D & D Performance GM/Viper T56

[tracy]

Does anyone have experience with this transmission from D & D Performance?

I want a T56 built to Viper specs and I want to bolt it up to a BBC in my 69 Camaro. I currently have a Muncie 4 speed with a new clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, etc.. The D & D guys implementation is supposed to bolt right up to my current bell housing and use standard linkage, etc...Would I be better off changing over to a hydaulic clutch setup than sticking with the stock linkage?

Are there any other gotchas that people have seen with this situation that I should be aware of.

Here is the list of specs:

650 lb-ft Torque Capacity

1.125 x 26T GM Input Spline

30T Viper Output Spline

Close Ratio w/ Deep Overdrives(2.66/1.78/1.30/1.00/.74/.50)

Carbon Fibre Blocker Rings

Steel 3-4 Shift Fork

Precision built and blueprinted by D$D technicians

Direct bolt-up to GM Saginaw/Muncie/T10 bell housings

Direct bolt-up to McLeod 8630 series steel bell housings

Accepts stock GM clutches,linkage,T.O.B.,pilot bearing,trans. mount

7T GM Mechanical Speedo Drive or Electronic Speedo Drive

Transmissions come with a offset shifter (towards driverside)

Thanks,
-Tracy

[camcojb]

I've had two T56's spec'd as above, both worked very well. Plus their service was awesome. They called me the day they showed up (I mailed in cores) and 2 days later they called again, they were done.


Jody

[tracy]

Thanks Jody!

[hapevo]

I'll second on what Jody said. D&D was great to deal with and the turn around was super quick. My T56 is behind a 482 BBC in my 69 Camaro. I just got it up and running last week. So far so good. :thumbsup:


Ross

[cutlasskid]

thats the trans i use with my twin turbo setup no problems yet. How ever i would not go with the .50 6th gear unless you drive nascar lol. i have a 3.89 rear gear p275/50/15 on rear and can go 83 mph and be at 2,000 rpm. very good service plus they are 25 min away.

[cutlasskid]

also i forgot they sell there own d&d shifter for more money, its there version of the pro 5.0 good shifter it make for a very very tight shift pattern like driving an indy car. Im not a manual trans drag racer and had problems with gear slection due to the short throws.

[rocketman]

i have d&d t-56 in my z-28 with a 396 lt1 and it's great,takes all the abuse i throw at it and i mean abuse

[tracy]

Were any of you posters using the T56 with the adapter plate that allows it to bolt up to the stock 4 speed bell housing with standard linkage, etc? Someone mentioned that I may have to cut my tunnel at the firewall to clear that adapter plate (69 Camaro)?

[cutlasskid]

i have the adaptor plate and mclode bell but with the hydralic clutch i had to stretch the floor pan alittle to get the trans to fit in my olds but the adaptor plate was fine, also could not fit the reverse lockout solinoid in my tunnel.

[Bad Bowtie]

I'm very interested in knowing if anybody has adapter plate hitting the firewall issues in a 68 camaro as well. If so I'm in big trouble cause the firewall already has beautiful black paint on it, (customer brought it to me just out of the paint shop). I bought the Viper/t56 from D&D also but haven't gotten around to checking the fitment yet because I'm waitng for a clutch fork adjustment pivot that screws into the bellhousing. The vendor that I bought all the Mcleod stuff from sent me one for a mustang.
Just my luck!

Tracy, I have decided to give the clutch linkage a try over the hydraulic system, just will be easier for me at this point, crossing my fingers.
Jack

[Teetoe_Jones]

You are going to run into a fitment issue on the D&D trans in a 1st gen, right where the firewall meets the trans tunnel.

Tyler

[camcojb]

You are going to run into a fitment issue on the D&D trans in a 1st gen, right where the firewall meets the trans tunnel.

Tyler

Do you mean with the adaptor plate? I've fit two D&D T56's in first gens, neither hit anything. One was with your kit (stock bellhousing) :thumbsup: and one with the Weir kit and their bellhousing (friends car).

