Please help me clear my head on what is needed for a SBC T56 Swap.

[Nutsy]

:willy: I have been going around in circles reading tonite. I am more confused than when i started. Someone please give me a definitive answer as to what i need.

Plans are a 1000hp Twin Turbo SBC using an Dart Aluminum Small Block

What exactly do i need to install a t56?
I want a SFI approved scatter shield
I want a T56 that will hold power (G-Force, D&D, Keisler)
I want (at least i think i want) a hydrollic clutch setup

I apologize for bringing up something that probably seems simple and well covered in other posts, however, it was my search on this that has caused me more frustration and confusion because it seems a little bit TOO well covered ie. beaten to death.

So would someone just lay it out plain and simple for me?

Thanks,

Trev :willy:

[rwhite692]

Hi Trev

I'm sure that Tyler will check in...

I did mine prior to the various T56 install kits becoming available. Some pics at the link below.

If you have any specific questions, I'll try to help, feel free to email me...

Rob

[Steve1968LS2]

I asked this in another thread.. but why a T56? I doubt it will reliably handle that much power and a 5 speed would be stronger. I think T56's are great for lower hp/tq applications but I imagine them exploding under cars with huge amounts of tq..

[jannes_z-28]

They were built to handle the torque from a Viper so they can handle a lot. The new Tremec 5-speed TKO-600 is even stronger.

There are now shields to mount the T56 to a Chevy engine. McLeod has a complete kit for it.

Jan

[Steve1968LS2]

They were built to handle the torque from a Viper so they can handle a lot. The new Tremec 5-speed TKO-600 is even stronger.

There are now shields to mount the T56 to a Chevy engine. McLeod has a complete kit for it.

Jan

Yea but pound for pound a T56 will not be as strong as a Tremec 5 speed.. and the 6th gear is almost uselss and was mostly put there for CAFE reasons..

[rwhite692]

IMHO...I like my 6th gear for freeway cruising. With 3.89s out back, it all works pretty nice.

Plenty of T56s out there withstanding crazy levels of abuse, so I don't see any data to support the "lack of durability" theory (I guess that explains the "imagine" part...?)

[Musclerodz]

Call Tyler at ATS, he has the cure for your disease.

Mike

[68protouring454]

depends on which motor you go with, if you go with a 2 peice rear main seal small block or bigblock, you will need a 97 and older t-56, preferrably a 97 i think, then you will need an adapta flywheel 153 tooth to adapt the pull style clutch, then a crossmember and hydraulic master/slave kit from tyler, you can use the stock bellhousing but pushing that hp i would go with a mcloed etc scat shield, look at mcloed for the 2 peice adapta flywheel and clutch, there flywheel is cheaper than centerforces and the clutchesd are the same money, you will want a twin disk fo rthe hp you will run.
then if you go lsx you would need a 98 newer t-56, then a good sfi flywheel etc from mcloed for th lsx engine, the bellhousing bolt pattern is different between the 93-97 t-56's and the 98-2003 t-56's, 97 older has 6 holes, 98 newer have 5.
also the input shaft is longer on the 98 and newers, making them not as good to use with a 2 peice rear main block as you would need an aditional spacer tto push tranny back, anyway goodluck
jake

[Mkelcy]

The late model LS1 T56 is easily used with early small blocks. McLeod makes an adapter plate, extended pilot bushing and throwout bearing adapter for this swap that will be less than the cost of a flywheel for an LT1 swap, and will allow you to use a standard bellhousing, standard "push" style pressure plate and flywheel, etc. The "use an LT1 T56" information is simply outdated.

Do a search on Camaros.net and pro-touring.com in the transmission sections for lots of information on this swap.

[93Polo]

The late model LS1 T56 is easily used with early small blocks. McLeod makes an adapter plate, extended pilot bushing and throwout bearing adapter for this swap that will be less than the cost of a flywheel for an LT1 swap, and will allow you to use a standard bellhousing, standard "push" style pressure plate and flywheel, etc. The "use an LT1 T56" information is simply outdated.

Do a search on Camaros.net and pro-touring.com in the transmission sections for lots of information on this swap.


McLeod makes the bellhousing to adapt the trans and I believe is the only SFI approved bellhousing on the market.
http://www.mcleodind.com/catalog_htm/PAGE6.HTM

6th gear is a hwy only gear and I would put the the strength of a T56 up against any T600. Plenty of big rwhp/9 sec C5s, F-bodies and Vipers.

[Y-TRY]

I chose the TKO over a 6-speed also.

I had 3.89's with my 5-speed and highway driving was very comfortable with one overdrive. But final drive wasn't an issue, it was 1st gear. The 5 and 6 speed transmissions share the same 1st gear: 3.27:1. After my first drive I immediately yanked the 3.89's and swapped in 3.25's.

Frankly, the combination of a 3.27 1st gear and 3.89 rear gears is bad. Read my "Driving Impressions" thread. With the engine you speak of you won't need the torque mulitplication of a steep gear, anyway. So why suffer with an ultra-granny first gear?

IMHO, putting in a rear gear that matches the 3.27 first gear would result in a 6th gear cruise rpm just above idle, and that's just no fun.

[USAZR1]

Correct me if I'm wrong here but the only T56 with a 3.27 first gear was 1993? Later years have a taller first gear. My Viper T56 has a 2.66 first gear.
Also,trying to run a 3.25 rear gear with a 6spd might be a little frustrating as the final drive ratio would be so tall,you would rarely be able to use 6th gear.
FWIW,I'm running a 4.11 cog and am only turning 2,000rpm in 6th gear at 70mph,with 26" tall tires (335/35/17 Kumhos).

[93Polo]

The Z06 and GTO also come with a 2.97

http://www.rjsmith.com/z06.html
http://www.newagegto.com/05GTO.html

Some 93 f-bodies came with a 3.36
http://www.f-body.org/oldfaq/html/faq/index.html

[MarkM66]

I know it can't be done, but not sure why.

Why can't you put a late model one piece rear main flywheel, on a old style two piece rear main crank?

[XcYZ]

Mark, this isn't my strong suit, but I believe a 2 piece rear main seal crank has a 2.5" register and a 1 piece rear main seal crank has a 2" register.

[Y-TRY]

I stand corrected. For some reason I always thought they had the same steep 1st gear of 3.27:1.

Well, with that in mind, I guess you can go a bit steeper in the rear with the 6-speed than I thought. Have fun!!