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FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: wcbrowning on October 12, 2017, 11:01:05 PM

Title: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: wcbrowning on October 12, 2017, 11:01:05 PM
Anyone know if a Magnum T56 or a TKO can be fitted to an FE 1964 Galaxie, without having to cut up the transmission tunnel?  Thanks.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: blykins on October 13, 2017, 06:46:32 AM
I know that the TKO will fit unless it's a bench seat car and then extensive modifications will have to be made. 

The T-56 is much larger in girth, length, and weight, and is much more expensive.  I was talking to Jay about this the other day, I've never been a T-56 fan and have had a bad taste in my mouth about them since the Magnums came out.    Since the 600 is available with two different overdrive ratios, you can really make a 600 work when you look at the whole drivetrain picture.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: mbrunson427 on October 13, 2017, 04:14:42 PM
I know that the TKO will fit unless it's a bench seat car and then extensive modifications will have to be made. 

The T-56 is much larger in girth, length, and weight, and is much more expensive.  I was talking to Jay about this the other day, I've never been a T-56 fan and have had a bad taste in my mouth about them since the Magnums came out.    Since the 600 is available with two different overdrive ratios, you can really make a 600 work when you look at the whole drivetrain picture.

Can you elaborate?? I'm eyeing a TKO600 for my 62, 390 bench seat 4 speed. I was kind of thinking that I may just have to whack the tunnel a few times with a BFH to make some clearance. Is there more than meets the eye?

Floor pan is slightly different in a 64 isn't it?
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: blykins on October 13, 2017, 04:35:11 PM
Had a customer with a bench seat Gal a few years back.  He had to fabricate a raised tunnel to get it to clear.   
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: mbrunson427 on October 13, 2017, 04:39:30 PM
That grinds my gears. I've been told by multiple people that Gear Vendors solution to the long tailshaft toploaders is less than optimal, so I had switched my mind to a TKO600.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: blykins on October 13, 2017, 04:46:10 PM
I am not a Galaxie expert by any means, so I don't know if there are any discrepancies between the tunnel and floor pan between model years.   You may want to ask around, the experience of the customer I was referring to may not be the same for everyone.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: drdano on October 13, 2017, 04:53:14 PM
I have a TKO600 in my '62, which has a similar floor setup to a '64.  I did have to raise the tunnel front to back since the car sits 3" below stock now.  I've heard of guys pitching the arse end of the trans way down to clear the floor, but I'd not do that on my own car.  With the quicktime bell housing it does clear for the most part a BFH may clear them, but get towards the back of the trans you'll get interference with the rear shifter location.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: chilly460 on October 15, 2017, 06:44:41 AM
I have a somewhat detailed write up of doing the swap if you search my username, unfortunately w Photobucket took a dump the pics won't show up.  As stated the bell and front of the trans fit in the tunnel, but the top rear portion of the trans doesn't fit.  I raised the rear up around 2.5".  You can get them to fit by dropping the tailhousing down but then the engine angle, throttle linkage, and clutch linkage will all be a bit off.  This was on a '63 Mercury btw, I also don't know what differences there are in floorpan year to year
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: fe-starliner on October 15, 2017, 10:33:47 AM
I have a TKO600 in my '60 Starliner.  I was able to get it to fit using a big hammer in spots and also shaving down two or three bolt heads on top of the TKO, still leaving enough material to remove them if necessary.  I have a bench seat in my Starliner and the shifter comes up through the floor in the perfect spot.....and I'm only 5' 9"  and keep the seat pulled forward quite a bit.  I like to be on top of the steering wheel.  The Hurst shifter stick doesn't hit the seat with the seat all the way forward. It's been 10 years since I did the install, but I remember having to move the shifter to a forward position on the transmission, which you probably know is possible with several different mounting positions.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: wcbrowning on October 15, 2017, 05:13:29 PM
For all who replied, thanks for the input.  I have read some threads on conversions to earlier and later cars, but I too am not an expert on how similar or dissimilar the earlier and later floor pans and transmission tunnels are to the 1964.  That's why I was hoping someone who did work on a 1964 would be able to comment.

