T56 into a classic

[dan468]

Originally Posted by capev86

nice thing about this trans is there are 2 pair of overdrive ratios available (and corresponding first gear ratios). you can have hot rod performance, big rig power AND drive smooth on the highway and get awesome (for a truck) gas mileage with a proper 6 speed. i want to put one of these behind a hot rodded 292 in an early 50's chevy 1 ton panel truck done up to look completely stock right down to the wheels (but with a modern chevy 8 lug chassis with IFS, sway bars and 4 wheel disc....some day)

.8 (5th) / .62 (6th) that would be great behind a 3.42, 3.73, 4.10, 4.11, etc

4.10 x .62 = 2.54 overall

.7 (5th) / .52 (6th) that would be awesome behind a 4.56, 4.57, 5.13, etc

4.57 x .52 = 2.38
5.13 x .52 = 2.67
6.13 x .52 = 3.19 (think rock crawler or stump puller with highway ability)

in comparison, a stock 700r4 in OD

3.07 x .7 = 2.15
3.73 x .7 = 2.61

obviously somewhere between 2.50 and 3.00 is good for mild highway driving (60-70mph). you can see why the 3.07 is a terrible choice in a truck.....it has to work too hard to make overdrive worthwile and so gas mileage is no better than with a more aggressive gear even if the rpms are lower. with OD and a 3.73 you get the best of both worlds! you obviously want to stay well above 2.00 unless you have a turbo diesel truck with a banks kit or other serious mods (tons of torque). tire height and chassis tonnage/primary use and driving pattern will also determine what you want to run. i love my funky 3 on the tree in my 72 burb 3/4 ton 2wd, but if it had been a floor shifter, i'd rip it out and put one of these bad boys in when i get my 406sbc in my truck!

so 3.73 is the best route?

[Schwinn68]

that's a sweet looking trans you've got there! I've got a nv3500 I'm swapping into mine. So you just ditched the hydraulic clutch and kept the stock mechanical linkage? If that's the case I wonder if I could too. That would make the swap much easier.

[dan468]

I didn't see anything on the site I got my stuff from for the 3550

[GKsport67]

Whats the estmated $$$ for the swap,i think it would be a THRILL to drive my cammed 327 with a 5 speed....daily!

[dan468]

Originally Posted by GKsport67

Whats the estmated $$$ for the swap,i think it would be a THRILL to drive my cammed 327 with a 5 speed....daily!

Here's what I got:
800 for tranny
300 for shift location kit
170 for new input shaft
200 for the adapter kit

and it a SIX speed!! haha

[srea76]

was polishing expensive?

[dan468]

Originally Posted by srea76

was polishing expensive?

800 for the trans, bell housing, and heads

[mrgoodwrench_420]

do you have any pics of the clutch actuator set up this is the part of my swap i cant figure out

[twillie2460]

No I do not but there are some threads on this site that I will use alot of his setup at least on the trans side anyway. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300087
This should give you a good ideas anyway. If you look I think there is a couple of threads on this though.

[Custom 68]

Originally Posted by dan468

I finished the Mid shift mod last night, it's pretty easy. As far as they hydraulic setup goes...I'm using my factory clutch stuff.

Dan, how tough was this mid shift conversion? I have a t56 but needed to find the info on this change. The one I saw looked pretty involved as far as taking the thing apart. I really hated to get it messed up before I installed it.
Thanks
Dave

[twillie2460]

There is a thread on here and I think is was Dan's that goes thru the whole processof moving the shift location. I just ordered my conversion kit yesterday and it will also have instructions in it.
Dave you used the factory clutch setup, you mean you set it up with no hydraulics?

[dan468]

Originally Posted by Custom 68

Dan, how tough was this mid shift conversion? I have a t56 but needed to find the info on this change. The one I saw looked pretty involved as far as taking the thing apart. I really hated to get it messed up before I installed it.
Thanks
Dave

Pretty easy it only took a day. I've never taken a transmission apart before (I took everything apart as opposed to leaving it mostly together because I had it polished) and it was very straight forward. I was surprised at how easy it was. I am keeping the factory clutch hardware and not using hydraulic.

