Anyone install a Tremec TKO in a 69 convertible? I recently purchased the complete tko kit with Mcloud bellhousing and clutch from Mike Forte. Everything went together well on the shop floor since we already had the motor out. I received the bell housing adapter plate but I don't think I need it on my sbc??? Instructions were a little lacking from Mcloud. I did have to modify the tunnel to get the shifter through but it looks like I will need to cut the tunnel much more to get the trans up higher. I posted pics below. You can see the rear of the engine is still too low by the angle of the motor mounts. The top of the tko is already tight against the tunnel. Maybe convertible tunnels are lower?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.philwoolford.com/camaro/camaro.html

[This message has been edited by pwoolford (edited 01-02-2003).]

You are right about the adapter plate. As for the tunnel etc. I am not sure about off hand. I will take a look at your website and see what I can make out of it.

This is a little off of the topic, but make sure that you dial the bell houseing in before final assembly. I got my tremec and mcload housing from Mike also. I tried to dial it in with the motor in the car. After firing it up, it shifted realy tight. I had to pull it, and the motor back out to correctly dial it in on the stand. The pilot bearing was alreadly showing wear after 1000 miles. It was out about .012 to .015. I got it to within .003 and it shifts great.
You proberly already know to dial it in, but I would hate to let somebody else go through the hassle of doing it twice like I did without pointing it out.
Why did you decide not to run the block plate?
And good luck with the tunnel, hope you don't have to cut it up.


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67 RS 383, Tremec TKO
17" Torque Thrust
11.56 @ 117 mph
Build em to drive

Oh yeah. I also had to notch the top of my bell housing to the same height as the block on the drivers side. It would not allow the stock linkage to return. Don't know if the 69 will have the same problem as the 67. I had to cut out a piece about an inch and a half wide. Proberly could have got by with less, but I didn't see where it was going to hurt anything.
By the way, the Tremec is a blast once you get it done.

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67 RS 383, Tremec TKO
17" Torque Thrust
11.56 @ 117 mph
Build em to drive

I wasn't sure whether I needed the adapter plate since the bell housing fit the block, mainly the two dowel pins, without the plate. As far as dialing in the the bell housing I did not. I have dialed in bell housings in the past but the tko and the bell housing fit so tightly it didn't seem like there was any room for error? I sat on hold for Mike today to go over all of this but had to give up after a while. They also forgot to ship my transmission mount so I am not sure about the clearance yet. I love the sound of the tko but a muncie or th350 sure would have been easier.

my car is not a convertible and my tremec is behind a 327 but... you already have the tranny higher than it went in my 67 when it was bolted to the crossmember. if you go up into the tunnel any more, the driveshaft will be hitting I would think. have you checked how stock motor mounts would line up? was that engine in the car with those mounts before? look at the motor mounts some more, it looks like the tranny is in the right spot - if not too high allready. my tremec install was pretty simple, I only had to cut the tunnel to fit the round part of the shifter and it fit fine after that.

[This message has been edited by 67rsmoneypit (edited 01-02-2003).]

My dowels fit snug in the housing also, but it was still off. I had to bet 7 degree offset dowels. Give Mike another call, once you get him on the phone he is very helpful.
Good luck...

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67 RS 383, Tremec TKO
17" Torque Thrust
11.56 @ 117 mph
Build em to drive

My dowels fit snugly in the bellhousing also, but the run-out was still off. Try Mike again, it you can get him on the phone he is very helpful.

Good luck...

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67 RS 383, Tremec TKO
17" Torque Thrust
11.56 @ 117 mph
Build em to drive

Thanks for all of the info. I did finally get the motor mounts bolted on. There is a stock 69 in the shop next to mine and the motor seems to sit at the same angle as mine but the energy suspension mounts I am using needed a little prying to get bolted in. I won't know the exact angle until my trans mount shows up and I install it. As is I had to back the three motor mount bolts off the block about 2 turns to get the center bolt through. It has been about 10 years since I dropped a motor in this car so I am a little fuzzy on how it fit then. The frame mounts are stock and were not removed. The only change is the poly block mounts from energy suspension.

[This message has been edited by pwoolford (edited 01-03-2003).]

The "adapter plate" is most likely the block plate. It mounts between the block and flywheel and protects the block from flying clutch parts in the event of a failure.