Tremec - who can do the package?

Aussie Mike

Aussie Mike

New Member
Feb 2, 2008
17
0
0
Perth - Western Australia
#1
G'day,

Looking to source a 26 spline TKO-500 with Quick Time steel bell housing code number RM-6060 and a hydraulic slave kit complete with billet fork for my small block (yet to order but probably going crate).

The item I want is pretty much what 5speedtransmissions.com has here (scroll down the page to see the pics).

Before you suggest 5speedtransmissions.com, I've already sent a couple of emails and not had a response.

Somewhere in CA would be great as my shipping agent is at LAX.

Also any recommendations for a decent H/D clutch package would be appreciated. It's easy to get confused by the hype, organic, kevlar etc - so some first hand knowledge would be great.

Cheers, Mike B.
Perth - West Oz!
 

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#3
I have had great luck with two vendors here in the states. They do alot with the replica Cobra crowd.

Mike Forte of Forte's PArts (www.fortesparts.com) can give you a complete system. But, he's in Massachussetts, but worth it. Good guy to work with. Modern Driveline up in Idaho is good too. Try John's Mustangs in San Diego. I used him for ther hydraulics for my clutch conversion.

2nd vote for King Cobra Clutch. Mine has survived three years of open track, and hard street use.

Hope this helps!

Dan
 
#4
McLeod, Ram and Centerforce all make a variety of clutch materials and designs for different applications. I've used products from each of these and they've all been very good. I'm sure many of the newer specialized clutch manufacturers are good as well but they're usually a bit more expensive. The trick is to match the product to the intended application.

I would suggest that you call at least one of the manufacturers (rather than a vendor who may try to sell you what he has on hand) and talk to a tech rep and explain what your intentions are. Are you drag racing? open tracking? mostly street? Be prepared to tell them the engine size, power level, torque, rear end gears and weight of the car. Do a little research on the net (if you need to) and learn the basic components and types of the discs and pressure plates so you can follow along with the tech rep as he explains things to you. That will also enable you you to ask intelligent questions. Let them steer you in the right direction.

As with anything else with performance parts, there is a compromise somewhere to improve somewhere else, whether it's cost or street manners or whatever. They want you to be happy with their product so they won't normally try to sell you on something that won't work well, especially when they've invested so much in developing an entire range of products to meet your needs.
 
#5
I would use Darkhorse if I was going to do it again. Plenty of the CA guys on VMF used them and I have never heard a complaint.
http://www.darkhorseperformance.com/product.aspx?p_id=237003&d_id=24523

Regarding Forte Parts...CHPSK8, consider yourself lucky. Don't use Forte Parts.
Here's my cut and paste I use whenever his name comes up on forums...

I bought my TKO600 kit from Mike Forte himself and had to call him back to tell him the x-member didn't fit. I was surprised to immediately detect an attitude, b/c during my order phone call, he was a great guy and we spent 15 minutes just BS-ing about my car and a vintage racer we both knew. So I told him if he doesn't believe me, I'll e-mail some photos.

http://www.geocities.com/gsxrken/Mustang/100_0631.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/gsxrken/Mustang/100_0632.JPG

I did e-mail photos and he e-mailed back said "Fine, send it back, but store credit only or there's a 15% restocking fee on refunds." I balked over that, saying would you charge that if you sent me a Chevy part that didn't fit and I had to return it? I don't see the difference". But anyway, I did send it back.

After about a month or so I realized I never heard from him. I called looking for the refund I never got, and he says "how do I know you sent it back?" Kind of shocked, I told him I'd dig up the tracking number since I sent it from work. So I did find the UPS Tracking number, and sent it to him. But he e-mails back "that just proves you sent me SOMETHING. How do I know you didn't send me an empty box?" (I just spend $3k with him and he's screwing me for $125 return?) I couldn't believe it, this is supposedly a big name in the cobra kit car business, and I figured since I'm in NY I'd use an MA guy versus someone in CA like D&D or DarkHorse. Big Mistake.

So I called him and after a long argument getting nowhere, he finally says "well, whether you sent it back or not, I sold you a "kit" for that price. The crossmember was thrown in free of charge, so there will be no refund". (You can't make this up, right?) I said to him "then send it back, I'll sell it on ebay for the $125 you normally sell it for" and after a long pause, he says "NO. I still think you sent me an empty box. I've got a business to run, not a charity- have nice life."

