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Might have found my transmission

Horseplay

Horseplay

I Don't Care. Do you?
Donator
Anybody looked into the new Keisler 5 speed RS transmissions? According to the little I have read it seems to be an improved TKO. The two bits I like are the claims to improve the shifting at higher RPMs over the Tremec and the possibility of not having to hack up my trans tunnel to make it fit right. I had high hopes for the McLeod transmission everyone was talking about sometime ago but that seems to have fizzled out, to my knowledge.

Here's a link to their site;

http://www.keislerauto.com/
 
What have been the drawbacks of the TKO ? I thought it was the work horse as compared to a T5.
 
Aside from having to carve up the tunnel, Tremecs have a tendency to miss shifts at higher RPMs (racing). This new trans has improved syncros and different gearing to keep RPMs up, again mainly for hard driving/racing. If you've ever really pushed a Tremec at the track you've experienced a missed shift or two!
 
I had to make my TKO fit in my trans tunnel and yes, when its under the gun...you're gonna miss a shift now and then.
I have tried different fluids but to no avail.
REDLINE and the GM SYNCROMESH.
The GM stuff works the best, but still cant out shift a side loader trans like a muncie or T10.
I dont push it to hard as it isnt rated to take the power I am putting to it . The TKO is if I am not mistaken is only rated to 400ft/lbs, but for city driving it is fine for now.
I'll be looking at a G-Force when the time comes.
I have heard good things about the Keisler.
 
TKO's aren't built to handle track use, they're built for high-torque street use. Lots of fox body guys have complained about problems trying to shift above 6k rpm. It's apparently semi common for the transmission to lock up entirely during the 2-3 shift, requiring you to pull one of the top plates off and unjam something inside.

If I end up going to a 5sp, I'll either go with a Keisler or an AstroPerformance T5. Both will take high-rpm shifting all day.
 
Shifter location that fits your classic Mustang with only minor cutting.
Click to expand...


Unless something has dramatically changed.... and I don't see where it has.... the "minor" cutting non-chalantly mentioned by Keisler is minor to them because it's not their car. lol. The stock shifter opening usually needs to be trimmed a bit on the RH side (not a big deal), but what's not openly discussed on their sales oriented website is the requirement to remove the top of the seat pan crossmember in order to achieve an acceptable driveline angle, which IMO is a very big deal as it removes the structural integrity originally provided by the xmember.

For every "testimonial" on their website there many others who weren't quite as satisfied. Oddly, these less than positive comments aren't posted. Maybe only the happy customers took the time to shower the website/products with accolaides?

In addition to the cutting, the price of the kit is IMO way too high for what you're getting.
 
I remember that fun thread about/with them and the issues you write about here. I am going with the belief that this new transmission eliminates those issues. Not spending my money on that blind belief, just for the sake of discussion setting it aside. Surely something has been changed or why offer yet another trans no different than the others? right?
 
Horseplay, the Keisler RS transmission is a highly modified TKO trans from what I can tell. Its not their old TKO500 that they tweak and slap their name on. Below is a pic of the RS600 and their standard TKO, and you can visually see that the RS isn't as bulky and doesn't have the front/mid shifter plates sticking up as high, which is normally the sticking point for cutting the tunnel. I don't have any firsthand experience, but I'm sure there are some in other forums online. There is a long thread on Pro-Touring but didn't take the time to really read it. Mostly Q&A from what I could tell. http://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.p ... sler-RS600

cca5703393948976dde05e8d74779e6c.jpg



433.jpg
 
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Thanks for your impressions on the new trans. From what little I could find I thought it looked like they had made some major changes in lots of key areas. I hope to be to that point in my build yet this year (which will probably mean next spring!) so it's time to start setting the cash aside.
 
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