In the middle of rebuilding the Tremec 3550...
eric1h
01-24-2012, 12:34 PM
Among other things... But i have to say these things are REALLY simple to work on!!
Complete tear down in less than an hour, replaced every gear except Reverse and 5th, all syncros, new blocker rings, seals for @ $800
total time... about 3 hours and a 12 pack of beer. Will post some pictures later.
Complete tear down in less than an hour, replaced every gear except Reverse and 5th, all syncros, new blocker rings, seals for @ $800
total time... about 3 hours and a 12 pack of beer. Will post some pictures later.
panozracing
01-24-2012, 01:03 PM
Did you buy a book for the specs?
Did you use the carbon fiber synchros? Did you use brass shifter forks? There are all kinds of tricks the shops use to make these things better.
Also, you can use the main shaft from a TKO500 inside the 3550 case etc. and get a much stronger tranny.
I think I paid about 11-1200 for a complete rebuild. They charge about $350 for the labor and the rest is parts.
We wont know much till you have some time on this thing :-)
Did you use the carbon fiber synchros? Did you use brass shifter forks? There are all kinds of tricks the shops use to make these things better.
Also, you can use the main shaft from a TKO500 inside the 3550 case etc. and get a much stronger tranny.
I think I paid about 11-1200 for a complete rebuild. They charge about $350 for the labor and the rest is parts.
We wont know much till you have some time on this thing :-)
eric1h
01-24-2012, 01:44 PM
Did you buy a book for the specs?
Did you use the carbon fiber synchros? Did you use brass shifter forks? There are all kinds of tricks the shops use to make these things better.
Also, you can use the main shaft from a TKO500 inside the 3550 case etc. and get a much stronger tranny.
I think I paid about 11-1200 for a complete rebuild. They charge about $350 for the labor and the rest is parts.
We wont know much till you have some time on this thing :-)
I didn't use the CF blocker rings, they shift smoother but wear faster, did use the brass shifter fork pads, and already has a TKO500 31 spline output shaft. I was told that the 3550's already have the TKO500 main shaft and it was only the output shaft that was different.
when you say "complete rebuild" is that a REBUILD, or a rebuild and upgrade the above mentioned parts? mine would have been closer to $200 if I didn't replace all the gears, but they showed some wear so i opted to just replace everything now vs having to do it again later. So I have essentially a NEW transmission, other than main shaft, housing and 5th/reverse which all looked practically new. Besides, I like to DIY when possible. I also have the service manual and rebuild specs so that helps making sure its all within spec.
Did you use the carbon fiber synchros? Did you use brass shifter forks? There are all kinds of tricks the shops use to make these things better.
Also, you can use the main shaft from a TKO500 inside the 3550 case etc. and get a much stronger tranny.
I think I paid about 11-1200 for a complete rebuild. They charge about $350 for the labor and the rest is parts.
We wont know much till you have some time on this thing :-)
I didn't use the CF blocker rings, they shift smoother but wear faster, did use the brass shifter fork pads, and already has a TKO500 31 spline output shaft. I was told that the 3550's already have the TKO500 main shaft and it was only the output shaft that was different.
when you say "complete rebuild" is that a REBUILD, or a rebuild and upgrade the above mentioned parts? mine would have been closer to $200 if I didn't replace all the gears, but they showed some wear so i opted to just replace everything now vs having to do it again later. So I have essentially a NEW transmission, other than main shaft, housing and 5th/reverse which all looked practically new. Besides, I like to DIY when possible. I also have the service manual and rebuild specs so that helps making sure its all within spec.
panozracing
01-24-2012, 04:49 PM
Well, since I have had tranny issues and had to have 3 units (I am collected trannys as a hobby hehe) serviced several times with varying broken pieces Its all fresh in my memory.
The 3550 that I totally destroyed all internal parts is $1100 to replace all internals and labor using all TKO500 parts and normal synchros. The CF synchros are more money for the parts. I always use all the upgraded suggestions the tranny shop has. When its just a refresh it depends on the amount of synchros (usually just 3rd and 4th) and that bill is about 4-500. Again they charge about $350 to disassemble and re-assemble regardless on the parts being replaced.
I am about to bail on using the TKO's altogether. If another one breaks premature I am getting the cutting wheel out and making room for a T56 or something.
The 3550 that I totally destroyed all internal parts is $1100 to replace all internals and labor using all TKO500 parts and normal synchros. The CF synchros are more money for the parts. I always use all the upgraded suggestions the tranny shop has. When its just a refresh it depends on the amount of synchros (usually just 3rd and 4th) and that bill is about 4-500. Again they charge about $350 to disassemble and re-assemble regardless on the parts being replaced.
I am about to bail on using the TKO's altogether. If another one breaks premature I am getting the cutting wheel out and making room for a T56 or something.
eric1h
01-24-2012, 08:14 PM
Good and interesting info!
boothkc
01-24-2012, 11:04 PM
The TKO 3550 is a bit of a piece of junk and not really suitable for racing, except perhaps in low HP applications.... sorry. Not really worth rebuilding or installing.
I would suggest the TKO 500 or 600 as much more reliable units. The folks at Liberty Gear really know their stuff and we have had 3 of their new units (2 cars). I also had them rebuilt my original GTS TKO1 which is in the GTRA car after the 3550 grenaded and broke the input shaft (250hp).
http://www.libertysgears.com/
I ran their "full tilt" face plated unit for a bit and it is amazing like a dog box, but very hard on the drive train. Broke the old rear end first day and several U joints etc. Instant no clutch shifts, but decided it was too much for the car.
