hey guys, i was going to do a t56 swap before but he price of the swap was prohibitive, but i've come onto a great deal for one and i need some opinions.

the bad:
it's a 1994 t56, i know the older ones had a weird clutch design or something. i doubt i'll ever go faster then 12's in this car but still what exactly is the issue with the older trans'?

the good:
Full swap for $1350. Includes Trans, crossmember, pedals, shifter, bellhousing, new factory replacement clutch, flywheel and driveshaft.
it's also local so i don't have to pay for shipping just gas. i'd still need a few parts but i'd be swapped for about 1800.

 

All the 93-97 LT1's had a pull clutch. Standard GM. Mine works great.

$1350 seems a little high even with a new clutch. I got my setup for $1000 shipped. Or could have got it all for $900 if it had been local. Unless you have driven the trans, ( and even if you did and it's fine) I'd not even consider installing it without tearing it apart and at the very minimum putting solid 3/4 syncro keys and a steel 3/4 shift fork in it. I'd highly recommend Hanlon motorsports for these parts. This is a very common failure even for a stock trans. The trans I got was just a daily driver and the keys were broken and the 3/4 aluminum shift fork was bent after less that 2 years of driving after being rebuilt.

You don't need the cross member, and unless the drive shaft that comes with it is aluminum or yours needs replacing, you don't need the drive shaft.

I'm not going into great detail here because the sticky at the top of this forum has 99% of the information you need. Many of us have went to a lot of trouble to take pics and posting info in this thread. Take the time to read through it. When your on your back under the car trying to put this trans in, you will be glad you read every post.

One thing you can help us with if you get this setup is we need a measurement on a 4th gen clutch pedal. Read the sticky and you will see which measurement I'm referring to. This would be a great help to all of us with a T56.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tran...ap-thread.html

 

i've been reading thru that swap but it didn't go into detail about the differences in years.

sounds as though price remains an issue.. grr

 

If it came off an LT1 car, then you need the LT1 bellhousing, clutch, flywheel and hydros as well. It will all bolt up to an '84+ 3rdgen with a '87+ SBC engine, though I think the trans tunnel needs bashed out in a few places for clearance.

 

There is nothing wrong with that tranny not sure what you been told all though depending on what year your engine is you might need a different flywheel then the one that comes with it but other then that should work out for you.

BTW there is no bashing of the tranny tunnel for install but you will need to cut a hole for the shifter.

 

I wish I could find a t-56 swap for around 1300!! I have been looking for a while... I cant get a straight answer on what is better; the 93-97 or 98-02 trannys. I almost had an 05 GTO t-56 but I didnt move fast enough...

 

So far ive got 600 into a trans and bellhousing, Looks like im going to be spending 600-700 on a flywheel/clutch (need conversion flywheel) and the hydros. Anyone know if you need 4th or 3rd gen pedels?