So there is my Mike Forte story. I still have the e-mails. I've seen enough vendor disputes on other threads to know there is usually two sides to a story, but in this case there really isn't. Does he really think I bothered to mail him an empty box? Or that the xmember was part of a kit, so there's no credit for returning it? And remember, that free/no-value bit is after he WAS going to give me store credit or ding me 15% restocking it. Come on.

I've warned several folks away from him since, both in person and on other web boards, and I know he's lost far more than the $125 he screwed me on. On my $45k Mach 1 restoration, $125 is not even worth talking about. But if someone in the future searches on his name here on Stangnet before they decide where to spend $3k+ on a Tremec swap, he may lose another sale. Karma's a bitch that way. ;)
 
#6
Modern Driveline use to be in California... I guess they moved.

As far as Mike Forte goes, I've never heard him mentioned before this thread. Maybe he is big on the east coast. Let me tell you tho, and maybe this is because I'm a violent person, I'd have drove to his shop and busted his teeth out of his skull over something like that. Not for the money, but for the principal of it.
 
#7
I spoke with the guy at Modern Driveline on Friday and was impressed with his honesty. I was asking for details about a g-force t5 and he said it would be a waste of money for my application and said that I would be better off with a world class t5. Even though I hope to be making 400-450 rwhp he was not concerned since my car is a convertible and my driving style. He said I won't be able to hook it up well without major suspension work and perhaps a roll cage.

I guess I am saying he will shoot it straight and not try to sell you something you don't need just because you ask for it.
 
#8
Thanks lads, that's some great feedback.

I'm still trying to come to grips with gsxrken's experience with Mike Forte. I had to read and then re-read the details and I'm still shaking my head. I'm with Rusty67 on this one as I too tend to get fired up over sh1t like this particularly when this bloke is calling you a liar to your face. As a business owner myself, I just can't comprehend this attitude. As you say there are very few people in the ring that won't find eventually find out about this bloke's principles.

Anyway, I've now been through all the recommendations and links on line and checked out Modern Driveline, Darkhorse, D&D and even found a few forum postings where these names pop up. Bruce Couture of Modern Driveline seems to get a good wrap as does Fred from Darkhorse.

I could only find two references online to the billet fork (Wedan Performance or 5speedtransmissions.com and Forte's) but there must be someone out there knocking these things up somewhere. I never used to think twice about the throwout fork until I had one fail on me. One and only time and it was a bloody mess.

I'll get busy with some emails to these guys as it's hard to plan a call when the States are running 14-17 hours behind us timewise.

Also, thanks for the detail on clutches 69gmachine:nice:

Cheers, Mike B.
 
#10
One word Rusty, 'leakage'. Not that I'm speaking from personal experience but I don't think I've ever heard a good word about an internal hydro bearing set-up.

Primarily leakage, bleeding issues and seal failure seems to be more the norm than the extraordinary and of course, the whole bloody drivelines got to be dismantled to service it.

Actually, I'm really not a fan of hydraulics anyway from an 'issues' point of view but I prefer the feel of a hydro pedal over cable. I'm sure the cable would be the easier (and cheaper) option though.

Mike B.
Perth - West Oz!
 
#11
I've heard of leakage issues as well. There are some articles that talk about the proper way to prep/maintian those things so they last forever or at least a reasonable amount of time. I'm not willing to try it myself as the initial investment into something they might be problematic is above my current pay grade. Just thought I'd bring it up incase you hadn't seen it or forgot to consider it.
 
#12
Rusty67 said:
I've heard of leakage issues as well. There are some articles that talk about the proper way to prep/maintian those things so they last forever or at least a reasonable amount of time. I'm not willing to try it myself as the initial investment into something they might be problematic is above my current pay grade. Just thought I'd bring it up incase you hadn't seen it or forgot to consider it.
Click to expand...

Appreciated:nice:
 
#13
Rusty67 said:
Modern Driveline use to be in California... I guess they moved.

As far as Mike Forte goes, I've never heard him mentioned before this thread. Maybe he is big on the east coast. Let me tell you tho, and maybe this is because I'm a violent person, I'd have drove to his shop and busted his teeth out of his skull over something like that. Not for the money, but for the principal of it.
Click to expand...

quoted for truth.....serious, that guy has something coming his way for sure.
 
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