Jody

[tracy]

Whew! That is very reassuring Jody. I have already ordered my transmission which I intend to bolt up to the stock bellhousing. I also spoke with Tyler yesterday and ordered his cross member.

If I have to cut the tunnel I will but would prefer not to obsiously.

-Tracy

[Teetoe_Jones]

Do you mean with the adaptor plate? I've fit two D&D T56's in first gens, neither hit anything. One was with your kit (stock bellhousing) :thumbsup: and one with the Weir kit and their bellhousing (friends car).

Jody
I'm referring to the aftermarket D&D T56 that has a 1/2" thick adapter plate to allow install to a 4spd bellhousing with mechanical linkage. the LT1/LS1 with matching bellhousings do not require mods. The other one always causes issues, and D&D never lets people in on that fact. I'm the one that usually gets to let my cleints in on the bad news.

Tyler

[camcojb]

I'm referring to the aftermarket D&D T56 that has a 1/2" thick adapter plate to allow install to a 4spd bellhousing with mechanical linkage. the LT1/LS1 with matching bellhousings do not require mods. The other one always causes issues, and D&D never lets people in on that fact. I'm the one that usually gets to let my cleints in on the bad news.

Tyler

Thanks for the clarification Tyler. I always use your stuff if possible as it's the nicest available. Also used hydraulic clutch every time.

Jody

[USAZR1]

I'm referring to the aftermarket D&D T56 that has a 1/2" thick adapter plate to allow install to a 4spd bellhousing with mechanical linkage. the LT1/LS1 with matching bellhousings do not require mods. The other one always causes issues, and D&D never lets people in on that fact. I'm the one that usually gets to let my clients in on the bad news.
Tyler

What bad news is that,Tyler?

[Teetoe_Jones]

What bad news is that,Tyler?

That the D&D T56 will require floor mods, where a production one (LT1/LS1) will not. To someone without a welder or air compressor, it could mean having to farm it out.


Tyler

[USAZR1]

I really don't understand why people get so panic-stricken about tunnel mods.
That was probably the easiest part of my conversion. I bought my D&D T56 because it's a lot stronger than a stock LT1/LS1 unit and also preferred manual clutch actuation over hydraulics.
Be that as it may,I would buy & install a TKO-600 over a T56 if I had it to do over again. Nothing wrong with my D&D Viper T56,it just seems one overdriven gear would be enough.
Different strokes for different folks,though,,, :)

[Teetoe_Jones]

I'm with you on the tunnel mods. I don't find them to be a big deal at all. To a client who believes a trans will fit into his tunnel with no mods, it can be a disapointment.
That is why I have Rockland build me a Viper spec unit inside of an LT/LS case. With McLeod's new modular bellhousing, you could even retain the manual linkage.

Tyler

[tracy]

Well it looks like I will be cutting my tunnel..

It is interesting though...I called D&D back to check on my shipment and I spoke with Joe, who was the same person that sold me the transmission. Joe was very helpful and knowledgeable. He claims that they sell more of these transmissions for 1st gen camaros than anything else and that I would not need to cut my tunnel.

I will send him pictures of my install and make sure he knows the results..

-Tracy

[tracy]

I'm very interested in knowing if anybody has adapter plate hitting the firewall issues in a 68 camaro as well. If so I'm in big trouble cause the firewall already has beautiful black paint on it, (customer brought it to me just out of the paint shop). I bought the Viper/t56 from D&D also but haven't gotten around to checking the fitment yet because I'm waitng for a clutch fork adjustment pivot that screws into the bellhousing. The vendor that I bought all the Mcleod stuff from sent me one for a mustang.
Just my luck!

Tracy, I have decided to give the clutch linkage a try over the hydraulic system, just will be easier for me at this point, crossing my fingers.
Jack

Jack, did you do your install yet?

[Bad Bowtie]

Tracy... sorry I haven't post back sooner but I had some family health issues we have been working through (girlfriends mom had a stroke). Last week I received the crossmember from Tyler and haven't gotten a chance to finish the mock up yet. Hopefully I can get some time in the next couple weeks to continue on. Have you gotten any further? Please tell me we dont have to cut the tunnel :faint:
Jack