Brent, why do you dislike the Magnum T56?  I'm assuming you like the TKO:  Can it be built as strong?  Was your customer's Galaxie a 1964?  Since the TKO is smaller than the Magnum T56, I'm sure it would make the job easier.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: blykins on October 15, 2017, 06:18:23 PM
I have several reasons for disliking the Magnum T-56....

*They are longer, bigger around, and heavier than the TKO 600.  The overall length of the TKO 600 is 31".  The Magnum T-56 is 33.5".  The TKO 600 weighs 105 lbs.  The Magnum T-56 weighs 135. 
*I normally don't list prices here, but Tremec holds everyone to a minimum advertised pricing agreement, so pricing should be the same no matter where you look.  The price on the TKO 600 is $2450.  The price on the Magnum T-56 is $3050. 
*The TKO 600 is rated for 600 lb-ft of continuous torque.  The Magnum T-56 is rated for 700.   I have guys who routinely put more through the TKO 600 than that, by almost 50 lb-ft more.  In addition, the TKO can be upgraded by cryogenically treating the gears and shafts along with REM polishing of the components.  This combination increases the capacity of the TKO by 15% and still makes the TKO cheaper than the T-56.   
*A TKO 600 can easily be used with a mechanical linkage.  The Magnum T-56 can be used with a mechanical linkage as well, but the midplate of the transmission has to be removed and machined for clearance and for the addition of a ball pivot.  This means the transmission can only be used with passenger-side pivoting forks, which means that the fork must move towards the front of the vehicle in order to engage the clutch.   The T-56 is meant to be used with a hydraulic throw out bearing in stock form.   Unless there has been some new R&D done in the past year or so, these two ways are the only ways that I know of for clutch actuation with a '56.   What's bad here is that if you have an engine that needs the torque capacity of a T-56, then you also will need a twin disc clutch if you want it to be a pleasure to drive.  A thicker pressure plate/disc combo exacerbates the clearance issues and necessary modifications.
*Everyone touts the addition of the 6th gear (more is better, right?) of the T-56, but with the careful study of the engine's camshaft, the rearend gear, the tire size, and the available overdrive ratios, you can about put yourself in the same spot with a TKO 600. 
*The TKO 600 can be used with a Toploader bellhousing by shortening the input shaft.   You really have no hope whatsoever of sticking a T-56 up in the same spot as a Toploader.
*When the Magnum T-56 first came out, they had output shaft seal problems, which meant that we had to send out warranty replacements.   Now, to be fair, this isn't an issue now, but just added to the "cons" when these transmissions were new.
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: My427stang on October 16, 2017, 06:19:46 AM
Let me jump in as one one the longest TKO-600 users and a person that has installed a few

If you go with the correct length input shaft, match the clutch disk, and use a 390 clutch fork, the tranny is a bolt in with factory linkage.  Even uses the same length driveshaft and the same speedo cable.

However, as others have said, the top of the TKO has a few covers and braces that keep you from jacking all the way up.  However, they are minor, some body styles need a couple swings of the hammer, others need a little trimming.

In any case, the gear spread of the TKO-600 works well, I like the .64 OD with a 4.11, others like less gear with a .82, however, I have never seen one that needs more gears, so to me, the ease of the TKO combined with the cost savings is a no-brainer.

FYI - I have installed 5 total, and mine has been in my Mustang since late 2006, never missed a beat
Title: Re: Will a Magnum T56 or TKO fit a 1964 Galaxie
Post by: Katz427 on October 16, 2017, 03:34:05 PM
I agree with Chilly, you have to cut out the floor around the back half of the 600. On the 60-64 galaxie you will want the room to get the angle correct. Later galaxies like 66 and up seem to have a little more room in the tunnel, and that may be because the C6 was a larger transmission. Just based on my fitting one in a 61 Ford.