I just bought T-56 gears from Craigslist for $325... Problem is, it turns out there are about 5 different kinds of T-56's. Now, I'm curious to know if mine will fit a 71 Pontiac 350... How will I know if these gears will work? I'm not familiar with how our cars' gears look...
I don't have a Bell housing, I don't have the crossmember or anything else to 'mock-up' and test fit, y'know... Any advice is appreciated.

 

what are you talking about? what exactly did you buy? im totally lost by your post

 

Sorry...
I'm changin from my auto (700R4) to a Manual (T56, I hope).
I bought a t56 trans... Gears Only... How do I know if they fit my Pontiac 350 in my 91 Bird? I mean, there're like, 5 different kinds of T56's out there... Are there tell-tale signs that set them apart?

I don't want to buy all the other parts to make my auto a manual, if I have the wrong transmission for the car, y'know?

 

If you're trying to change an auto transmission case to become a manual transmission, it's impossible.

At best, you'll need to get a BOP muncie bellhousing/clutch/linkage, then get an LS1-type T56 and adaptor plate.

 

You have explained this twice to us and we still can't figure out what your asking. Nothing you say makes any sense. If you just bought the gears and no case you have pretty much wasted your money unless you already had a T56 that needed the gears to rebuild or repair it.

Have you read the T56 sticky at the top of this forum? I know you said you have a pontiac 350 swapped in, but a lot of the things will be the same. Mike is right about the bell and adapter if you really do have an older pontiac 350 in your car.

 

All I wanna know is how do I know I bought the right gears... plain and simple. and as for the 'Older Pontiac' It's from a 71 pontiac...

 

No, you bought the wrong gears.

 

In case this thread ever develops, the part numbers for the 3 lower mainshaft gears are cast into the back side of the gears, all starting with 13-86-xxx-xxxx.

1993-2002 Fbody single/double cone gear T56s
------------------------------------------------------
M28
1386-081-005 1st gear
1386-082-004 2nd gear
1386-083-005 3rd gear

M29
1386-081-006 1st gear
1386-082-004 2nd gear
1386-083-006 3rd gear

MM6
1386-081-007 1st gear
1386-082-005 2nd gear
1386-083-007 3rd gear

1997-2006 Vette/CTSv/GTO double/triple cone gear T56s
-----------------------------------------------------------------
MM6
1386-081-008 1st gear
1386-082-006 2nd gear
1386-083-008 3rd gear

MN12
1386-081-901 1st gear (TUEN 1122)
1386-082-906 2nd gear (TUEN 1123)
1386-083-908 3rd gear (TUEN 1124)

 

Alright, That's cool... Take it in stride and learn from it I guess...
How can I find out which T56 will work for me?

 

Mike has already given you the correct information on what trans to get.

 

did u buy a t56 minus the bell housing like this

 

^ Negative

 

so u actuallly bought just gears....with no housing just input shaft and gear set? can u post pictures or the craigs list link?

 

That's right. I'll post pics tomorrow.

 

Sorry they're late...

 

Thats from a C5 ('97-'04) corvette transaxle. It is a T56, but can't mount behind a motor, it mounts to the vette rear-end and is driven by a torque-tube.

While not bad for $325 (assuming it's in good shape internally), you won't be able to use it in any standard behind-the-motor application.

If you wanted to get fancy, you can put the guts of the C5 into a Fbody case, buy the adaptor plate, and get a BOP bellhousing, and make a really nice 6-speed setup, but it's not for the faint of heart. (except for the front/rear/bell housing, I have everything to do the conversion right now)

If you post the numbers from that small metal tag on the rear bolt, I can tell you exactly what model year vette trans you have..

 

Yeah, I read up about it, and theres a guyon a 4th Gen Forum who did that exact swap. Was crazy... I can imagine how that car handles with the weight distributed like that, Must be reeeeaaal nice. But... As much as I'd like to do that sort of swap, This is my first and only project car at the moment... Don't want to take that big of a Risk.
Thanks a Ton for your help Mike, and If anyone knows anyone who wants/needs C5 T56 gears... Send them to me. haha

 

If you would please start calling what you bought a "transmission" or "tranny" everyones life will be a little simpler.

 

Well, I wanted to address it as a T56 to get all of the guys who had worked on them before to look at the thread, and get their help specifically, insteada getting a buncha random Transmission guys, saying 'Whats that?' and eventually stealing the thread.

