The real joy of owning a muscle car is in driving it. Muscle car owners who want to get the most out of their cars often drive to distant car shows or other events, but without an overdrive transmission a long trip on the highway becomes tedious. If the car has a performance rear axle ratio it is even worse. I love the sound of a V8 at speed as much as any guy out there, but a steady 3600 RPM for three hours solid with loud exhaust gets tiring. Most of us have become accustomed to being able to hold a conversation and/or hear the radio on long drives, and we would like to be able to pass by at least a couple of gas stations without stopping to fill up! An overdrive transmission solves those problems, and provides many other benefits as well.
The Tremec TKO is an overdrive manual five speed that is ideal for retrofitting into the classic muscle cars of the sixties and seventies. With your choice of a 0.82:1, 0.68:1, or 0.64:1 overdrive ratio depending on the model, you can really bring those revs down to a manageable number. A lower engine RPM on the highway provides several advantages. Continue reading ‘Tremec TKO Transmissions Part 3 – The Ideal Muscle Car Overdrive Transmission’ »