automatically shifts to 5th. I can do 50 in first and 90 in second. It's stupid. And on curvy hilly roads it's something like this 3rd 4th TC lock 5th 3rd tc unlock tc lock 4th 5th 3rd unlock 4th 5th lock over and over again. I can't handle it. The swap will be worth every penny
