GEN III and t56 into 64 gmc

[sdwolff98]

HEllo yall,
Am doing the project as we speak and I gather parts *chuckles* long time gathering parts is worst thing. I am dropping a LQ4 stroker in my truck and a T56 into a 64 GMC longwide 3/4 ton. I have seen shifty's post here and on LS1tech about conversion to hydraulic clutch which is cool. I am going about it another way am pieving the parts together to go with a manual clutch on mine. So far I have in my hand a mcleod bellhousing that is designed for this conversion, a bracket from scoggin dickey to put a bellcrank mount on the engine, and a set of spherical rod end linkages instead of the older rod style.
here are some of the part number I have so far:

SDPC bracket SDCB
mcleod MCL-8703-12 SCALLOP RING
MCL-8710-00 BELL HOUSING
Brother's Trucks Spherical rod ends SCL6366

This is what I have so far will be dropping the trans out this weekend to install the trans to the bellhousing to see how it fits up and work from there.

Cheers Yall
Sean Wolff
http://www.1964gmcsmurf.com

[greg64]

Sounds good Sean! I'm hoping to go Gen III in my 64 at some point. Let us know how it goes. I'm especially interested in how the shifter from the T56 lines up with the stock location. Are you putting the two units in together (replacing both existing parts)?

Greg

[sdwolff98]

Hello Greg,
Yes I am replacing both engine and transmission in the truck. I got to get a few tools together this weekend to drop the transmission out from the truck, which btw is the T56, and drop the front bellhousing off the truck. Then see what I am getting into swapping to a mechanical clutch setup. What I have been told may be right and will have to go to a hydraulic but am giving it hell lol. I will get some picture of where the T56 shifter comeup through the floor bloard and see if I can post em on here for you. The T56 shifter comes up through the floor near the back end of the transmission hump is on the floor.

Cheers
Sean

[greg64]

Thanks Sean. Are you currently running a small block of some description with the T56?

[sdwolff98]

Hi Greg,
No I was running a smallblock 4 speed muncie before this so this is a new engine transmission for this truck. Kinda all new territory for me due to the clutch issues and fuel injectioni stuff on the engine. I will get some pictures sunday of the shifter position in the cab and the z bar line up going to use the stock bellhousing for the moment and see how everything looks to line up once installed. I will upload everything I get to my website sunday after noon and will let you know when it is online and viewable


Cheers
Sean

[greg64]

If you can get the stock mechanical clutch to work, that'll probably work out great. I like hydraulic myself, but I'm trying to puzzle out how to make the master cylinder fit. I have factory power brakes on mine, and the booster is sloped towards the fender (looking at it from the top), so it's even worse for space near where the clutch master would go. I'm wondering if some sort of under dash arrangement could be made to fit. Aaaah well, it's this sort of thing that gets the old brain-box workin.

[sdwolff98]

Hi Greg,
Lol this I know it can be done just taking the time to do it and find the right parts for the setup. I will know more when I get the z bar mount bracket up in the truck this weekend whether or not the bracket is right or either another needs to be tried or one to be fabricated for it. Everything else is identical to the 57 chevy belairs in the clutch aspects of the mechanical setup. I spent 2 months talking to different bellhousing manufacturers before finding mcleod. I talked to the chief engineer there and he created the bellhousing that I listed for that purpose. so crossing fingers on the z bar bracket

Cheers
Sean

[greg64]

Good luck Sean. That bellhousing sounds like just the ticket for the mech clutch. It's funny how these things can be so simple in concept, and so difficult in the details. I was just looking at a kit from classic chevy 5 speed that puts a TKO 500 behind a SB. I like the look of it because it can work with my existing 283, and then be made to work (new pilot bearing and flywheel) with the Gen III later.

[sdwolff98]

Hey Greg,
LOL kk major stumbling block that with some work might do what is needed. There is a projection rectangular on the back of my block where it looks like a possible pivot ball could be machined into it to fit not sure till I talk to a machine shop about the spot. That and the projection would need to have a shorter width Z bar there. Guess will be looking at corvette and 57 belair z bars also now lol

Will give you a heads up when I know more
Sean