Went back to a new 600 from them and greasy smooth fast conventional shifts. New units from them are about $2500 depending on options and I think they OH'd the old unit for about $800.
There are not many really great "stand up" shops around, but Liberty is one. Worth supporting.
Kevin
GTS, GTRA
Porsche Cup 997
I would suggest the TKO 500 or 600 as much more reliable units. The folks at Liberty Gear really know their stuff and we have had 3 of their new units (2 cars). I also had them rebuilt my original GTS TKO1 which is in the GTRA car after the 3550 grenaded and broke the input shaft (250hp).
http://www.libertysgears.com/
I ran their "full tilt" face plated unit for a bit and it is amazing like a dog box, but very hard on the drive train. Broke the old rear end first day and several U joints etc. Instant no clutch shifts, but decided it was too much for the car.
Went back to a new 600 from them and greasy smooth fast conventional shifts. New units from them are about $2500 depending on options and I think they OH'd the old unit for about $800.
There are not many really great "stand up" shops around, but Liberty is one. Worth supporting.
Kevin
GTS, GTRA
Porsche Cup 997
eric1h
01-25-2012, 08:02 AM
I've had my car 3.5 years and still on the original transmission, without much issue. Only reason I opted to rebuild was 3-4 shifts were starting to get "sticky". Granted I am not putting down HUGE HP numbers only @ 380-400ish, but the internals on my tranny looked good for years of racing and tracking, although I make it a point to make easy shifts. I'll give up a few tenths in a race and opt to finish vs hard shift and break the car.
So for me, the 3550 with the upgraded 26 spline input shaft has worked wonders! I suppose time will tell!
So for me, the 3550 with the upgraded 26 spline input shaft has worked wonders! I suppose time will tell!
NZGTRA17
05-17-2012, 01:19 AM
The TKO 3550 is a bit of a piece of junk and not really suitable for racing, except perhaps in low HP applications.... sorry. Not really worth rebuilding or installing.
I would suggest the TKO 500 or 600 as much more reliable units. The folks at Liberty Gear really know their stuff and we have had 3 of their new units (2 cars). I also had them rebuilt my original GTS TKO1 which is in the GTRA car after the 3550 grenaded and broke the input shaft (250hp).
http://www.libertysgears.com/
I ran their "full tilt" face plated unit for a bit and it is amazing like a dog box, but very hard on the drive train. Broke the old rear end first day and several U joints etc. Instant no clutch shifts, but decided it was too much for the car.
Went back to a new 600 from them and greasy smooth fast conventional shifts. New units from them are about $2500 depending on options and I think they OH'd the old unit for about $800.
There are not many really great "stand up" shops around, but Liberty is one. Worth supporting.
Kevin
GTS, GTRA
Porsche Cup 997
Kevin/Brian, we finally found the limit for the 3550 in my car in the weekend (sounds and looks like input gear set has sheared off a few teeth). Will post some video soon of its rather noisy demise. Certainly cleared pit lane as it came in as sounded like a cross between a rock crusher and a grenade launcher!! I am in process of fitting a new TKO600 with usual race prep mods.
What approx life in hours have you generally experienced with a prepped TKO600? Want to track this so we dont get caught out again on the edge of the boxes fatigue life.
The good news is that we were running in 4th catching 3rd and running in front of the 2 x 996GT3's and the 1 x 996 turbo that were running in the race.
Couldnt match the pace of the race prepped Ferrari 430 Challenge or the NASCAR engined Falcon that were running. Just had to much straight line boogy for us and were 1 - 1.5 secs a lap faster in the race. Nothing that another 100hp wouldnt fix...........
Got the box out today. Took half the teeth off 3rd gear and 3rd on the layshaft.
Kel.
I would suggest the TKO 500 or 600 as much more reliable units. The folks at Liberty Gear really know their stuff and we have had 3 of their new units (2 cars). I also had them rebuilt my original GTS TKO1 which is in the GTRA car after the 3550 grenaded and broke the input shaft (250hp).
http://www.libertysgears.com/
I ran their "full tilt" face plated unit for a bit and it is amazing like a dog box, but very hard on the drive train. Broke the old rear end first day and several U joints etc. Instant no clutch shifts, but decided it was too much for the car.
Went back to a new 600 from them and greasy smooth fast conventional shifts. New units from them are about $2500 depending on options and I think they OH'd the old unit for about $800.
There are not many really great "stand up" shops around, but Liberty is one. Worth supporting.
Kevin
GTS, GTRA
Porsche Cup 997
Kevin/Brian, we finally found the limit for the 3550 in my car in the weekend (sounds and looks like input gear set has sheared off a few teeth). Will post some video soon of its rather noisy demise. Certainly cleared pit lane as it came in as sounded like a cross between a rock crusher and a grenade launcher!! I am in process of fitting a new TKO600 with usual race prep mods.
What approx life in hours have you generally experienced with a prepped TKO600? Want to track this so we dont get caught out again on the edge of the boxes fatigue life.
The good news is that we were running in 4th catching 3rd and running in front of the 2 x 996GT3's and the 1 x 996 turbo that were running in the race.
Couldnt match the pace of the race prepped Ferrari 430 Challenge or the NASCAR engined Falcon that were running. Just had to much straight line boogy for us and were 1 - 1.5 secs a lap faster in the race. Nothing that another 100hp wouldnt fix...........
Got the box out today. Took half the teeth off 3rd gear and 3rd on the layshaft.
Kel.
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