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1. This cool ’72 Camaro has been equipped with an LS engine and 4L80E transmission—it’s about to get cooler with the addition of a TREMEC TKX five-speed from Bowler Performance Transmissions.
Stick To It typography

How to Install TREMEC’S TKX Five-Speed in a Second-Gen Camaro

BY Ron Ceridono Photography by ACP STAFF

F

or some people, driving a car is simply a way to get from point A to point B. Then there are those who drive for the joy of the process and the feeling of being involved with the machinery. Certainly, there is no better way to do that than with a Camaro equipped with three pedals and a TREMEC five-speed manual transmission conversion from Bowler Performance Transmissions.

Bowler Performance Transmissions opened as a small, family owned shop in 1963. As a kid Mark Bowler began learning about building transmissions and eventually the business passed from father to son. Today, under Mark’s leadership and thanks to his interest in high-performance vehicles, Bowler Performance Transmissions offers a complete line of custom automatic transmissions and is a TREMEC Elite Dealer that also offers repair and modification services.

The newest offering in TREMEC’s lineup is the TKX. This compact five-speed transmission fits in the transmission tunnel of most vehicles without modifications to the floor. Tipping the scales at just under 100 pounds, the three-piece aluminum construction provides maximum structural stiffness and gaskets at all flanges to prevent leaks. Thanks to the wide gears made from high-strength steel (ASTM 4615) the TKX will handle 600 lb-ft of torque and is capable of engine speeds of 8,000 rpm with shifts at 7,500 rpm.

Adding to the robustness of the TKX is a 11/8 inch, 26-spline input shaft and a 31-spline output shaft. TKX transmissions use a short-throw shifter that operates an internal three-rail shift system and multi-cone synchronizers with rings made of sintered bronze and carbon for smooth gear changes.

For the maximum in application flexibility, TREMEC offers the TKX in multiple gear ratio configurations, all with overdrive in Fifth gear:
TCET17805—Gear Ratios 2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, 0.68
TCET18083—Gear Ratios 3.27, 1.98, 1.34, 1.00, 0.72
TCET17722—Gear Ratios 2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, 0.81
TKX transmissions are offered in GM and Ford case patterns, bellhousing bolt patterns, and input configurations—GM uses a 6.71-inch input shaft with a 0.590-diameter pilot bearing tip and a 1.375-inch throwout bearing tube. Ford uses a 7.21-inch input shaft with a 0.670-inch pilot tip and a 1.430-inch throwout bearing tube. Transmissions in both configurations have GM and Ford transmission mount patterns. In addition, these transmissions may be equipped with a traditional clutch linkage with throwout bearing or a hydraulic bearing has a 300,000-mile service life and roughly a 20 percent lighter clutch feel than the mechanical type.

To simplify installation, TKX transmissions come with a mechanical speedometer drive on the left side and a built-in electronic speedometer sensor on the right. Also included is a reverse light switch and cruise control safety switch—Bowler can supply all the required wiring harnesses/pig tails required.

One of the common problems when retrofitting an early car with a contemporary transmission is the location of the shift lever. From the factory the TKX shifter can be positioned toward the front of the transmission or flipped around and moved to the rear. In addition, Bowler offers a variety of bolt-on shift levers in various lengths and shapes.

Also available is Bowler’s unique Nightstick side-shift assembly for ’53-82 Corvettes and early GM A-body cars. The Nightstick side shift places the shifter lever directly into the factory four-speed tunnel and console opening for a “factory look” installation.

Along with TREMEC transmissions, Bowler offers a number of installation kits for a variety of Chevrolet products with small-block, big-block, or LS powerplants. Kit components, such as bellhousings, clutch assemblies, crossmembers, pedals, and hydraulic clutch conversions, are available individually. The kit shown here is for ’70-81 Camaros with LS/LT engines and includes everything necessary for the installation of a TKX.

If you want to put some excitement in your driving experience, do what we did and check out Bowler Performance Transmissions’ complete line of TREMEC transmissions and installation components. There’s nothing like shifting for yourself.

