Guys i dont know if you remember my last post before i shipped out in april for training. I had rebuilt my trans and ended up buyin g a buch of parts that has gone bad and needed to be replaced.... well its at it again and im really pist... I have lkost second and never really got 4th gear to work or hold while in drive.... second workled for a while then jsut disapeared and now i have 1 and then 3rd... this really blows... so i am looking to replace the trans with a t5 or t56 and am in need of guidance and experianced help.... has any one swapped one of these tranies to a 3.8 and what parts did they need? I really want the t56 and so far i have saved up some money as i cant really spend it during training please advise me as to how i should proceed best. I figure i need the cltuch mastger cyclender, pedal, slave, a 3.8L bell housing that will fit the t56, clutch, and 3.8L standard flywheel, pilot bushing, cut the tunnel for the gear shfter and a new crossmember to hold it in place. I most likely will need to find a shorter driveshaft and maybe a diffrent torque arm.... my heart has really sunk as i have had repeated failures with this auto tranny and i just want the simplicity and economy that can be gainied by going stick.... I appreciate you replies...

Spc Ezra Lopez Lopez

 

For mating a T56 to the 3.8, you might be best served by using a McLeod scattershield; they have quite a few adaptation options. Or, if there is a Lakewood bellhousing that fits the back of the 3800, and has the "muncie" or "straight up T5" pattern, you can get the aftermarket T56 in behind that pretty easily. I can't d/l the Lakewood catalogue off my preferred site for that right now though.

 

Those bellhousings arent going to bolt up to the 60* V6 pattern of the 3800. About the only way its going to work reasonably is to get the "aftermarket" conversion T56 setup which has a plate to bolt to your T5 housing. Aside from that you'll need a clutch disc with a 1 1/8" 26 spline hub.