 

That's good but call it a T56 transmission or tranny and not T56 gears. When you say gear people assume you are refering to the actual gears inside the transmission and not the entire assembly.

 

Thank you for clearing that up...

if I put transmission, I thought people might think it was actually the WHOLE assembly (Clutch, Pressure Plate, Shifter, ect) When, all I have are some gears in a metal box... Anyhoo, This is a Forum for Technical help with working on 3rd gens, not a Grammer class. I've got my answer I needed, So, I'm done with this Thread, thanks again for helpin, Mike.

 

Hey Tice had pmed me earlier and i realized he was being a bit generic about this stuff, so i gave him a little intro as to what the T56 was offered in. I was under the impression he had gotten the two shafts with the gear sets on them and wanted to make a T56 out of it.....


In any case, before you go "waste"" your money on another T56, you may want to do a little research.

If infact you DO have a 1971 pontiac 350, you can pretty well forget about a T56. Look at the TK0 instead, and you will save yourself some headaches.

There are a few companies out there that claim they will mate a T56 to a BOP engine, but i have yet to see one, or hear of one.

 

http://weirhotrodproducts.com/index.html

If you already have a BOP muncie/saginaw bellhousing, you just need an adapter plate:

http://www.thegearbox.org/catalog/it...17/4803441.htm

 

Thats exactly who i was talking about. Before i run my mouth, do you know anyone who has successfully T56'd a BOP engine? (with an LT1 or LS1 trans....) Aftermarket T56 doesnt count.

 

Do I know anyone personally that has used the Weir bellhousing? No.

Do I know anyone personally that's mated a T56+adaptor to a BOP motor? Yes. I've sold 3 of my MM6-retro conversions to (1960's) GTO owners actually.

Why do you doubt the Weir bellhousing would work?

 

My doubts are not with the bellhousing, but with the clutch and flywheel actually.

I didnt mean youd have to know any one personally, but just some one in the car enthusiast world that had done it.

Are you talking about F-body LT1/LS1 (or even viper/mustang T56s) or are you talking about the aftermarket "retro" T56's available from tremec? The latter are a non-issue as they were designed to replace muncies. But im trying to mate my existing LT1 trans to a Buick 455.

My freind called up weir about 6 months ago about their BOP kit for his olds,and the kit itself sounds great, but there doesnt seem to be any mention of clutch or flywheel use. That may have changed.

 

The only "benefits" the actual retrofit T56 provides are:

- full length input shaft
- Mechanical Speedo
- shifter located 2" forward of 4thgen T56.

(But they are also weaker and have wide ratio gears that can have issues with low rear gears)

The adapter plate I posted the link to will fit on any LT1/LS1 Fbody T56 with a LS1 input shaft. It has:

- input shaft is 1/2" shorter, so you need an extended pilot bushing in the crank
- Electric VSS, so either use an electonic speedo, a dakota converter box, or have the tail housing machined for a mechanical VSS.

The shifter location is what turns most people off the production T56 and adapter plate.

The one's I've sold have all been production T56's with LS1 input shafts and the adaptor plate, so I know they will work.

The clutch/FW combo should be more just a motor/diameter issue, the bellhousings are all OEM BOP style and shouldn't affect the clutch/FW except if they are too large of a diameter.

 

Thats the explanation ive been looking for and havent been able to find. Thanks for the clarification.

Ill be investigating this further next year when im ready to work with a buick 455. Cheers.

 

Hey Online, thanks for letin me in on the TK0 idea. I've looked around online for the past hour, and the best I could find is this... http://www.5speedtransmissions.com/tr-3550.html

Should I drop the $2K+ on this? It should work with the Pontiac350, right? And with 8 different shifter points it'll get into the car just fine, right?
Sorry I've been so troublesome...

 

Ok, The shifter will work with the car, I just found it on that page... So, It'll get in the car, I just need to make sure it'll mate with the engine, and If the price is right. Oh, will I need a New Cross Member?

 

The TKO units don't come with a Bellhousing/clutch/linkage/etc., they bolt to the standard 4-bolt bellhousing that most older 4-speeds used. A T56 with the adaptor plate will put you in the same situation as the TKO, but again the shifter/speedo situation is more adapted to older muscle cars. The TKO units are also 5-speeds, not 6-speeds, so you can get better MPG with a T56 if that's on your radar.

Most any TKO/T56 upgrade will require changes to your Xmem/Driveshaft/Torque-arm. The TKO won't have a TA mount, so you'll have to get an aftermarket Xmem/TA setup (spohn) to retain it.