Well about a two months ago I replied to a post by burndude and stated the TKO 600 I put in the 68 was the single most successful mod I did and the one I was most happy with. Now after only 950 miles the tranny is making some real ugly noise. Noisy with the clutch engaged and quiets down when I put my foot on the clutch. I put the car on jack stands and ran it in gear the noise from the tranny was scary.
Anyone taken these things apart or have an idea of WTF? I couldn't tell where the noise was specifically coming from, even using the screwdriver to the ear trick. Has to be the main input shaft and the counter shaft assemblies as they are what moves in nuetral.
I contacted Keisler, they said they would look at it but it will cost me $600+ to get it there and back.

Al, I'm sure with your skills you can just take it apart and replace whatever part that's making the noise. Not that I would wish it on you because you just finished with that rear seal thing. Good luck, Neill

Thanks Neill,
I plan on doing it myself but I've never had one of these apart and there are most likely some tips and pitfalls to be considered. The last time I took a tranny apart was a 1951 Land Rover's in the mid 70s. Seems to me I had bearings rolling all over the floor then and I don't want to do that this time.
This was a brand new TKO and shouldn't be breaking down with less than a thousand miles on it. I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else and what they did to repair, mine may be the same.

Hopefully it's just the throw out bearing. That would be the easiest fix.

Sadly no, it's in the gearbox.

When in second gear and putting a little power on and off the gear shift lever moves about and inch or so back and forth. I don't think this is normal. The input shaft should have 0-4 thou play and first second should have less than 16 thou. I don't think the lever would move that much without excessive play. But I'm not a tranny expert I could be wrong.

saw lots of stuff about front cluster bearing support and associated "fixes" in a couple of google searches worth looking at even if it isn't the problem. Please post your progress so we can learn, thanks

Niell.
Been looking online but haven't found much, can you post or PM me the sites?
By the way do you still want that pulley?

I got the thing out this morning, almost killed me when it fell on my chest and rolled onto my neck. Heavy SOB. I'll have to borrow a trans jack when I put it back in.
The clutch, flywheel, pilot and throwout bearing all look good.
The input shaft of the tranny is tight as well. Hmmm.
Keisler told me the gear lash is controlled by the input shaft endplay so if the input shaft is tight the lash should not be excessive. I'll have to talk to them before I tear it apart, a lot has to come off before the lash can be measured.