T56 Swap

Well today i just bought a t56 conversion kit from stik6shift93. By the way thanks for the kit brad im ready to put it in. I have just about gone over everything and read everything to do the swap. This will be my first big project and wanted to know how hard it is going to be and what are some tips and tricks that everybody has had to installing this.

I did mine going by Alex Afrashteh's guide. You can find it here (http://www.afrashteh.com/tranny_pics/T56.htm).

You can also find a lot of pictures on his website here (http://www.afrashteh.com/tranny_pics).

I thought the hardest part was to install the pedals.

The tip I would give you about the pedals is to try and mount the clutch pedal and drill the holes as high as you can or your clutch pedal will be lower than the brake pedal. (if you are using stock hydraulics)

Other than that, the install is pretty straight forward. I cut the hole in the floor going by the pictures on that website and it came out perfect and saved some time too.

Use a socket to tap in the pilot bearing. Might want to use a bushing since bearings tend to fail. Clean the rust from inside the crank before installing the bushing/bearing.

If you will be using a bearing, put some extra grease in it.

Also, grease the clutch fork ends so that it goes on the throwout bearing easily.

You will need a number of extensions to reach the bellhousing bolts.

Well this is going to be one of my biggest projects on my car to date. I havent really done anything this big. How hard is wiring everything up. I think i have to but some new sensors and things to. We will see how it goes. Thanks for the info.

The swap isnt that hard, its just time consuming. THe pedals were a little pita but its very doable. Your just going to hate being in the position your goign to have to be in for an hours or so. My biggest wory was the wiring which tends to throw some people but its really not that bad. Good luck with it man, its very well worth it.

As for the pedals do i use the stock bolts or do i have to buy new ones. We will see how hard it is going to be hopefully going to start on it this weekend. So i might have some questions. This isnt my daily driver so i can take as long as i want.

You can use your stock nuts for the pedals. You will need the U bolt that holds the master cylinder and two extra nuts. I took out the steering column. Some people have done it with out taking it out but it only takes about 20 min to remove. If you take it out make sure your wheels are pointed straight and the column is locked. Don't turn the wheel with the column out or you can damage part of the airbag system.

I used the web site in the above post as a guide. I agree you should drill your hole for the master cylinder as high as you can.

The hardest part for me was cutting the shifter hole. It wasn't hard to do I just didn't like cutting a big hole in my car.

I used a Helm manual to figure out my wireing. Everything was like the web guide on my 94 except the reverse lockout. I had to add a wire to my pcm for that but I think the wire described in the guide is there on 95 and later cars.

From everyone that i have heard from they said it is not that bad. I hope it is not that bad. Why do i need to drill the hole for the master cylinder as high as i can get it.

To keep the clutch pedal from being lower than the brake. Use your pedal assembly as a guide. You can't change the position of the hole much but I belive higher is better. My clutch pedal is lower than my brake pedal. It works fine but I would like it to be even.

one more question. Is there any wiring differences or anything else b/w the 93 transmissions and the 94 and up. I have a 93 t56 transmission. Just need to know before i start.

To keep the clutch pedal from being lower than the brake. Use your pedal assembly as a guide. You can't change the position of the hole much but I belive higher is better. My clutch pedal is lower than my brake pedal. It works fine but I would like it to be even.

My clutch pedal was lower too, but I bought a ram adjustable master cylinder and now my clutch pedal is higher than my brake pedal. :cool:

Is there any main difference b/w the 93 and 94 and above t56 transmissions.

The difference is in gearing. 93s had two T56 transmissions (M28 and M29) which both differed from the newer transmissions. (gearing and torque rating)
They did not have skip shift, so there is one less connector to worry about. Everything else is the same.

What is that vss pigtail i have to buy is that a speed sensor

vehicle speed sensor = vss p/n: 88987183 or AC Delco: PT1623

the vss pigtail is 88987978, the original PN was 12101899. i dont know if 88987183 is the same thing or not. I called dal and asked for 12101899, and he said it was replaced by 88987978.

