upon installation of my t56 i found that i could only bring the guide holes to rest on the dowel pin tips. 3 of us tried to get the bellhousing to meet up with the engine block but it wouldnt get closer than 1/2 inch all the way around. it looked like it was far enough in that the clutch splines had to be lined up right and that the only thing it could be was the Pilot Bearing (which i had some trouble installing). Anyways i got a long metal rod and put it on the tailhousing and pryed it to within a 1/4 inch all the way around. Then i got the bolts and slowly brought it in all the way.....when i backed out the bolts it sat there still so i tightened it up and put the spohn crossmember on to support it for the night. Do you think this is okay??? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Rick

 

try drawing it up with the bolts, most if not all bells and auto trans i do seem it hang on the dowels just a bit. tighten the bolts up always allows the dowels to slide into the holes with little effort.

 

Sounds like maybe the clutch disk may not be aligned...did you use an alignment tool before tightening the pressure plate, and was it seated all the way into the pilot bushing?

If this part checks out, I've had good luck with a procedure a 4th gen board listed...get the trans as close as it will go, install the clutch fork and slave cylinder, then slowly/gently push in the clutch pedal. It will pull the trans up into place, worked fine both times I've installed my T56.

Drawing the trans up w/ the bellhousing bolts can work, but be careful you don't crack the aluminum housing. If you do this, use all the bolts and work your way around to each one without cranking down on them...just snug up each one, then start over...it will gradually work it's way into place if the clutch disk is aligned correctly.

 

It will also help to use longer bolts to help hold some of the weight and align the tranny unless you have a good tranny jack. I had a floor jack with a block of wood, so getting the proper alignment was a bit tricky. I used long bolts to get the alignment right on. You can get them from Home Depot, or your favorite hardware store. Then I removed each bolt one by one, swapping in the real bolts, and then tightened them up one to two turns at a time, alternating in a star pattern.

 

so from the sounds of it...what i did was ok.

my old timer teacher at my college where im taking auto said that he has never had that much trouble installing a tranny.

but then again he likes autos! (which i assume wouldnt have the same problems)

did u guys have to rotate the tranny a bit to get it to clear the trans tunnel, then slip the input sshaft about half way into the clutch assembly, then rotate the tranny back to the correct alignment of the dowel pins, then slide the tranny in the rest of the way into the clutch assembly? thats what i had to do.

Thanks for your responses guys.
ill continue with the install then. fork, slave, ds, tq arm, mini-starter, passenger LT, and fire her up.

Rick

too bad the hi torque mini starter wont get here til next friday....its comin from NC goin to cali. 119.95!!

 

On an LS1 T56 and an LT1 T56, you should be able to grab the tail end of the tranny and wiggle it left / right and up / down to get it to spline into the disk and pilot into the pilot bearing. All V8 third and fourth gen V8 manual trannies can use the same pilot tool; might wanna make sure again with one and re-bolt down the pressure plate.

Autos are lame

Good luck w/ the mini-starter. I need to get one.

 

i almost want to throw everything on and push start it to try it out!!

 

wow....it sounds as if it would disengage the pressure plate giving the clutch disc enough clearance to shift to the absolute center while finding the pilot bearing with the input shaft tip.

i had my doubts at first, but then i thought about it.

 

I've seen this.... Pilot problem most likely. There is a good chance the pilot bearing is driven in to far. It should hang out a touch actually. When you start it up I bet it wont go into gear and you'll freak. Relax... Turn it off and put it in gear. Start it up with your foot on the brakes because even in neutral it's gonna want to take off on you. Hold it there untill it quits pulling against the car. It'll scretch a minute but then it's be ok.. One of two things will happen. Either the pilot brg will clean up around the edges where it is binding or it's gonna spin the bearing in the crank. Gonna have to try it and see afterwords.

 

i understand.

but the 2 outcomes?
either it will fix it self, or it will what...destroy itself?

 

Actually yes kina, maybe.. I know that's not a good answer but I have seen one that lasted a long time after it spun in the crank. many never spin. Your best bet if it's not very far together is to yank it back out. install another new bearing so it has about an 1/8 inch hanging out. You'll see it's not gonna hit the disc and is secure. Slight lube on the nose of the input shaft and also the collor on the trans the T/O brg rides on. None in the hole of the pilot. make sure the disc is aligned and watch it slide in.

Hope it helps..

 

thanks