I swapped in a T56 in place of the 700r4 in my '91 Z28 a couple months ago. I have been having trouble with it going into reverse since I did the swap. It has gotten a little better but I've noticed that when the car gets hot(and the trans fluid gets hot), it will not go into reverse and all the other gears take a little extra effort to engage them. The only way to get the car into reverse when this happens is to start the car in reverse. Does anyone know what the problem may be?

Thanks

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, no cats, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

 

Did you hook up the reverse lockout selenoid? I'm guessing that if you did hook it up that it doesn't like to work when it gets hot. Kinda like a starter for the engine. I never plugged it in and I've never had any problems, but again it's just a guess.

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88 firebird formula
350 Vortec TBI
214int/224exh, .471int/.491exh
Edelbrock headers
SIX-speed
Eats LS1's with a 2.73 open rear and 2 1/4 stock catback

My Formula

 

No, its not that. The reverse lockout solenoid is wired to the brake switch. What happens is I can get it to go to the right and up but it won't 'click' into reverse when it is hot.

 

That's interesting. I have no idea. Sorry.

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88 firebird formula
350 Vortec TBI
214int/224exh, .471int/.491exh
Edelbrock headers
SIX-speed
Eats LS1's with a 2.73 open rear and 2 1/4 stock catback

My Formula

 

Steve, what clutch are you using? The Centerforce dual friction/T56 combo has this problem for some reason.

 

Yep, I am using the Centerforce dual friction clutch. What about it makes it do this? Is it the pressure plate? Is there a way to fix it? And why would it only do it when it is hot?

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, Centerforce Dual Friction clutch, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, no cats, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

 

Steve, if your Centerforce DF is the LT-1 design they have had lots of problems. I warrantied out 2 of these for a friend of mine with a 1994 Z. They both did the same thing--the first one had truoble shifting into first and reverse especially when hot and the second one started out ok but started being a problem going into reverse especially when hot.

Imho, it is just a junk design from a usually good manufacturer. A lot of the guys over at www.camaroZ28.com experienced this same problem. You might want to do a search over there and see what you can find out.

 

Thanks for the info. This clutch came with the transmission when I bought it. The clutch had less than 1000 miles on it so I thought I was getting a pretty good deal. Does the Centerforce clutch for the T5 have this same problem or is it just for the T56? You'd expect for over $500 it would be a good clutch. What other aftermarket clutches do you reccomend? McLeod, Zoom, Ram, Hays?

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, Centerforce Dual Friction clutch, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, no cats, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

 

One more question. Do you know if it is the pressure plate that causes the problem or is it the clutch disc?

Thanks

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1991 Z28 - 350 TPI, T56, Centerforce Dual Friction clutch, ported plenum & runners, AFPR, Holley Annihilator ignition box and wires, Hooker shorty headers w/o AIR, no cats, Flowmaster muffler, homeade ram-air, SSM subframe connectors, Steve Spohn adjustable torque arm and T56 crossmember

 

Steve, not sure about the t5 situation but it would be a giant step backwards to remove the T56 in favor of the t5.

As far as clutches go I really like the Centerforce DF due to it's huge grip, however, it just doesn't seem to always work in the LT-1 flywheel/T56 configuration. Out of those that you listed I would look into the McLeod or the Ram.

The problem seems to be that the pressure plate doesn't release enough to disengage the disk therefore not allow you to engage reverse. Do the search at cz28.com and see if some fix was found. Later.

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1991 Z28, minirammed 383, Baer Track kit and a few other goodies...stay tuned.

 

Ahhhh, yes. I have 69 post so can someone turn my counter off now.

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1991 Z28, minirammed 383, Baer Track kit and a few other goodies...stay tuned.

 

Hey Steve, a good clutch replacement T-56 clutch is the CLUTCHNET CARBON FIBER/KEVLAR disc with a STOCK PP and T/O Bearing. I installed this setup in my car on the 4th of July and it works GREAT, it grabs REALLY WELL. You will have to relearn how to dirve some what since it grabs so well. I paid $175 for the disc and just used a new PP and T/O bearing. The disc is a little thicker than the stock disc, so you might have to put a pad under the pedal for a while to prevent the T/O Bearing from touching and squealing when the pedal is derpessed completely. I will say though, that it DOES NOT slip at all. The website is www.clutchnet.com HTH's

EDIT: If you do call them, talk to OLEG and ask him about the LT-1 CARBON FIBER/KEVLAR DISC.

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88 Monte SS 355 TPI/LT-4 HOT CAM/AFR Hydra-rev/ T-56 6-Speed

[This message has been edited by 88SS6SPEED (edited September 28, 2000).]