Shift Quality of The Keisler Manuals?

[Aussie Challenger]

I don't want to get into an argument but if you bought a HSV Commodore you would have had a 6.1 litre motor and 6 spd gears to play with.

[Carlwalski]

I don't want to get into an argument but if you bought a HSV Commodore you would have had a 6.1 litre motor and 6 spd gears to play with.

Not big on 6 gears, 5-Speeds are for me. Only 72 T3 TS50 Manuals were ever made. A sought after Aussie Ford and the greatest Windsor built. 0-60mph in 5.3 & 225rwkws in stock form aint bad either.


 

[Robb]

Whats the difference between the TKO-500 and the TKO-600? Is the 500 a 2005 trans and the 600 the new model?
Or is it strictly a hp thing? TKO-500 rated at 550hp and the TK0-600 rated at 650hp?


 

hp rating and gear difference   (1st gear is a lot lower ratio)  the 500 was designed to be used with 2.73 and 2.91 gears.    Theres articles on the website, lotsa reading.

[Carlwalski]

Thanks.....decisions, decisions. 

[Carlwalski]

After some thought and using their Analyzer, I have decided to go with the TK0-600 (0.82).
You're right Robb, that 5th gear drop with either the .64 and .68 is far too much IMO.

The following is for those how maybe looking at getting one, just a little chart as an example.
My 'Cuda: 275/60/15's & 3.23 gears this is what I would be driving like:


TKO-500 (0.68)

3.23s = 3.98 1st gear ratio.
65mph in 5th is 1700rpm.
A lowly 2,300rpm is 83mph. lol


TKO-600 (0.64)

3.23s = 3.49 1st gear ratio.
65mph in 5th is an idle like 1,600rpms!
A lowly 2,300rpm would be cruising at 93mph. 


TKO-600 (0.82)

3.23s = 3.49 1st gear ratio (spot on for my 340 combo, perfect launch, same as the .64).
65mph in 5th = 2,100rpm Much better.
2,300rpms is better throttle responsive 72mph.


So I can see what you're saying, having the TKO-500 would shred the tires and be very short in 1st and going into 5th would be almost a waste, driving wise. I just don't want to go into 5th gear corners basically at idle. lol

I'll just double check that the 'Cuda has indeed got 3.23:1 gears as I'm only going off what the previous owner told me. If they're not I'll look at something very similar rpm wise for the gears I have. They are so quiet and smooth (the gears I have now) so I don't want to go looking for new whiny ones again.


Cheers,
Carl

[Carlwalski]

While I'm at it.....anyone with a Keisler can answer this:

What are the pistol grip shifters like? I was thinking about getting a NOS handle or likewise.
Are they a good replica or nothing like the originals and more importantly, will originals bolt straight in?


 

[Aussie Challenger]

Gunslinger makes shifters for manuals and auto's, slapstick and pressbutton and they run out at about US$160. Check out his site at www.gunslinger727.com. According to Brad the bloke I bought my Challenger off he is a sincere guy.
I intend to purchase my shifters from him. He has different patterns etched into the tops depending on your shift pattern.

[Carlwalski]

Thanks Dave but I have seen those before and am not a fan. I prefer the Harms auto grips. I was meaning a grip, say, off eBay or what-not. A nice original or NOS condition one to complete the driving experience.

I have the Harms tilt pistol grip in my Challenger and it's a lovely piece. No trigger or buttons, just push down on the handle to engage gear and they have the tilt forward not straight up and down look.


Thanks all the same mate.

[Aussie Challenger]

Carl,    Great looking shifter, do they fit our local Valiants as my son-in-law wants a shifter to fit his VG V8, it has the button on top at the moment.
  David

[Carlwalski]

Good question, if you get the measurements for the shifter rod PM Scott aka "Harms Inc" on here. He owns(?) Harms Auto and would be able to tell you if they'll fit or not. If it's like the VH style shifter it'd be bloody close fit.


 

[73EStroker]

 

Carl - 2 things here. 1. That is still a Falcon and I was at the last Supercars at Pukekohe and the Ford came second. 2. I thought you would have graduated to Lion Red by now. 

But seriously - when I was down in NZ I found the roads incredibly overcrowded as compared to when I grew up there. So my point is why not put 3.91 in the back and run the A833 OD unit. You don't like the GV, wait until you try to fit the Kiesler in. Have a friend who invented new swear words doing it, then it had the audacity to keep breaking 2nd and 5th gear behind a 375HP 440 RT Chally. Not caused by bad driving habits. He now has the original A833 back in after numerous warranty repairs done on the Kiesler.

[Mopar73340]

While I'm at it.....anyone with a Keisler can answer this:

What are the pistol grip shifters like? I was thinking about getting a NOS handle or likewise.
Are they a good replica or nothing like the originals and more importantly, will originals bolt straight in?


 

Carl, To answer one of your questions, I used the original pistol grip on mine as my car was originally a 4-spd, It bolts right to the shifter of the Keisler.

[Carlwalski]

Carl - 2 things here. 1. That is still a Falcon and I was at the last Supercars at Pukekohe and the Ford came second. 2. I thought you would have graduated to Lion Red by now. 

But seriously - when I was down in NZ I found the roads incredibly overcrowded as compared to when I grew up there. So my point is why not put 3.91 in the back and run the A833 OD unit. You don't like the GV, wait until you try to fit the Kiesler in. Have a friend who invented new swear words doing it, then it had the audacity to keep breaking 2nd and 5th gear behind a 375HP 440 RT Chally. Not caused by bad driving habits. He now has the original A833 back in after numerous warranty repairs done on the Kiesler.

lol! DB is for men, Lion Red is for natives. Secondly, the TS50 is not a Falcon, it's TS50 T3 people not in the know call them Falcons and I have to say it's sound is probably better than that of a 440ci, different though I guess but more supercar sounding.

Fitting of the GVs was easy, well for my resto team, not for me. It was in within a day. It's the module that was the problem so I know my resto team will be OK with what ever comes there way. Thanks for the heads up though on the breakages, I have not heard of this before so it's hard to comment if it's a one off or few and far between. You can't call a whole country something negative if it's one person running it....if ya know what I mean. Tremacs are good transmissions, my Falcon has the Tremac TR3650 similar to those in the BA Falcons and it's a nice unit, not too mention heavy duty.


Mopar73340 - Thanks bud, that's what I need to know. 


Cheers lads. 

[hemi71]

Carl,

Be aware of pinion angle problems on Keisler e body installations.....i know about these first hand. I had a n early keisler install on my black hemicuda...the rear of the trans sat too low, causing the pinion angle to be off,, which gives you a nice vibration above 45mph. When you buy the kit, ask them if they've solved this problem.

[Robb]

they include a 1 inch alum spacer in the kit now (2 years ago now, I did mine.  I did all the work on it ), mounts between the Tranny and the tranny bracket to correct the angle.