Ok if Im looking for an 85 corvette 6 speed to swap in what would be the exact name? Would I ask for a T56, or what would it be called? Oh also did any corvette ever have a digital dash that I could use for a swap?

 

I was talking to a guy that has an 85 corvette and he said it has a 4+3 speed manual sooo what exactly does that mean 6 speed with reverse?

 

never mind I know what a 4+3 is now its a 4 speed with overdrive that is activated with a switch.

 

You don't want that thing in your car. Just imagine all the problems of a 4 speed manual, plus the problems of a 2 speed automatic all in one convenient package.

 

The early C4 Vettes had a ZF 6speed. It really isn't as strong or as plentiful as the T56's in the F-bodys. They only put that in the Vettes, so it will be expensive. Also, the Vette torque arm monts on the opposite side as the F-body, with a different type of mount (if I recall from the IRS swap my brother did). You'd be much better off to get yourself a T56 and go that route. Quite frankly, it is the better tranny and cheaper too. Oh yeah, stay the hell away from that 4+3 thing, that would just cause you more hassle than it's worth. My other brother has that thing in his 85 (maybe an 86) Greenwood Vette, and the overdrive part (the +3 part) is always on the blink. That is the same system they used on the 80's Volvo's (not 4+3, but 4+1). Need I say more....

 

I know all this I was really just trying to find out what the exact name of the 4+3 was Ive been planing a T56 swap forever.

 

Isn't that 4+3 the old Doug Nash tranny?

 

I'm not sure, all I know is that it was a T10 (which is a pretty ok tranny) with a wacko overdrive unit on it. They were ok tranny's but they don't hold a candle to the T56.

 

Yes thats the old doug nash tranny

 

From what I hear the ZF's are stronger then the t56's. I don’t think they put the ZF in corvettes to make it more expensive. That just doesn’t make sense; GM loves to save money everyway they can. They put it in because it’s strong. It's a German made transmission, good stuff! Another note, the firehawke came with ZF's. To bolt one in a thirdgen you need to make a custom center console and cross member and maybe a few more things.

 

Well, my brother's L98 89 Corvette has shelled 2 of those ZF's, and his LS1 hasn't been able to break it even once. Also, if the ZF is so strong, why did Dodge opt for the T56 (no "because they're Dodge" isn't an answer )? I never said that it wasn't strong, just that the T56 is stronger in stock form. The fact that it is built by a german company means exactly dick to me, since the BMW ZF's were junk, and always blowing up. I know this because I was a mechanic in a foreign junkyard for 7 years, and almost every BMW manual was smoked (either grinding into gears, or gears were just gone). I also never said that they put the ZF in the Vettes to make it more expensive, what I said was it only came in the Vette so there aren't as many available, and it will be more money since it is a Vette only tranny (aside from the 25 installed in Firehawks, good luck finding one of those). If you think that boneyards don't get more money for Vette parts, you are seriously mistaken. The other thing needed to install a ZF in a 3rd Gen is a custom torque arm since the mounts are on opposite sides of the tranny. I'm not lookin for a flame war here, I'm just clarifying the points of mine in question.