Ok thats what i got. Also on the pro 5.0 shifter does it use the stock bolts or does it use aftermarket bolts. And can i re use my stock torque arm bracket from the auto to the manual.

You can't reuse the bracket from your A4. You can use the rubber bushing though.

You can use the stock bolts with the Pro 5.0.

Where can i get a bracket from.

Dealer, junkyard or used on the board in the for sale/wtb section.

Well im about half way done now. One question what size bolts go into the shifter onto the transmission. I have a pro 5.0 shifter but no bolts to hold it to the transmission. Just need the size of anyone knows.

Well everything is done im going to do the wiring tomorrow. Does anybody have any tips on the wiring and where it all goes still really have no clue about this.

What differences in the driving did you notice switching and how does it feel?

Also I was planing on doing the setup but i have 2.73 rear gears, would i need to change them? What would I notice if i just left them?

Well havent got it on the road yet. Im waiting on a part from gm so i can finish everything. All i have to do is wait for the pigtails from gm to come in. I will let you know how it feels when im done with it. If you do the setup i would change the gears. Im going to put 4.10s in my car when im done with it.

i started my swap on friday night. Unfortunatley the shipping company decided to not ship the 2nd box containing the clutch, bellhosuing etc... all i have is the tranny, and pedal frame. So now i have to wait till monday to continue. I just have to bolt up the t56 and install everything. I have already cut all the holes and stuff. bahhhh

Yeah i have to wait on the shipping company too. Have you done all of your wiring yet. Im waiting on the pigtails. If you have done your wiring was it hard. Thats the only thing i got left. And the swap was pretty easy to do.

nope, havent done it yet. i have my 3 pigtails. Im thinking of wiring them up tonight. Not sure how hard it is. ill let ya know tonight when i finish. :)

Thanks im just not sure exactly where they go i guess i will read the guide a couple of more times. Let me know how it goes.

Well im using that guide to do the wiring but i have no clue on what he is talking about on some of the wires. I still have to wire the three pigtails dont know where to wire them too. Can someone help

i have not gotten to do it yet. ill be doing it tuesday night, definitely. Ill let ya know. The directions seem pretty easy but i havent looked that the wires yet so who knows.

My question is which wires is he talking about. Is he talking about the wires that connected to the auto tranny or the ones under the console that go into that box where the shifter was.

Under the console there are six wires connected to the auto shifter with one plug. The two largest ones go to the clutch switch. Thats the the rectangular switch that is pressed when you depress the clutch pedal.

The brown and green wires are for the reverse lights. They need to be extended underneath the car and connected to the reverse light switch on the right side of the trans. You can connect these two wires together before you extend them and if your reverse lights come on you know you have the correct wires.

The other two wires just need to connected to each other so your hatch release will work.

The speed sensor wires are under the car and in the bundle with just two wires.

I hooked up the reverse lock out selonoid on my 94 using the hot wire from the reverse lights as suggested in the guide. I had to add a wire to the pcm but I think other years already have a wire connected to the correct spot. That wire would be in the bundle that connects to the auto trans with the large round connector.

Thanks alot i was just working on it and was going by that guide but did not know what wires he was talking about. Plus gm still hasnt sent my pigtail or torque arm bracket. Im so ready to put this thing on the road.

im waiting for gay ass gmpartsdirect to ship my shift plate. Been 9 days already and hasnt been shipped yet. I should have gotten it from dal. guess ill be driving my car with a giant hole in the console for 3 or 4 days.

ah well

I still havent got my torque arm bracket in either. How is your wiring going. I cant get my reverse lights to come on. I hooked the two wires together to see if that would work and they want come on. So theres another problem.

ok i tried starting my car and no go. son of a &*&$*&$&* . Connected the two wires together, i turn key, and click. nothing