I have a 92 RS Camaro, 305 w/ auto transmission. I want a manual. I've talked to a local automotive shop that can help. I have a few options. They said they could install a t56 into my car, its a Richmond 6 speed I'm told, but it would cost between 5 and 6 grand including parts and labor. Thats a lot! The guy at this place told me it can handle up to 600 horse power though. He made another suggestions though. I said I was only looking for slightly over 300 hp and he said I should consider finding another 92 camaro, 5 speed, and swapping the transmission from that car to the one I have now. He said the labor would only cost between 1200 and 1500. And if I could find a beat up/wrecked camaro it could be pretty cheap... which route would you go? Cuz after I get a manual transmission, at some point I'll want more horse power. again, about 300 is fine w/ me, is it true that a stock transmission on a 92 Camaro can handle that much hp?? If i do decided to go the route of finding another camaro to swap parts from, what should I look for? I know nothing about mechanics of cars, which is why I WILL NOT be doing the work myself, but how many miles is too many miles on the transmission? Is it bad idea to get a used transmission from another car? I will definitely be getting a manual, and if I have to pay 5 or 6 grand for the t56, so be it, but if theres a cheaper route that works I'll consider it. Thanks for any advice!

-Matt

 

What you need to do is search around the internet, or your local junkyards for a 93-97 Camaro/Firebird 6 speed manual transmission. It is almost a direct bolt in, and they are going for about $1500. The only modifications you will need to make would be cutting a hole in the floor pan for the shifter and punching out a hole for the master/slave assembly. Be sure to get everything from your donor car. Here is a website that will help.
http://www.skulte.com/T56.html
Either way you go, there will be lots of little things you will have to purchase to get it to work. A custom crossmember, a $300 box either way depending on if your speedo is either cable or electronically driven, and prob a new clutch. Do a search on this site for t56 swaps if you need more info, thats all I can think of for now.
Chris
BTW, don't enev think about using a 5 speed from one of these cars, they seem to blow up even behind 200HP.

 

so the guy at the automotive place was wrong when he said that a regular transmission from a 92 Camaro could handle 300 horse power? If so thats ok, because I think I'd prefer a brand new t56 anyway. If I bought a t56 brand new, would it be exactly the same as the ones they put in 4th gen Camaros? If so, maybe I should start looking for a wrecked 4th gen 6 speed. What do you think?

-Matt

 

Yes the mechanic was wrong, I have heard very few cases of them surviving anything stronger then stock, and even then they blew up under a 305. You have to be careful about the t56 you chose. Only the ones behind LT1's will work in third gens, 93-97, and 94 and up are stronger. The 98+ have a different bell housing and other things that make it almost imposible to use in our cars. I am currently undergoing a t56 swap, so let me know if you have any other questions. The brand new ones also have different bellhousings, if I recall correctly.
Hope that helps
Chris

 

Aghk I wanted a T56 but not now! lol. guess I'll just get mine rebuilt and get a shift kit, and maybe a stall converter. I have seen T56 for sale from alot of differnet places in performance magizine for around 1 grand give or take a few hundered bucks. but didn't know about the compatiblity issues with 3rd gen

 

ok, a few questions. Xthree, where did you see t56 for 1 grand? I've been told by one guy it was 2100, and another told me 2500. I've seen used on ebay for about a grand. Teknohund, is it possible to build up a stock transmission, whether it be auto or manual, so that it can handle more horse power? If so, how much would it cost to make it able to withstand about 300 to 325? Where did you get your t56 from? New or did you part out a 4th gen Z? If I just ordered a new Richmond t56, would it be a bad idea to have that installed in my 3rd gen? Is it more compatible if I just get one right from a 4th gen?