[Jacfourteen]

Originally Posted by twillie2460

Dave you used the factory clutch setup, you mean you set it up with no hydraulics?

It looks like he used an adapter between the t56 and his stock bellhousing. Using a stock bellhousing means that you can run the original fork, linkage, etc. I have never seen this route before and it has me interested because I was considering this swap but didn't want to convert to hyd.

[dan468]

Originally Posted by Jacfourteen

It looks like he used an adapter between the t56 and his stock bellhousing. Using a stock bellhousing means that you can run the original fork, linkage, etc. I have never seen this route before and it has me interested because I was considering this swap but didn't want to convert to hyd.

I will have pics ASAP. I will use the factory stuff as much as possible. If you see items in the pics that aren't factory, it's for cosmetic purposes and the fact that the dropmember raised the engine.

[Custom 68]

thanks Dan for the update. I had seen the instructions for the mid shift upgrade and it looked like it all came apart. I was not sure I wanted that but now I may rethink. I have a T56 for my 5.3 swap I will give this some more thought.
Dave

[splehigh]

Great thread! I may do this swap in the future also. It would be quite the upgrade from a 3 speed. LOL

[Nova_Cobra64]

How necessary is the mid shifter if a guy has bucket seats? Or in other words how far back does the stock t56 shifter position sit inside the cab? I found a guy selling a t56 out of an 02 f-body that he now has in an s-10 behind a sbc using a belhousing adapter. I am assuming if it is a comfortble location in an s-10, I'm thinking it should be fine in this situation too.

I wanted to go TKO for simplicity, but the pricing on this about 1/4 of what the TKO setup would run me.

[dan468]

Originally Posted by Nova_Cobra64

How necessary is the mid shifter if a guy has bucket seats? Or in other words how far back does the stock t56 shifter position sit inside the cab? I found a guy selling a t56 out of an 02 f-body that he now has in an s-10 behind a sbc using a belhousing adapter. I am assuming if it is a comfortble location in an s-10, I'm thinking it should be fine in this situation too.

I wanted to go TKO for simplicity, but the pricing on this about 1/4 of what the TKO setup would run me.

I do not know as I didn't mock it up prior to changing the location

[MB_70]

I did this a MUCH harder way ..... AND more expensive !!! GLAD that this thread exists .. because I would do this again.

You can use any automatic transmission crossmember from a 67-72 truck (no modification needed). I used a TH400 mount with metric bolts into the casing. You do have to slide it back on the frame.

I used a new speedo cable for a 67-72 truck with a TH400. Its long enough.

THANK YOU LEEVON for sending this to me, I like !!!!

I enjoyed the highway MUCH more with this transmission in my truck. The mileage was better, but I expected better. I only ran 29" tall tires, and a 3:73 at first. A 4:56 is VERY deep, but if I could go back, I would do it better, and run taller tires with the same gears.

[dan468]

There's more to come, I'm having problems with the pilot bushing narrowing when pressing in and I'm pretty sure I used the wrong bell housing. That's the curse of having parts everywhere I guess

[ozman3803]

Any updates I may have found a t56 if the price is right!
Posted via Mobile Device

[dan468]

Originally Posted by ozman3803

Any updates I may have found a t56 if the price is right!
Posted via Mobile Device

Sorry, school has consumed my life. I will be continuing in about 3 weeks. Not sure if I'm going to update this thread or just do my build thread. Keep an eye on the build thread...

[vortech71chevy]

there are other ways to do this swap. if you have a 1 pc rear main seal sbc, you can use factory LT1 flywheel, clutch set, bellhousing, hydraulics, and pilot bushing. its super easy, i had it in my 72 camaro and recently began swithing everything over to the 71 chevy truck. check out nastyz28.com theres a ton of info on putting a t56 into vintage iron... or pm me.