T56 Trouble – Syncro

Well I’m doing the 700r4 to T56 swap. I got the T56 used with supposedly 30,000 miles and condition unknown. Anyway, I put it in the car and take it for a test drive. Everything was fine except 2nd gear. It would grind every time I tried to shift into 2nd, upshift or downshift, unless I rev match it.

So anyway I assume that the synchronizer for 2nd gear is bad. I’ve already pulled the tranny back out of the car. I was thinking about taking it to a tranny shop to get repaired but none of the shops I call can give me a cost estimate. One place said $350 for labor and other place said $750. That seems kind of high. For those of you that have had your tranny rebuilt/repaired at a shop what was the labor cost?

I am considering doing the repair myself but I’m unsure what’s involved. I would like to replace all the synchronizers, upgrade the 3/4 shift fork, and upgrade the fork pads. I think the gears and bearing are in good shape but won’t know for user until I open it up. Are there any special tools that would be needed to replace the items mentioned above? I have read that you may need a pull, press, and another special tool to check the end play. Is this all required to replace the mentioned parts or is that only if you replace the bearing and gears?

I already have the 50 page PDF service manual from GM. Does anyone else have any guides, pictures, or other recommendations?

Should I just take it apart and replace the items that are bad or is there a rebuild kit that I should buy instead?

I’m just looking for advice or recommendations. I haven’t decided whether I want to take it to a tranny shop or do it myself. I just have the feeling that I’m going to get ripped of if I take is somewhere.

 

Come on guys, someone here must have worked on one of the T56s before. I’m looking for any pictures or other tips. What kind of pullers and press did you use? How about that endplay tool, is that require? Do I need these tools if I just want to change the synchronizers and shift forks?

I looked around at the local auto stores and could not find a gear puller that was similar to the one show in the service manual. They just had the typical 2 and 3 jaw pullers. Will these work? What can be used to pull the gears that are farther down the shaft? The pullers I found all had rather short arms.

I don’t have a press. Is there any way to get these parts back on without a press?