I went to World of Wheels last weekend. I talked to one of the Tremec guys there. Very knowledgeable guy. One thing he said in regards to TKO and T56 transmissions is that one reason that it's hard to find some parts for them is that due to machine changes over the years, Tremec isn't able to reproduce some of the parts. The old TKO transmission had gears separate from the shaft. The new TKX has the gears and shaft machined from the same piece of steel in a CNC machine.

He suggested that if you can't find parts, to upgrade to a 6060 and mod it to fit (application dependent) or step up to the Magnum F.

 

I seriously doubt they are unable to reproduce anything. Most likely, its not profitable for them to do so they don't.

 

I'll take his word for it. He showed me particular parts that have been changed and they are unable to reproduce them in part due to material changes.

 

They definitely have the ability to make whatever pats they need, I mean they are the ones that developed it and provided it in the first place. The reason companies stop making things is that it becomes unprofitable, they don't suddenly lose the ability to.

Luckily companies like AMP Distribution have picked up the slack to make all the parts so we can keep these old t56 trans on the road

 

This actually isn't true. The T56 was originally designed by Borg Warner. Tremec is a different company. It is true that cost can play a role in whether it's feasible to offer replacement parts.

 

Yea originally, Tremec bought the design and produced the parts, then they stopped. Once a product isn't popular/profitable, they stop making it and make a newer product, in this case 6060s and magnums.

 

I worked a IT gig with a company that is making bank providing gears for obsolete helicopter transmissions..
We are talking gears that fit in your palm that cost $10K and have a sub 2000 hour service life.. Ka-ching..

 

Tremec literally owns their own foundries in Mexico and all of the machine work is done in house as well. If they discontinue something, it's based on a return on investment decision. T56 ceased to be produced in 2007 (15 years ago) so it only makes sense to taper down the parts on the unit, especially when there is a lot more money in selling people a superior replacement unit in the T56 Magnum which is based off the TR6060 that is also tapering off and eventually be replaced with DCT units or potentially replaced altogether with the rapidly developing EV market.

 

Winner! Tremec owned by a larger investment group. Decisions at the top are based on return on investment. T56 represents the past and volume for product is much lower than required for them to cast new forgings, idle down their production facility of current stuff to tool up and machine the old stuff. Most of the old stuff used cold forging to machine parts from whereas the newer stuff is a 2 piece gear with a form of electronic weld done to it.

 

Aerospace, aviation and medical industries are a completely different ball game than generic or medium performance automotive grade. No one crashes or dies when a gear in your vehicle gearbox fails. We've been approached to assist with making parts for those industries but the rigors and responsibility is too high for our likings but its a very lucrative market for those who choose to participate in it.

 

Actually I've been in 2 crashes caused by gear failures, sucks when all 4 wheels on a rally car stop turning ,, while in a turn..
But yea,, its just impressive to see a gear the size of a 9" spider that cost more than my first three cars.. combined..