tremec t56 swap questions

[mechanic350]

so I've been searching the forum and have had some good luck finding guys who have swapped out to a 6 speed. I'm curious if anyone had bought the kit that hurst driveline sells or the kit that american power train sells and how well it worked out for you. I'm planning on mating it with the 350 i have already and possibly regearing my rear end.

[nicolas72gmc]

I was wanting to do the same thing, but just started looking at what I need to start buying for the swap. Subscribed

[Lattimer]

Can't speak for the 6 speed, but I got my TKO 600 kit from American Powertrain and they were awesome to deal with. Really know their stuff and were very helpful when I had questions.

[BossHogg69]

I got all the stuff for my TKO swap from these guys www.standardtransmission.com. Easy to deal with, knowledgeable and good pricing. 'Joe D.' was the guy I dealt with - I'm not sure if he still works there or not, but he knows the TREMEC line very well and was always helpful.

[mechanic350]

great. I'm curious what ill need to get outside of what these companies are offering. sadly I'm gonna have to wait a bit before i dive into this project due to funds but I can't wait.

[kitsbeach]

Originally Posted by mechanic350

so I've been searching the forum and have had some good luck finding guys who have swapped out to a 6 speed. I'm curious if anyone had bought the kit that hurst driveline sells or the kit that american power train sells and how well it worked out for you. I'm planning on mating it with the 350 i have already and possibly regearing my rear end.

Curious which hydraulic clutch setup you will use.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by mechanic350

great. I'm curious what ill need to get outside of what these companies are offering. sadly I'm gonna have to wait a bit before i dive into this project due to funds but I can't wait.

The American Powertrain kit for my TKO didn't come with a shifter boot. Seriously----everything else was included.

[mechanic350]

Not sure what clutch setup I'll run. Lattimer I'm liking the color of your truck. Mines the same just a 72. And thanks for the heads up. Shift boot isn't a bad part to miss out of the package when it comes to cost of getting one.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by mechanic350

Not sure what clutch setup I'll run. Lattimer I'm liking the color of your truck. Mines the same just a 72. And thanks for the heads up. Shift boot isn't a bad part to miss out of the package when it comes to cost of getting one.

Thanks. Its the stock white right now, ugly, faded, dented, chipped, etc. I'm hoping to paint it next year, but still not sure on color.


I stuck with the stock mechanical clutch system and stock bellhousing since I could.

I got the street slayer clutch from American Powertrain. It has about 4000 miles on it now and I think its finally breaking in. Very tough to take off smoothly with it until it breaks in.

[CastIron]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

I stuck with the stock mechanical clutch system and stock bellhousing since I could.

What transmission did you have in there previously? Do you have the mounts on the bellhousing or rear of the trans?
It sounds like a pretty straightforward swap.

[mechanic350]

Yeah I'm looking at repainting as well. Going all blacked out.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by CastIron

What transmission did you have in there previously? Do you have the mounts on the bellhousing or rear of the trans?
It sounds like a pretty straightforward swap.

Originally it was a Saginaw 3-speed. I swapped in a Saginaw car 4- speed for a while. Both used the bellhousing that mounts to the crossmember. I left the crossmember in but removed the rubber mounts from it, then added the rear crossmember that was included in the kit.

The only issue I had was the hole in the bellhousing on later trucks is larger. Earlier trucks and cars have a smaller hole. Pissed me off too, because I had a bell with the smaller hole and scrapped it. So I had a machine shop make a spacer ring to take up the space. If you search there is a thread on it that gives dimensions. Otherwise its a pretty simple swap.



My understanding is the the 6-speed won't fit with the mechanical clutch linkage, you have to go hydraulic. If I was doing that I would have swapped bellhousings while I was at it. Minimal cost relative to everything else.

[kitsbeach]

Originally Posted by Lattimer

My understanding is the the 6-speed won't fit with the mechanical clutch linkage, you have to go hydraulic. If I was doing that I would have swapped bellhousings while I was at it. Minimal cost relative to everything else.

I thought you had a 6-speed with a mechanical clutch linkage.?

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by kitsbeach

I thought you had a 6-speed with a mechanical clutch linkage.?

No, I have the TKO 600, which is a 5-speed. I said at the beginning of the thread I don't know the 6 speed in particular, but my dealings with American Powertrain were top notch. Their kit had everything I needed, including an adapater to move the shifter forward for the bench seat I used to have.

I wanted the 6 speed, but the trans was about $1000 more, and the hydraulic clutch kit was about $800 more, and there were a few other little things, and it looked like I needed a new bellhousing to do it right, and it was getting close to $2500 extra for the one additional gear between 4th and 5th. I couldn't justify it on top of everything I was already spending.

The close ratio 6 speed has ratios 2.66, 1.78, 1.30, 1:1, .80, .62, and the wide ratio 5 speed has 2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1:1, .64. Pretty similar except for the extra gear.

[mechanic350]

got to spend some time with a fellow forum member and was able to discuss some of the stuff about the trans swap i can't wait to be able to do it. gonna have to wait but its gonna be worth it. search for Lss3 its a thread where 69cunningham is doing the swap we are all talking about with a ls motor bolted up. great build thread. with lots of pictures