1969 C10 Bagged LS/T56 Build

[502ms]

I am quite glad that you are still responding to this thread - I got my LQ4 in the mail on Monday, and I have been torn on this T56 deal. What vehicle did you get your T56 from? That position looks good to me for the shifter. I am just wanting to not have any mistakes be made on getting this part, and the shifter position be too far back...

Also, thanks for the info above. I have a one-piece Drive Shaft...I am wondering if it will be the same length or will it need to be lengthened/shortened. My original setup is 327 with TH400. I lay frame with no pinion issues before then..

[ADub]

T56 is from a 98-02 Fbody. I like the shifter position, but I doubt you could make it work with a stock bench seat. If you are running buckets, should be good. Stock console would still probably work, but might be a little awkward. Bear in mind that the ECE mounts I used push the engine pretty far forward, so if you are running different mounts, its going to push the shifter location back. The handle I am using has a couple inches of setback to, so there is some room for final adjustments to fit your liking.

My previous combo was a 454 on small block mounts and a TH350. The T56 uses the same yoke as the TH350, but as I recall, I needed to be a few inches shorter with my new combo. I had a custom shaft made since my original was in rough shape. Pretty sure your TH400 uses a different yoke than T56, so you might find it better just to get a shaft made. Want to say mine was $300 shipped to my door including yoke and u joints

Forgot to mention, my combo would not clear the stock trailing arm crossmember and Im not even close to laying frame. The T56 output shaft location is much higher than on the old transmissions.

[mcbassin]

I thought your truck looked familiar, I wish I would have found your thread sooner. Check this out HERE I saw your truck up close in Stillwater. Very cool build! Love it.
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[ADub]

Thanks. Hoping to do Power Tour again this year, not sure what vehicle since I have to carry a baby seat this time...

[ADub]

Been a while since I posted. Had some time this spring to install a wideband and slowly tune the engine. As it sat, it was fat at idle and lean everywhere else. Ended up going two steps on the primaries and up 4 on the secondaries. Still fiddling with the pump shot to get my tip in fueling where I want it. Had a chance to make a few dyno pulls today. My goals were 425rwhp when I built it. After driving it, my butt dyno said it was making around 380.

It made 385/381 uncorrected, 377/373 corrected. Curves were what I hoped for, but would have like to see a bit more peak.

Interesting notes. 3 runs were 3 different timing curves, varying by a total of 7 deg. It didnt really care. WOT AFR on the dyno was high 11s to low 12s, which is much fatter than on the street. I tuned it by doing 2nd and 3rd gear pulls and settled at high 12s on WOT AFR. After the dyno trip, I did a 4th gear pull on the highway and what do you know, fat like it was on the dyno. Lower gear pulls were still in the high 12s. So Im sure if I could tune a carb better or threw EFI at it, there are gains to be had, but prob not the 425whp I was going for.

[1969C10shortbed]

Nice project you have there. Are you still using the LY6 cam? If so, maybe swap it out for something a little hotter? Like an LS7 or LS9 cam. They aren't expensive from GM, and they net a good amount of power over other stock LS cams. I bet you can make the 425 whp you're hoping for. Good luck! I may be moving to Houston within the next year! I'm in El Paso right now.

[Slam'ed 72]

Awesome truck!!!

[ADub]

Originally Posted by 1969C10shortbed

Nice project you have there. Are you still using the LY6 cam? If so, maybe swap it out for something a little hotter? Like an LS7 or LS9 cam. They aren't expensive from GM, and they net a good amount of power over other stock LS cams. I bet you can make the 425 whp you're hoping for. Good luck! I may be moving to Houston within the next year! I'm in El Paso right now.

Had a custom grind cam. I think the dyno wounded it, spun #3 rod bearing two days later. Tore it down, bored it out to 6.2, installed LS3 flat top pistons, had the heads worked & decked, added LS3 hollow stem valves and a larger cam. Its currently on the engine stand. Should make a lot more power this time around.

[1969C10shortbed]

Originally Posted by ADub

Had a custom grind cam. I think the dyno wounded it, spun #3 rod bearing two days later. Tore it down, bored it out to 6.2, installed LS3 flat top pistons, had the heads worked & decked, added LS3 hollow stem valves and a larger cam. Its currently on the engine stand. Should make a lot more power this time around.

Interesting. I bet you'll see a nice power gain with those mods. I actually found this thread while looking for ideas for a T56 swap for my '69. Right now it has a **** 3 speed. Your truck is really cool.

[ADub]

I expect to see a min of 450 at the wheels this time around.

The T56 swap was not particularly difficult, but its not a bolt in project either.

[1969C10shortbed]

Originally Posted by ADub

I expect to see a min of 450 at the wheels this time around.

The T56 swap was not particularly difficult, but its not a bolt in project either.

The hardest problem I'm having right now is sourcing one for my truck. It has a 250 in it, and I may end up keeping the 250 for a long time. There's a lot of talk about how the LS-based T56 won't work, but the LT1-based one is better suited for a 1-piece rear-main seal on the block.

[502ms]

I need to do the dyno tuning next. So far, enjoying.
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[smoky02]

Dub would you do me a favor a post a picture of the interior of your truck now, mainly where the seats sit and how the shifter looks in comparison to someone sitting in it? Also also, does it feel pretty natural the way you have your's set up(seats and shifter location) or is it a bit uncomfortable/awkward? Thank you...I'm thinking of doing a similar swap just wanna get all the ideas that I can.

[smoky02]

Nevermind, I found the pictures of page 2, I apologize

[ADub]

I am very pleased with the shifter position. I think the seating position is about as good as you can get for a guy my size on the cheap. Clutching action isn't my favorite, but thats not really a fault of the seats.

[lowlyfec10]

thread revival:::: nice build. any pics of the musclecar pan in relation to the crossmember? my pan setup is what is keepin me from droppin the lq4 in my truck right now.....been tryna source an fbody pan for a deal but if this pan will in fact work and sit higher...i will save money going with it.

[ADub]

The x member is the lower than pan. This is with the ECE mounts, may not be the same with other setups.

From front



From side

[w00dst0ck]

How did you plumb the burb tank for fuel injection?

Just ran an aeromotive in line?

[ADub]

Originally Posted by w00dst0ck

How did you plumb the burb tank for fuel injection?

Just ran an aeromotive in line?

With a carburetor....

[w00dst0ck]

Indeed. Carry on.

[JP238]

You said "modified" trans mount. Did you use the factory one?

[ADub]

Originally Posted by JP238

You said "modified" trans mount. Did you use the factory one?

I used the stock auto xmember and added a spacer in between the xmember and the actual transmission mount to match up to the pinion angle I was working with. As I recall, I used 1-1/4" heavy wall square tubing, but the height will be different depending on your motor mounts, trans, ride height etc.