Big block, Automatic OVERdrive and a way to do it cheaper...

[moparmarks]

Are you getting the TKO unit? I've installed 4 TKO units in E bodies which will pretty much be the same as your B body. The main thing is getting it in high enough for proper driveshaft angle. Had to notch or dent the crossmember and dent the floor in a few spots. Nothing major. Also there are couple big tabs on the tranny that you can cut down for clearance.
Which bellhousing are you using? Quick Time or American Powertrain? I used the older Kesler housing on two and the Quick Times on the other two. Quick Time says that you don't need to index their housing. I've also used their housings with the 833 twice and never indexed them. I've never used the American housing. Are your using hydraulic or mechanical clutch- throw out bearing setup? I've used both.
This TKO is based on the Ford unit so that might help with the speedometer setup.
The two things I don't care for about the TKO is they don't shift nearly as well as the 833. The other is that the Mopar shifter sits clear back on the tail housing and you have put the yoke hanging out about an 1" further than normal so it doesn't hit the shifter while in 1st, 3rd and 5th gears.
Other than that you'll probably really enjoy having it in your car.

 

[myk r sanchez]

You've read THIS thread, right?

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/lookie-what-5000-buys-you.178346/

No I haven't, but it looks like a great read. I'll get on it...

 

[moparmarks]

Hey Greg when you get it please post a picture of the shifter location. I'm thinking that 66-70B will be in a different location than for E body. They have several different shifter setups for the TKO.

 

[Kern Dog]

The man told me that the shifter will be in the stock location as a stock '70 B body. No floor hump though, the shifter comes straight up through the trans tunnel with no zig-zagging like with the side mounted 833 four speed.

 

[andyf]

Is your car a factory manual or auto? Just wondering if you need to change the pedals and buy the linkage or if you already have that. My Duster was a manual 3 speed with floor shifter so when I converted to a 727 I didn't have to change the column. Just changed the pedal box. Changing the steering column from column shift to floor shift can be a hassle so hopefully you don't have those complications.

 

[Kern Dog]

Mine was built as a 318-904-8.25 axle. Floor shifted with a console. The steering column will stay. I do have a tilt column from a Cordoba that I have considered. I do like them. I had a Camaro with one and they really are nice.
This Silver Sport kit comes with the pedals, a hydraulic clutch setup, a crossmember with the mount and a drive shaft cut to order.

 

[Neil69RR]

Are you getting the TKO or the new TKX?

 

[Kern Dog]

Mine was the last TKO they had in stock according to the man.
The newer version had features that are of no benefit to me. Slightly smaller doesn't matter since the TKO seems to fit fine. Carbon Fiber synchronizer s or some crazy thing for better shifts above 6000 rpms, a speed that I rarely see. 650 lb torque rating, a number that is higher than I am making. I didn't ask if the new transmission came at the same price. My bill came in about $6-700 under the quote I got in January 2019 so I'm guessing that with the "Black Friday" deal, they may have discounted the TKO a bit to clear out inventory. I'll know more next week.

 

[Kern Dog]

The bell housing is listed as a SST reproduction unit for the B/RB and Tremec transmission. I recall that way back, Kiesler had his name cast into the bell. WE will see how this one is.

 

[Neil69RR]

Had to cut quite a bit from the floor in my 69 roadrunner to fit the TKO and looks like the TKX would help that considerably.

 

[Kern Dog]

Had to cut quite a bit from the floor in my 69 roadrunner to fit the TKO and looks like the TKX would help that considerably.

The man said that these transmissions fit with ZERO cutting except for the hole for the shifter. There are modifications made to the transmission case to get the clearance.
Maybe the early versions by Kiesler required torsion bar crossmember modifications ?

 

[Kern Dog]

KD I’d recommend the mopar trans of your pick... they are very reliable and work well . I have buddy getting ready to put one in his dart... I’m going to put one in my 72Charger with a warmed over small block.. I have no worries and highly recommended it... I’m also staying with my 4.11 gears. Cope and A&A I’m sure will guide you in the right direction. Stay Mopar it’s much easier than you think.. As far as the gear vendor problems you have I’d have that shaft checked out and the OD unit then check the angles of the driveline IMO.

I am not making this swap just to have a manual transmission, I'm doing it for a few reasons.
The Tremec first gear is a 2.87. The 833 is what, 2.65?
Advantage, Tremec. Faster acceleration from a dead stop while using a bit less axle gearing.
The Tremec is a 5 speed with a .64 overdrive.
Advantage, Tremec. Freeway cruising at lower rpms means less noise, vibration, engine wear and fuel consumption.
The Tremec is aluminum, giving a nice weight reduction.
Advantage, Tremec.
Back to my first point though....
I am making the swap for a few reasons. One, I do enjoy driving a powerful car with a manual transmission. Two, I want to be able to drive the car more and I'm getting a little bored with the current combination. This ought to shake things up a bit. Three, I like the sound the car makes when going through the gears, the rev up and the down rev is intoxicating.
Four, the general street performance may improve due to the better gearing. It would most certainly be better on a road course. I would love to autocross the car and run it on a road course like Willow Springs and Thunderhill.
If I only cared about drag racing, the setup I have now would be better.
Thanks for chiming in though, we all have opinions worth considering.

 

[moparmarks]

Totally agree with all.
Are you putting it in the red car or the project car?

 

[Kern Dog]

THIS one...

.

 

[Kern Dog]

The 727 from the red car will be used in the project car along with the converter, cooler and lines, trans crossmember, drive shaft and Bouchillon KD linkage.
"Repurposing" all of those parts saves a LOT of cash!

 

[Neil69RR]

The man said that these transmissions fit with ZERO cutting except for the hole for the shifter. There are modifications made to the transmission case to get the clearance.
Maybe the early versions by Kiesler required torsion bar crossmember modifications ?

That is correct to an extent, I had to cut a larger opening in the tunnel to clear the edges of the transmission. All of these cars are different and mine had floor work done by the previous owner. Not saying it didn't fit, just had to cut more than they said and I hate sheet metal work.

 

[andyf]

Should be a cool project. Take pictures and keep us informed. I'm sure it will be a learning experience. Hopefully the end result will be worth the investment. I really like have a 5 speed in my Coronet but it hasn't been a painless journey. My Doug Nash doesn't shift very well and I don't know enough to solve the issue myself. I've talked to a few folks who say they know how to fix it but it is a lot of work to pull it out and ship it off to someone who I don't know.

 

[Kern Dog]

A lot of work? Come on...you are always out there doing stuff!

 

[moparmarks]

I've never seen a TKO just slide in. One thing that will help is before removing the existing tranny is to measure the distance between the floor and the center of the tail shaft. Or a straight edge across the rockers. Some point of reference. Then get the new one in that exact same spot. Then your driveshaft angle should be good.

 

[Kern Dog]

Here is a weird thing about that:
In 2012 I bought a used Gear Vendors overdrive unit. I read online about how most people needed to dimple the trans tunnel at the 11 and 1 positions to make clearance for the GV case. I measured the distance of the output shaft to the trans tunnel and the header collectors to the floor before removing anything. I have a hybrid trans crossmember in the car that I put in around 2010:

Stock is on the left, mine is on the right. I wanted a spool type mount so I modified the original one I had.
When I installed the GV and put the trans crossmember back in, the GV had all sorts of clearance around the case to the point where I then questioned if I had messed up with the spool conversion!
The new trans comes with a crossmember and mount so maybe it will correct any flaws I had in modifying the original crossmember. I will need to check the angles to see if they are within spec. I've never done that so I will probably need some advice there.