Thursday, August 10, 2017

1994 Mustang GT TKO500 Installation

I finally got around to installing the TKO500 in the 1994 Mustang GT.  This was a little bit more involved than I expected it to be.  Read on to see what I went through.
Removal
With the help of my buddy Frankie, we got the car up on jack stands.  The removal is pretty straightforward.  First, disconnect the HEGO sensors and remove the mid pipe.  Then pull the driveshaft - put it in gear and emergency brake on.  Remove a bolt.  Take it out of gear and emergency brake off, rotate the driveshaft, put it back into gear and the emergency brake on again, remove a bolt.  Repeat for all 4.  Then take the driveshaft out.  At this point, we moved inside the car and removed the shifter nob, then the boot, then the two bolts to remove the shifter handle.  Back to under the car.  Removed the clutch fork cover and used a pry bar to release the tension on the clutch cable, and removed the cable from the clutch fork.  Remove the cable from the bell housing.  Disconnect the speedometer plug and reverse light sensor plug.  This should be all of the wiring harnesses.  Next we removed the 4 bolts that bolt the trans to the bell housing.  Support the trans with a jack enough to relieve the weight from the crossmember, and remove the two bolts where the crossmember bolts to the chassis.  At this point the trans can be moved backwards and taken out of the car.  This took about 2 hours.  Next we removed all the bolts for the bell housing and removed it along with the clutch fork.

TKO Installation, Part 1
The TKO500 requires a different bell housing.  It has the same 10 spline input shaft as the stock T5, which is nice.  We didn't have to mess with the clutch / disk/ flywheel at all.  It's basically new / fresh as of last year so I didn't even inspect it.  If a new clutch is in order, now would be the time to do it with a fresh re-surface of the flywheel.  Remember to put thread sealer on the flywheel bolts.  Another thing to note is that the two top bell housing bolts are shorter for the 94 / 95 bell housing. We installed the bell housing and new clutch fork.  Then installed the new Steeda Tri-Ax shifter on the TKO and adjusted it (no handle yet).  Then hoisted the transmission up into the bell housing.  It was at this point that I realized there was an issue.  The work stopped here this day. 

Issues!!!
The shifter handle looks like it's pointing to the passenger side A pillar.  Looking at how the transmission is sitting in the tunnel - from the back of the car looking forward, it looks like it is clocked towards the passenger side of the car.  Upon further inspection, the entire motor looks like it is clocked toward the passenger side of the car.  It took a lot of checking and thought, but eventually I decided it had to be the motor mounts.  I bought a set of used Prothane motor mounts.  These are nice because they don't have that alignment 'nipple' that sits into the slot of the crossmember. 

Motor Mount Install
I got the Engine crane back to my house.  I used some axle tie down straps and wrapped them around two header tubes on the passenger side.  I did the same thing on the drivers side.  Then I used some towing shackles and attached the passenger side two loops to one side of another strap.  Same thing on the drivers side.  I removed the motor mount to K member nut on both sides and positioned the crane to lift from the strapping.  It lifted the motor straight up.  I won't get into all the details, but it was a basic remove / replace job.  Take one motor mount out, put in the Prothane mount.  Once the drivers side was done (this was the easy one) I moved to the passenger side, which was much more of a pain due to the starter and position, which is directly above the K member.  After some time, I swapped that mount out for the Prothane.  It was then that I realized that the motor mount that was on the passenger side was severely bent.  I think that this motor mount came from a 'parts car' that was hit hard in the front.  Anyway, those two old motor mounts went right into the trash.  I used the crane and lowered the engine back down onto the K member.  The engine sat perfectly level!  I torqued the motor mount nuts and removed the crane and all the strapping. 

TKO Installation Part 2
Back under the car, I loosened up the four bolts that connect the trans to the bell housing.  I then twisted the trans towards the drivers side as much as it would go.  This got the shifter to sit practically straight up.  Finally!  the next thing I had to address was the crossmember and spacing.  I am using a stifflers cross member - configured for the TKO.  There's also a TKO spacer kit that will sit between the transmission and the energy suspension transmission mount.  I installed the spacer kit and was able to get the transmission to sit perfectly on the crossmember, with the crossmember bolted to the frame.  The transmission is very close to the tunnel, but it works!  The transmission did hit the metal part of the lower shift boot.  I needed to notch the metal frame on that lower shift boot and re install it.  I also glued the boot back to the metal frame where it was pulling apart.  Next I connected the wiring to the trans, the cable to the clutch fork and the dust cover for the fork.  I moved into the car and installed the shifter handle, shift boot, and the knob.  Back under the car it was time to install the driveshaft and the driveshaft spacer that sits between the pinion flange and the driveshaft flange.  Its the same dance as the removal, but this time using a torque wrench.  I also bolted up the 'new to me' BBK X Pipe after swapping over the oxygen sensors.  I mounted it up and plugged in the sensors. 

