TKX Into 1971-Up B-Body - Any Advice?

I've decided to take the plunge and manual-trans swap my '76 Charger. I'm eying a TKX swap for the deeper lower gears and a slightly higher overdrive than what I've currently got, but mainly I'm doing it because I miss having a row-your-own box in a car. It made owning a Chevy Cruze tolerable enough (even if that car was a steaming pile...) and it made the '87 Diplomat I had back in the day nothing short of a legend.

Currently, the only thing I've got sorted are the pedals. A 1971-74 pedal kit with a Malwood USA under-dash hydraulic system fits like a charm. The bellhousing will remain LA small-block. Currently, the original 360 will stay put, and I haven't decided between a small-block build or a Gen III swap. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Since I only have seen one other late-B that's been swapped (and I'm pretty sure that '76 Fury was packing a stock A-833 system), I'm reaching out to anyone who has done this in a '71-up car. Any advice?

I done a few TKO's in the 71-up B body over the years, the TKX is a much more compact transmission, case wise compared to the TKO which has a very tall profile, most owners refused to cut the floor to get the proper driveline angle, plus they applied "old school" 3/4spd experience/knowledge, or lack there of, during a Tremec install, that's why most had poor to moderate success in their install/operation/performance, I do recommend before you remove your existing transmission, measure the tail shaft center line/driveline angle to any reference point of your choosing that won't get modified, so that you can reference where the TKX tail shaft centerline height falls after install, and modify, if needed, to obtain that same geometry, do dial in your bellhousing to the crank centerline, that's a must!......I'd recommend Silver Sport/SST to source your kit/parts/advice


MikeG

I did a TKX conversion this year to my 72 B-body with bucket seats. The reason I mention bucket seats is that complicates the install because you want the shifter in the rear position on an original trans. coming up through the console. SilverSport have a large bracket to relocate their shifter to that position but to make it 100% you would still have to cut the car's torsion bar crossmember some on the driver side to gain the height needed. You can do the install without cutting the torsion bar crossmember and the drive angle is considered within spec. but will be about an inch lower than it was originally. Now if your doing this install in a 71-2 B-body with a forward position shifter you won't have the shifter relocation bracket and it will lineup easier but again the driveline angle will still endup being a little lower than stock but in spec. and life will go out fine. Absolutely dial in your bell housing for a smooth install and working too.

Also I choose to go with mechanical clutch linkage instead of hydraulic too.
Ron

I bought a TKX from American Powertrain when they first came out for my '72 Satellite with the most rearward shifter position, but I haven't installed it yet. I choose theirs over Silver Sport, because their shifting mechanism is way more compact.

I liked the look of their design better, and they removed the shipping fee, when I told them that Silver Sport offered free shipping. I'm not able to post any pictures on here because I am an old luddite.

The tech guy at American Powertrain e-mailed me pictures back then, but sorry... I deleted them. Maybe you can find pictures on-line somewhere. Who knows, maybe they have improved their design even further since then.

I hope that helps you.

Great thread, I am also considering the TKX for my 72 RR.

I'd love to see this "more compact" shifter mount you speak of. Are you also a bucket seat, console,short pistol grip, rear mount position or a front mount position which is nothing at all??
Ron

Hi Ron. Mine has aftermarket racing seats and no console. Short pistol grip at the farthest rearward position, which lines up to the hole in the factory steel 4 speed hump I bought from Auto Metal Direct.

I wish my computer would let me post pics for you, but there must by pics online somewhere, or call American Powertrain. They can email you pics and explain why theirs is better. (Of course!)

I'm going to have to call them cause all I see on their site is a passenger side picture so you really can't see their bracket.
Thanks for the information though.
Ron