Hello! Wasn't able to immediately find a prior post on this, so I figured I'd ask.

I have an '89 Firebird Formula 350 with an LT1 and 4L60e. I'm wanting to do a '93-97 T56 swap, but use an aftermarket bellhousing with a hydraulic throwout bearing and push style clutch/flywheel.

So my question is what flywheel/clutch should I use? An older style like what was previously in the car, or a newer LS style?

Any help is appreciated, and if there is already a thread on this that I missed, please link! Thanks.

 

If you want to do little to no fab, a spacer to move the trans. back a bit can potentially allow some of the aftermarket throwout bearings to work. Most are made for the T5/ muncie throwout bearing tube size which is larger than the LT1 T56. Mcleod has never made one that actually fits without a shallow, weaker pressure plate or again, a spacer.

There's physically enough room to run a third gen clutch and throwout bearing but the tube needs resized and ballstud and slave mount would be fab intensive.

The easy way out of course is to just run the pull clutch. I have been through a lot of avoidance projects re : the Valeo and it isn't cost beneficial to avoid it.

Going to the third gen bell, adapter plate and LS input with extended pilot bearing is not ideal for the third gen but it is another way to go.

There are other ways to go but you have to decide if you really want to spend more to avoid the 93--97 clutch or if you 're deadset on re-using a driveshaft or other parts before you head in one direction.

 

I'm a machinist by trade, so a little fabrication is all the more fun!

I'm wanting to use this bellhousing ;

http://lakewoodindustries.com/drivetrain/bellhousings/ls1-to-ls1-t56-chevy.html

And an internal slave/throwout similar to this;

http://americanpowertrain.com/i-11785895-hydramax-hydraulic-release-bearing-for-gm-tko-muncie-t10-saginaw-richmond-gm-jericho.html

So I may need to make a spacer to sit between the input shaft tube and the TO bearing? Also, are the reverse pull clutch pressure plate bolt pattern on the flywheel same as any other GM pressure plates that you know of?

 

Do you have the trans. and bell at this point?

 

I have purchased nothing as of yet. I have my engine torn down at the moment due to a plugged fuel injector burning down a piston, but I'm to the point on that where I'm going to start reassembly and I want the rotating assembly balanced with the flywheel. If I want to do this swap, best to get a direction set and purchase the flywheel. I'll be running existing 4l60e until I get the rest of the components.

 

Sorry wrong form!! Don't know how to delete it.