Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
| 1 .) |
Q: How should I send my transmission to you for service? |
| A: First make sure that you drain all the oil
from the transmission. Next wrap the transmission in a plastic bag. You
can place the wrapped transmission into a heavy-duty cardboard box surrounding
the transmission with crumpled-up newspaper for support, but A MUCH
better solution is to build a crate from 2x4's and bolt the transmission
to it, making sure nothing extends past the crate. You could place the crate
inside a cardboard box if you would like (this will save you $5 from UPS).
You can also remove the shifter handle (not the base)
from the transmission to make boxing easier (We don't need it for the
rebuild).
We are not responsible for damages incurred during shipping, and UPS may reject a claim if the transmission is not properly boxed. UPS will ship items up to 150 lbs, and you can calculate shipping charges from there web site (www.ups.com). Your best bet is to go to the local terminal and ship the (boxed) transmission directly from there. |
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| 2.) | Q: How much oil do I have to put into my transmission, and do I ever have to change it? |
| A: A T5 takes about 2.75Qts and a Tremec 3550/TKO takes 3Qts. We recommend that you change the oil in the transmission once a year. Check your service manual for correct fluid type. | |
| 3.) | Q: Is there a break-in period for a rebuilt transmission? |
| A: We recommend that you avoid aggressive driving (i.e. power-shifting) for the first 500 miles on a street driven transmission. | |
| 4.) | Q: I've heard that Tremec makes a 3550/TKO for GM muscle cars. Is this true? |
| A: Tremec does not make a transmission for GM's, but we can modify a 3550 or a TKO to replace any Muncie or T10. We recommend starting with a TKO for the added strength. Be careful when dealing with other companies for a GM Tremec. Most use the 3550 and not the TKO. The TKO has a 26-spline input and a 31-spline output. We have converted Tremec TKO's available for $1,749.99. | |
| 5.) | Q: When I have my car in neutral and my foot is off the clutch, my car chirps like a bird. Is there something wrong with my transmission? |
| A: The problem is most likely with your throw-out bearing, and not the transmission. When the bearing runs out of grease, it begins to squeak. Because you have to remove the transmission to change the throw-out bearing , it is best to change the clutch too. Also it is a good idea to change the following: Clutch / pressure plate, pilot bushing / bearing, release fork and ball-stud, input bearing retainer (click here to see a high mileage aluminum retainer). You should also check the flywheel and rear main seal. (Remember to drain the oil before you remove the drive shaft.) | |
| 6.) | Q.) My transmission makes a weird sound when I shift. Do I need to have it rebuilt? |
| A.) It is very hard to diagnose a transmission
without seeing it, so it is best to take the car to a local mechanic and
have it checked out. If it is determined that the transmission is bad, you
can either remove it yourself, or have a mechanic remove it and then have us
rebuild it. If you remove the transmission yourself,
plan on about two to three hours to remove. You should also drain the
transmission fluid before you remove it, and be prepared because the
transmission will leak a little from the output shaft when you remove the drive
shaft (even after you drained it). ** For further information about possible transmission problems please see the diagnostic section of our transmission information center ** |
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| 7.) | Q.) I added a set of 3.73 gears to my mustang and now my speedometer is off. Can you tell me what gear I need in the transmission? |
| A.) If you go to our speedometer conversion page and enter your information, it will tell you exactly what gear you need. | |
| 8.) | Q.) Can I power-shift my T5 at the track? And what exactly is power-shifting? |
| A.) Power-shifting is when you shift the transmission rapidly without taking your foot off the gas. You can power-shift your T5 but you will probably break it. | |
| 9.) | Q.) What causes a transmission to fail? |
| A.) There are many reasons. Lack of lubricant, lack of maintenance, too much power, too much abuse... The list goes on. | |
| 10.) | Q.) How much power is too much? |
| A.) You can never have too much... ;-)
It's hard to say at what power level you have to upgrade. It really depends on many things. If you break a T5, and it's because of too much power, you should seriously consider moving to a Tremec 3550 or TKO / TKO II. |
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| 11.) | Q.) I heard that if I don't install an aftermarket shifter in my car I can bend the shift forks in the transmission. Is this true? |
| A.) Bending shift forks is a myth. They don't bend, they break! As for if you need an aftermarket shifter or not, it depends on how you drive. If you are aggressive with your shifts, it's a wise investment. We recommend Pro-5.0 shifters exclusively. | |