After getting it down off of the jack stands and starting it / moving it around, I realized a few things.  First was that there was a terrible exhaust leak where the mid pipe meets the header flange.  I eventually fixed that with the help of a friend later.  Next I noticed that the clutch pedal adjustment was way off.  This was resolved by using the firewall adjuster and the maximum motorsports clutch cable spacer (MMCL-17).  I fine tuned the pedal feel over the course of a few sessions driving the car. Finally, the tail shaft seal on the transmission was leaking.  I did get around to replacing that seal, but it still leaks.  Likely it is due to the transmission yoke.  I'll either have to replace that or polish the yoke.  I think replacing it would be best.  I'll put up another post on the shakedown cruise!

1994 Mustang GT TKO500 install - shakedown cruise



I took the 94 on a shake down cruise last night.  I wanted some confidence before taking it to work tomorrow.  I hit some twists and bumps on the way to the highway, everything seemed to work fine.  I get on the highway, and I notice that the RPMs are higher than normal at cruising speed.  typically, they are like 2200 2300 for 80 MPH.  I’m seeing 2600 to 2800 at 80mph now.  This seemed strange to me.  Then I realized everyone was driving really slowly.  So I take out my phone and open the GPS dashboard to verify speed.  Turns out, its ME that is going WAY faster than everyone else.  The speedometer is off by 12-16 MPH slower.  That means when I saw 80 on the dash… yeah… maybe closer to 95?  creeping up on 100?  Good part is that it was still pretty smooth at those speeds.  Another thing that I noticed is that with the urethane motor mounts and transmission mount that I feel the vibrations more. Not a bad thing, just more noticeable.  Lastly, the off-road X pipe is louder.  Like I could scare someone walking down the street if I downshifted and got on it next to them.

More about the exahust - When I ‘get on it’ its really loud.  Cruising down the highway its VERY quiet.  The difference is night and day.  The gear ratios in the TKO are similar to my t5, so that is not  much different.  The speedometer gear needs to change.  My t5 is a 1994, so it has an 8 tooth speedometer drive gear.  Stock driven gear is 20 tooth.  I verified that since its sitting on the garage floor.  I just pulled it out and counted the teeth.

https://lmr.com/products/Mustang-Speedometer-Gear-Calculator

I used the calculator online and entered my wheel /tire info:  255/45/18 and rear end gear info: 3:31.  for the T5 8 tooth drive gear it states I need a 20 tooth driven speedometer gear.  Which is exactly what I have.  And the Speedometer WAS very accurate with the T5.

The TKO500 uses a 7 tooth drive gear for the speedometer.  So changing the calculator from 8 to 7 tooth means I need a 17 tooth driven speedometer gear, which I ordered. 

Note - changing to the 17x9 wheels with 275 40 17 tires needed a different speedometer gear again.  Its close, but still a few MPH off. 




Torque Specs for 5.0L and Ford 8.8 Part Numbers

I often come across questions about rebuilding an 8.8 rear.  I've been keeping notes on the part numbrs.  I thought it would be a good idea to have them all in one place.

Here are part numbers for reference.  Prices are ballpark - likely out of date:


FMS-M-1225-B outer bearings and seals - 23.00

FMS-M-4700-C cobra carbon fiber clutch posi rebuild kit - 107.00

FMS-M-4700-B standard posi rebuild kit - 69.95

FMS-M-4210-B Ford Racing Ring and Pinion Installation Kits everything but the axel seals and bearings - $82.95

FMS-M-4210-C  Ford Racing Ring and Pinion Installation Kits everything - includes axel bearings and seals. 99.95

RAT-3008K Ratech Deluxe Ring and Pinion Installation Kits - evertying - includes axel bearings and seals.  109.95

Ford Racing M-4204-F288 - Ford Racing Traction-Lok Differentials 28 spline 194.75

Ford Racing M-4204-F318 - Ford Racing Traction-Lok Differentials 31 spline 259.95

Ford Racing M-4209-F308 - Ford Racing Ring and Pinion Sets - 3.08 ratio 189.69

Yukon gear solid spacer kit with shims:  YGA-55040

Yukon gear super shim set (clamshell) for carrier:  YGA-55002

ARP 3 inch press in wheel studs:  100-7703

Press Studs (ARP 3 inch 100-7703 24$ x 2)

Gears - 3:55 M-4209-88355 175$ New

Pinion nut M-4213-A 10 for 20$

Pinion solid spacer - 5.99$ bought two.  RMG-04-0011-1 (used Yukon kit instead)

Trick Flow® Differential Bearing Cap Stud Kits TFS-85101-1 39.99$

Fluid - Redline 75w90 full synthetic, no friction modifiers.  49$ for the gallon

8.8 spherical housing bushings -  2003-88 89.99$  (2003-POLY is the polyurethane is 39.99.)