all the necessary Bowler supplied parts for the swap sit on display on a table
2. Bowler can supply everything necessary for a TKX swap right down to the hardware that holds it all together.
TREMEC’s TKX sits on a work surface, awaiting install
3. TREMEC’s TKX is their newest and most compact five-speed transmission. It will fit in our Camaro without any transmission tunnel modifications other than a hole for the shifter.
mechanic removes the driveshaft from the lifted car
4. Jason Scudellari took the first step in making the transmission transformation by removing the driveshaft; it will require modification or replacement. Note, this car has been equipped with Classic Performance Products (CPP) subframe connectors.
mechanic stand surveying the removed transmission
5. Removing the transmission’s wiring harness proved to be one of the most time-consuming steps in the process. Compared to the TKX, the 4L80E automatic is massive.
view of the transmission flexplate on the lifted Camaro
6. With the transmission removed, the next thing to go is the flexplate. Note there is nothing in the recess of the crankshaft.
mechanic installs the sealed roller bearing used with an aluminum bellhousing
7. For a manual transmission, a pilot bearing is required to support the input shaft. Here, Scudellari installs the sealed roller bearing used with an aluminum bellhousing.
view of the installed pilot bearing
8. Here, the installed pilot bearing can be seen. For the optional QuickTime steel bellhousing a different pilot bearing is required.
the steel flywheel is secured with ARP 12-point fasteners
9. The steel flywheel was secured with ARP 12-point fasteners. These are installed with thread locker rather than lock washers then torqued to the supplied specification.
an alignment tool holds the RAM clutch disc in the proper position so the transmission’s input shaft will slide through the splines and into the pilot bearing
10. An alignment tool holds the RAM clutch disc in the proper position so the transmission’s input shaft will slide through the splines and into the pilot bearing.
a RAM single-disc clutch with a diaphragm pressure plate is installed
11. Bowler offers single- and twin-disc clutch packages for six- and eight-bolt LS crank flanges. We opted for a RAM single-disc assembly with a diaphragm pressure plate.
mechanic installs the included Lakewood aluminum bellhousing
12. Scudellari installed the included Lakewood aluminum bellhousing (which is not a scatter shield). It can accommodate a standard throwout bearing arm or a hydraulic release bearing. A QuickTime steel bellhousing is also available.
mechanic applies thread locker to a fastener to secure the installed Tilton retainer
13. We opted for the Tilton hydraulic throwout bearing. Scudellari removed the TREMEC bearing retainer and installed the Tilton retainer, which includes an anti-rotation guide pin for the bearing. Thread locker was used to secure the fasteners.
view of the hydraulic throwout bearing with two braided lines
14. The hydraulic throwout bearing has two braided lines; one connects to the clutch master cylinder and the other is for bleeding air from the system.
the distance from the clutch fingers to the transmission mounting surface is measured
15. A critical step is adjusting the clearance between the throwout bearing and the pressure plate fingers (0.125 inch). The distance from the clutch fingers to the transmission mounting surface is measured …
the distance from the bearing to the transmission is measured
16. … then the distance from the bearing to the transmission is measured. The clearance is then adjusted with the threaded collar the bearing fits on.
the mechanic measures the shifter on the TKX
17. It would be necessary to cut a hole in the Camaro’s floor to accommodate the shift lever. Scudellari followed the rule of measuring twice and cutting once.
a drill is used to create a hole for the shift
18. With the hole cut, the previously installed insulation was trimmed away. A Lokar shift boot will be used on the top side.
mechanic steadies the lifted TKX
19. A 31-spline slip joint is required for the TKX—Bowler offers them for use with 1330 or the beefier 1350 series U-joints.
mechanic installs the Bowler offered Energy Suspension Poly mounts
20. The TKX has bolt patterns for GM and Ford transmission mounts. Bowler offers OE-style rubber mounts and Energy Suspension Poly mounts—we opted for the latter.
mechanic installs a crossmember on the lifted Camaro
21. Bowler’s transmission mount for ’70-74 Camaros is for stock subframes and LS engines in the factory small-block position. A crossmember is also available for aftermarket subframes.
full view of the installed clutch and brake pedal assembly for ’70-71 Camaros from Bowler
22. We installed Bowler’s clutch and brake pedal assembly for ’70-71 Camaros that position the pedals perfectly—’72-81 requires a different pedal assembly.
close view of a Bowler bracket mount on a work surface
23. Bowler offers this bracket to mount the hydraulic throwout bearing’s 7/8-inch bore master cylinder (a template is included for the necessary holes). A pedal stop is necessary to limit travel and prevent damage to the throwout bearing and/or transmission.
the system is bled with the same procedure used to bleed brakes using DOT 3 brake fluid
24. The hydraulic throwout bearing system uses DOT 3 brake fluid. The system is bled with the same procedure used to bleed brakes.
mechanic works on a Ford 9-inch axle assembly on the lifted Camaro
25. Inland Empire Driveline Service in Ontario, California, supplied a new aluminum driveshaft (and yes, the Camaro has been equipped with a Ford 9-inch axle assembly).
passenger side view of the Bowler NightStick installed
26. Bowler offers an array of TKX shift levers, including the NightStick. It offers the ability to adjust the side-to-side and front-to-back offset of the shift lever.
view of the completed installation from beneath the lifted Camaro
27. The finished installation. Bowler’s crossmember tucks up tight to the floor, providing plenty of room for dual exhaust.
In the Garage Media Tech Center box
Bowler Performance Transmissions
(618) 943-4856
bowlertransmissions.com
Classic Performance Products
(866) 517-0273
classicperform.com
Inland Empire Driveline
(800) 800-0109
iedls.com
Lokar
(877) 469-7440
lokar.com
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