tko 600 into 69 camaro with small block

[awake1630]

Ok i need a little bit of help here. Got the TKO 600 in the camaro. Used a crossmember from american powertrain. Had to the space the tranny up off the mount about an inch because the crossmember was way to low and pulled the entire motor tranny down. The HEI would not fit. After spacing the the mount up. The HEI went on no problem had alot better fit now.

Took the car for a ride today the crossmember flexs like a SOB. I can watch the tranny move up and down through the shifter tunnel.

when driving the car if i goose it a lil i can here a lil clack. So is there a lot of play in these units? Second It may be the spacers sliding in the mount.

If any of you guys out there have a 69 camaro with TKO 600 in it. Please post some pictures as i can see what crossmember u used. Also i can see your fitment.

Thanks

[strtlegal]

I doubt its the crossmember but more than likley the trans mount...I never really looked at how much play i had while driving but if you want to try a poly mount see if that helps. If not I'm sure its normal.

Your motor is most likely not creating tons of torque to get your crossmember to move..

[awake1630]

it has a poly in it now.

When had the tranny in there and bolted down i couldnt get the hei cap on the distributor.

When i took the two bolts out that hold the poly mount to the crossmember the tranny sprung up. I had to space the mount from the crossmember a full inch.

I was not happy with that. Im pretty sure i have the right motor mounts in it.

the motor sits nice and straight and not cocked to one side or the other.

[strtlegal]

Well trying to visualize this, but did you put space the mount to the trans or did you put spacers between the mount and the crossmember? If you sued some spacer at the mount that could be the reason why its flexing.

I had to make new ears for the crossmember I got from Classic 5 speed. I had to get the crossmember to move forward, almost all the crossmembers people sell are for the T56.

As for the spacing 1" is alot..it sounds like your crossmember is to low. Especially if your distributor cleared before you put this trans in. I would either get a new crossmember made or get some flat plate and mount that between your mount and the trans..

[Vegas69]

That's what I did Chuck, put a steel plate between the mount and trans at my desired height. How did you space it? That could be your problem.

[awake1630]

previously i had a muncie m20 with the stock type muncie/turbo 350 crossmember. everything fit well and i had plenty of room with the HEI cap on the motor.

Now with the tko600 and the new crossmember it pulled it down.

I am getting another crossmember hopefully this works and helps the situation.

If not im back to square one.

[awake1630]

can some of you guys get pictures of your setups?

I will try and get some pics also.

[awake1630]

how much did you have to space yours?


Thanks

[DarkoNova]

I put a kit from Classic Chevy 5 Speed in my 69 Nova. Don't remember the name of it, but it was the full automatic to manual conversion kit. Everything just bolted right up. My big HEI wouldn't fit, but I just bought an MSD distributor instead of adding a spacer.

[awake1630]

also has anyone tried running anything other then synchromesh?

I know synchromesh is recommended but when push comes to shove the tko is still a gearbox like a muncie.

So anyone run gear oil with success?