Trutrac TT70P52670 or DTL-913A561

Axles Strange p3110

Pinion flange  E9SZ-4851-A or M-4851-c 40.00 eBay

Pinion Seal Timken 3604 12$

Inner / outer pinion bearing and race
        pinion outer race: TIMKEN M88010 3.43
        pinion outer bearing: TIMKEN M88048 5.05
        pinion inner race: TIMKEN M802011 6.82
        pinion inner bearing:  TIMKEN M802048 9.25

differential bearing and race TIMKEN SET36 11.06 need two
 
Cover:  Ford DR3Z-4033-B
cover vent:  4R3Z4022AA

Cover bolts
ARP 612-1250 differential cover bolts 5/16-18 1.25 stainless
ARP 651-1250 5/16"-18" x 1.250" Hex Black Bolt - bought these

Pinion nut with solid spacer 125 lb ft
main cap stud kit 100 foot pounds

Typical Gear ratios
3.08, 3.27, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10, 4.30, 4.56

https://geargambler.blogspot.com/2019/04/setting-pinion-depth.html

1350 pinion caps 45 ft/lb


==========================================================================
5.0L Torque Specs - ft/lbs unless otherwise noted.

Belhousing to engine bolts     28-38 ft/lbs
Camshaft sprocket bolt     40-45 ft/lbs
Camshaft thrust plate to engine block bolts     108-144 in/lbs
Crankshaft pulley to vibration damper bolts     35-50 ft/lbs
Cylinder head bolts    
  -1979-1992    
    --Step 1     55-65 ft/lbs
    --Step 2     65-72 ft/lbs
  -1993-up    
    --Step 1     25-35 ft/lbs
    --Step 2     45-55 ft/lbs
    --Step 3     75-85 ft/lbs
Differential shaft lock bolt     15-30 ft/lbs
Driveshaft U-joint to pinion flange bolts     70-95 ft/lbs
Exhaust manifold bolts     26-32 ft/lbs
Flywheel mounting bolts     75-85 ft/lbs
Front engine mount nuts     72-98 ft/lbs
Intake manifold to head bolts    
    --Step 1     96 in/lbs
    --Step 2     16ft/lbs
    --Step 3     23-25 ft/lbs
Intake manifold (upper intake to lower)     12-18 ft/lbs
Oil filter insert to engine block adapter bolt     20-30 ft/lbs
Oil pan mounting bolts    
  -1979    
    --Step 1 (Large bolts)     11-13 ft/lbs
    --Step 1 (Short bolts)     7-9 ft/lbs
    --Step 2 (Large Bolts)     15-17 ft/lbs
    --Step 2 (Short Bolts)     10-12 ft/lbs
  -1980 to 1987     9-11 ft/lbs
  -1988 to 1993     6-9 ft/lbs
  -1994-up     110-144 in/lbs
Oil pickup tube to main bearing cap nut     22-32 ft/lbs
Oil pickup tube to oil pump bolts    
  -1979 to 1987     10-15 ft/lbs
  -1988-up     12-18 ft/lbs
Oil pump mounting bolts     22-32 ft/lbs
Pinion bearing preload     8-14 in/lbs
Pressure plate to flywheel bolts     12-24 ft/lbs
Rocker arm fulcrm bolts     18-25 ft/lbs
Spark plugs     7-14 ft/lbs
Timing chain cover bolts     12-18 ft/lbs
Vibration damper to crackshaft bolt     110-130 ft/lbs
Wheel lug nuts     85-105 ft/lbs
rear caliper to axle adapter plates 40-50 ft lb
differential cover bolts 25 ft lb
front and rear upper control arm bolts = 80 ft lb
front lower control arm to k-member bolts 148 ft lb
front ball joint retaining nut 129 ft lbs
LCA to axle 70-100
LCA to frame 80-105
rear Shock, Top 25-30
rear Shock bottom 45-60
Upper control Arm to axle 70-100
Upper control arm to frame 80-105
front strut to spindle 140 to 190 ft lbs
rear control arms 75 ft lbs