-Matt

 

Look at the tremec tko....it is a pretty bulletproff 5-speed tranny(5th speed is .68 overdrive)..this tranny is popular among the mustang crowd..where guys are running 10 sec quater mile times with it....i've actually heard of 8 sec. mustangs runnin this tranny with minimal modifications...wouldn't reccomend it tho

 

Can anyone recommend a new transmission, 5 or 6 speed, that can be ordered new and installed in my 92 Camaro and cost 4000 or less, including labor? Any suggestions?? I really dont care if I have a 6 speed or 5 speed.

-Matt

 

You can build up a tranny, but dont use the one that came out of an fbody, I have heard of those grenading just as fast as the stock ones. I Think the tremac would be good also.
I bought my tranny off of ebay for 1500 and it was from a 96 fbody. Try this site, they seem to have good deals and might have what you are looking for.
http://www.fparts.us/
Use the ebay to see what they have to offer.
Here is a good one
http://www.performanceunlimitedusa.c...ons/ttc/GM.htm

There ya go, any other questions, ask away
Chris

 

I swapped a T-56 into my '91 for less than 2 grand, but that's parts only because I do all my own mechanic work (since I'm a mechanic and all.) The TKO is a great tranny, but I personally think it's worth spending the extra bucks for a .5:1 overdrive and a tranny that's rated at 450hp STOCK.

As far as compatibility issues: if you can find a wrecked LT1 car and get most of the parts from it (anywhere from $500-2grand) , all you'll have left to buy is a crossmember, console plate, and speedo converter. And yes you can find them for $500, thats how much I paid for mine.

 

Tkenuhund, thanks for the links, they were helpful. What does everyone think is cheapest route for me? Can I get any decent transmission for 4 thousand or less (I'm talkin everything, the whole job, labor & parts) installed in my Camaro? Its needs to be able to handle 300 horse power. About the transmissions on the performance unlimited site, I dont know which of those transmissions can be installed in my car. I would also need to know how much labor would be to have one of those installed. If theres any way I could keep the job at costing 4 grand or less I could do it whenever I want. I also dont know what other parts I would need in addition to the transmission, if I did purchase one of the transmissions from that site.

-Matt

 

Email them with this list of parts you willl need and ask them which ones come with the tranny. use the one for a 93-97 Fbody
you'll need the transmission/bellhousing, shifter, crossmember modified or a T-56 crossmember bought (from Spohn or Skulte) as the mount sits 2" or so further back than stock, a pedal assembly from a manual transmission car (even a set from a 6cyl car would work), 4thgen hydraulics - master cylinder which mounts on the firewall, and the slave cylinder which mounts on the side of the transmission and moves the clutch fork, flywheel/clutch disc/pressure plate (which should include a throw out bearing), and a pilot bushing to go into the back of the crankshaft.
I will write more later as I am in school right now
Chris

 

Ok cool, so is that literally everything that a mechanic would need to have that particular transmission installed? Any estimate on how much labor would cost?? the transmission itself is about 1900, although I dont know what else, if anything, comes with it. So basically I need th guys at the site to tell me what comes with the tranny, then I can go to my local automotive place and show them that, then I guess they could tell me what else I would need for installation, and then they could give me an estimate on labor. That would be nice! I'll do that... but if you have any idea how much labor would cost for this I'd love to know. But depending on how much it costs... I may be able to have the transmission installed now. What do ya think?

-Matt

 

Whats a .5:1 overdrive? and on the performance unlimited site, it says "6 speed T-56 93-97 F-Car 450 ft. lbs of Torque" does that mean the transmission can handle up to 450 hp? I dont actually know why torque is significant.

-Matt

 

Yes, labor was quoted for me anywhere from 350-600, and it shouldnt need to be anymore than that, considering it is an almost direct bolt in. The .5:1 overdrive means depending on the gears, you should be cruising at around 2000 rpms at 80 or so. Torque is what kills the tranny, not horsepower, and you wont have to worry. The was the tranny was designed was to burn up a clutch before it ever breaks something inside the tranny, or so I have heard. You should not have a problem with this tranny and how much power it can hold. Like everyone says, people are putting over 500hp to these trannys, and they are holding up strong. horsepower is a derivitive of torque
Chris