transmission options

[Tom Gahman]

                What manual trans missions are there that can handle drag strip duty in a 4000 lb.
Galaxie with slicks and 500 hp? My top loader is fine at the moment, but it may be the next weak link.
I don't need one at this moment but with summer shows and swap meets coming up, I'd like to have an idea of what to buy or stay away from, like something that appears in good shape but parts are no longer available for.
           Thanks,Tom.

[Joe-JDC]

T-56 6 speed, TKO-600, TKX, G-Force, Lenco, and of course Jerico.  Joe-JDC

[Tom Gahman]

           Thanks, I'll be shopping used and I would probably go for something that will bolt up to my bell.
A Jerico may be my best bet for price and fit,but was wondering about availability of parts for older models,
and since I don't know whats newer or older, that could be a problem if I bought something unserviceable.
Parts wise that is.

[cjshaker]

You want to avoid the DR4, which is the older Jerico that is no longer supported by them. There are quite a few parts out there for them, but you have to search and hope you get lucky. The DR4-4 is the newer design that they have, and supply parts for. And yes, it's really stupid of them not to support the older version. They basically gave a giant middle finger to anyone who bought their older design. NOT a good business practice.

[351crules]

You want to avoid the DR4, which is the older Jerico that is no longer supported by them. There are quite a few parts out there for them, but you have to search and hope you get lucky. The DR4-4 is the newer design that they have, and supply parts for. And yes, it's really stupid of them not to support the older version. They basically gave a giant middle finger to anyone who bought their older design. NOT a good business practice.

do they at least offer a discount for people who have bought a new dr4 transmission in the past? is the dr4-4 really that much better?

[Tunnelwedge]

You want to avoid the DR4, which is the older Jerico that is no longer supported by them. There are quite a few parts out there for them, but you have to search and hope you get lucky. The DR4-4 is the newer design that they have, and supply parts for. And yes, it's really stupid of them not to support the older version. They basically gave a giant middle finger to anyone who bought their older design. NOT a good business practice.

do they at least offer a discount for people who have bought a new dr4 transmission in the past? is the dr4-4 really that much better?

In my experience, yes the DR4-4 is a much better gear box.

My really old DR4



My homemade DR4-4

[Tom Gahman]

          Thanks Doug, with out asking I would have bought the DR4 not knowing better.
    Tunnel port,could you explain what "home made" means? A conversion of sorts?

[Tunnelwedge]

          Thanks Doug, with out asking I would have bought the DR4 not knowing better.
    Tunnel port,could you explain what "home made" means? A conversion of sorts?

Home made. I built it on my work bench. I used a Roush case and a stock Jerico 26 spline input shaft and 32 spline output shaft.
Used a mix of Jerico and Emco gears. Used star dogs and a few home made things for it.
Work great. Excellent shifts and you could down shift and street drive it.
If I was going to buy another gear box though, I would get a TKX.

[randomologist]

T-56 6 speed, TKO-600, TKX, G-Force, Lenco, and of course Jerico.  Joe-JDC

I'm running the TKO-600 in my '69 Mustang. I do not ever race it, and it's probably the only 427 which has ever been putt putt around town mostly, but I wanted a gear box that would hold up if I got on it.  I had Modern Driveline build mine with the carbon fiber shift rings and the transmission is still a little notchy at 6,000 rpm. I got my TKO-600 just before the release of the TKX and from everything I've researched, the TKX is far superior in every way except the shorter overdrive. Smoother, stronger, reverse syncros, and a more compact case.

I also understand the Galaxies actually have a pretty small tunnel which would make the TKX a better choice.

[Tom Gahman]

Thanks everyone,and the Galaxie tunnel is on the small side.

[475fetoploader]

Hightower 4 speed.

[TomP]

By the way, does anyone know what HP or Torque a Toploader can handle?

They ran them behind SOHC's in AFX cars.

My Cyclone has one with 625hp and 645 lbs/ft of torque in a 4000lb car, should I baby it?

[6667fan]

The guys who flogged ‘em back then must have “tuned” those boxes quite a bit to help them survive.
If your TL is stockish and you go to the track with some slicks you might find what that torque limit is.
What year Cyclone tips the scales at 4000 lbs, with driver?

[Katz427]

Weight is the killer, that and the traction compound, and tires used today. A toploader will hold 600 hp, it's  the launch with 4000lbs, that will kill it. Years ago a friend had a foxbody with a stout 302 , yates heads, that made about 720hp ( as I remember), weight was 3200 lbs with driver and it killed a couple toploaders. Made the move to a Jerico, and that solved the transmission problem.

[Rory428]

The guys who flogged ‘em back then must have “tuned” those boxes quite a bit to help them survive.
If your TL is stockish and you go to the track with some slicks you might find what that torque limit is.
What year Cyclone tips the scales at 4000 lbs, with driver?

Tom has a 70 Cyclone Spoiler, but even a stock 68-69 with a Fe will be there, or close to it. My 69 Fairlane Cobra fastback, with an stock iron headed and intake 428 and C6, was 4050, with me in it. That car had PS, PDB, and AC, with steel Magnum 500 , so a striper, or one with aluminum heads and intake would be lighter. But they are rather "chunky".