Have a chance to buy T-56 from a LS1 camaro. I was wondering if anybody can i.d. what year it is with the numbers I have.


On top big white sticker:


13-86-017
61DAXU037755 > DAX



Blue tab sandwiched between case and tailshaft driver side.


12552099/H3192

13-86-017J037755

any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Ls1 6-speed won't work in a 3rdgen unless you plan to install the LS1 engine as well.

 

Swap the input shaft, front plate and bell housing to their LT1 counterparts and boom... you can make it work. I confirmed this w/ both a transmission rebuilder, the GM T56 service manual and Chris Jennings (a t56 *** in my book) But the conversion is far from cost effective. So technically it will work, logically though, I wouldn't.



As far as that number, it came from a 98 Camaro/Firebird 5.7L LS1 as I recall. I have a t56 w/ the same numbers in a room somwhere in this house along w/ my Ls6 shorblock.

 

well, i was going to go threw it with a g-force kit, and I dont have any plates or bellhousing yet, so thats all stuff I would need anyways including the clutch and shifter, and I have a good friend at McCleod that could steer me in the wright direction so the question now is? Is a used 98 Ls1 T-56 worth $800 on top of all the above stuff I need to get? And can it handle 800HP?

 

I see them go on ebay for around 800ish for the ls1 tranny, incl the bell housing of course and sometimes some other tidbits. You friend at McCleod should be a good source of info for ya... use it. As far as power. They are rated for 450ft/lbs. But I have seen many take much more... but as with anything, if you abuse it, it will break. See if you can bring him down on the price. The parts to covert it if you want to use it on a SBC/LT1 are gonna run prolly upwards of $600. By then you could of scored an LT1 T56 cheaper than that.

 

That's a good question. I guess I could try to get him down to say 5 or 6 hundred, maybe then it would be worth it?

 

psst.

for the cost of thoes parts, you can BUY a LT1 trans.

 

Never said it was a smart thing to do... just possible.

And w/ used parts... it could be converted for prolly less than $300... which makes a used Ls1 t56 a viable option I think.

 

except where do you get used T56 internal parts?



from a used T56 trans.



and who in their right mind lets someone gut a good trans in their junkyard?

and when they pull it, they sell it as a assembly.


making it almost impossible to get used internal T56 parts... atleast at a reasonable cost.

so you're still stuck buying new parts.

 

basicly what im saying is, it is possible.


but i would NOT reccomend anyone go that route.

 

Any manual transmission repair shop will have the parts. Only 3 parts are different between the two that I can find in the service manual. If you are dead set on converting the T56. I believe Standard Transmission in Fort Worth, TX can get you either NEW or USED(if they have any in stock) parts. But as Mr. Dude 1 says, it wouldn't be a recomended course of action. It just not cost effcient. I bought an Ls1 T56, thought about converting it and instead picked up an Ls6 Shortblock, and Ls1 heads... paid less than $450 for it too.

 

both the LT-1 and LS-1 trannys are the same except 3 internal things? They are rated for the same power? And they both will fit a Third gen? If that's the case then the LT-1 is the way to go, 93 to 97 right?

 

Correct... but only go for 94 - 97 trannies.

 

Why is that?

 

I wouldn't necessarily throw the '93 option out altogether. It's rated a little lower for torque capacity, but popular belief is that it's just as tough as the '94-'97 tranny's. The '93 boxes also had different ratios, somewhat deeper than the '94-'97 tranny's. And I think there was no CAGS setup on the '93 version, but I'm not sure.

The LT1 and LS1 tranny's have the same torque ratings, but most guys who've run both will tell you the LT1 tranny's are stronger. Borg-Warner built the T56's for the LT1 cars in Indiana, but about 9 years ago they sold their tranny division to Tremec. Tremec has been making the T56 in Mexico ever since 1997 IIRC. So yes, most of the internals are compatible, and yes, you can make them interchange by swapping a few parts, but no, they are not really the same.

 

That is correct no CAGS in 93... doesn't really affect our use though in a 3rd gen.

 

Hence the uncertainty...I never really cared enough to check since I was just leaving it unhooked anyway. It's good to know for sure though.