A new TREMEC in the garage can turn any grown Mopar man into a kid on Christmas morning. But go easy, Pistol Grip Pete, because Silver Sport Transmissions (SST) has a few pointers before that cardboard box becomes confetti and the instructions become a shop towel.
In its recent installation dos-and-don’ts video, SST starts with an assignment most gearheads can stomach: go drive the car as it sits. Record existing noises and vibrations before teardown so yesterday’s driveline grumble doesn’t get blamed on tomorrow’s transmission. After that, bench-shift the new gearbox and check input-shaft rotation before even thinking about installation.
Once underneath, their direction is even more straightforward: just don’t be a gorilla. The transmission must seat fully against the bellhousing before its mounting bolts go in. Using those bolts to drag it home can crack the case or snap a mounting ear. That’s an expensive way to discover your ratchet has more muscle than your judgment.
Likewise, the TKX’s “DO NOT REMOVE” warning isn’t a dare. That innocent-looking fastener is the fifth-gear/reverse selector-arm pivot pin. Mistake it for a fill plug and you’ve just promoted a fluid fill into a transmission teardown. The actual fill and drain plugs live on the passenger side. Read first, pour second.
In summary, watch this video, read the paperwork, and save the chest-thumping for when the car actually leaves the garage. Five forward gears ought to mean more driving, not five new reasons to invent four-letter words.
