I am going to build my 1992 RS for the Silver State Challenge in Nevada for the May, 2004 race. I have a 355 c.i. engine built already as well as a T56 that I want to put in it. My questions are as follows:
1. anybody know about the T56 conversions? I need the torque arm, driveshaft and the cross member. Anything else? Is it true that a late model Mustang driveshaft is the correct length for the T56 conversion?

2. how do I get the fuel pump relay to work for the carb. engine? I do not want to butcher the wiring harness at all since I will be putting the L03/700R4 back into the car after the race.

3. what about the stock gages? I want to use the factory speedometer, tachometer, etc... Am I able to use those once the ECM is disabled?

4. the transmission has a converted T5 bellhousing with an LS1 input shaft so it will mount to the old style cranks. Will the shifter be in the same basic area that the T5 shifter is? The clutch is an aftermarket unit with a hydraulic throw-out bearing.

I know and realize that there is a vast amount of experience on this site so I know that I will get some great input.
Thanks

 

1. http://www.sphon.net I think you can use your factory drive shaft.

2. Dont know much about carbs.

3. I think your gauges are controlled by the ECM (i belive this started in 91?)

4. You have to cut your trans tunnel about 2 inches back to accept the T-56 shifter location. I also think you will have to use all of the T-56 parts for it to work correctly ( to include the bell housing)

Im sure others will chime in to further my answers

 

The T-5 bellhousing and LS1 input shaft throw a big fat kink into my knowledge. I think you'll have a hard time finding an answer to this question....it's generally accepted that an LS1 tranny (with the hydraulic throwout) can't be used with a regular SBC. Everyone goes with the LT1 trans which is almost a bolt-in and seems to hold up better anyway.

I swapped an LT1 T-56 behind my early 355 and everything bolted right up except the flywheel (had to order a flywheel from Centerforce.) I used my stock 700-R4 driveshaft and torque arm, bought a crossmember from Skulte.com, and the shifter came through about an inch behind the stock location.

 

2. I do not want to butcher the wiring harness at all since I will be putting the L03/700R4 back into the car after the race.

Not trying to be a smartass here, but wouldn't it make more sense to just get another car to build for the Silver State? Thats a lot of work to have to tear it all apart again for just one race.

 

Your stock driveshaft and torque arm will work just fine. A stock '93-'97 T56 will work, bellhousing, input shaft, and all. Check my site for a complete write-up. The shifter is about 1-1.5" farther back, so you just need to cut the shifter tunnel.

The gauges were electronically controlled beginning around 1990, give or take a year, so I don't think they'll work.

Good luck!

-Rippin

 

Maybe I should have been a little clearer on the T56. It was out of a 1996 T/A that was totaled. I will be putting the 355/T56 combo into the Camaro for that race only. The transmission itself was worked by a company here in Florida by the name of Man-Trans LLC. They took the transmission and drilled a T5 bellhousing so it is striaght-up and not at the 18 degree cant that a T5 has. The LS1 input shaft is required in the LT1 transmission so any early model clutch can be used as well as the hydraulic clutch. There is no need for the expensive flywheel with this set-up as well as the clutch is much cheaper than an LT1 clutch. Anyone who has had to buy an LT1 clutch knows what I am referring to. As far as buying another car- I am poor!!! I am in the middle of a frame off restoration of a 1972 442 convertible and the wife will cut my n**s off if I come home with another car. The car going back to the L03 probably will never happen but I still do not want to butcher it up.

 

The VSS signals are different for the 3rd gen and the 4th gen, you will need a converter to get the speedo signal from the VSS in the T56 to work with your 3rd gen speedometer.

As far as getting the fuel pressure down enough to use a carb., you will need a return style regulator. I believe Aeromotive sells them for ~$85. I don't have a P/N so don't ask.

I thought the LS1 input shaft was a different length than the LT1/SBC input shaft. I don't think it will work for you application, but I may be wrong (yeah, it's happenned before).

Good luck, let us know how you do, if you make it.

 

The t56 isn't my strong area, besides I don't like rowing gears enough to want 6 of them...

You should be able to reuse most of the sensors as; oil pressure, temp etc, reattaching the factory harness to them.

If you use a fuel pressure regualtor for a carb, the functioning oil pressure sender should allow the relay to operate the fuel pump.(factory 14+psi/tbi)

As for the speedo, there again my knowledge of being able to insert a Auto VSS into a T56 is unknown..
But if you reuse the HEI, the tach should function. Not sure how that would work for your timing needs tho..If you go aftermarket you can use a "tap" or "parallel"connector like the stereo installer use, it won't damage the harness, just slices thru the wire's jacket.
This way you're not disabling the ECM, just taking away it's control...

 

97WS6Scharged-
you are 100% correct that the LT1 input shaft is different. But when GM/Tremec designed the LS1 T56 they just happened to make the input shaft the correct length that you can use all the old style GM hardware. The flywheels and clutches are used in combination with a T5 bellhousing to be an exact match for the old style transmissions. The aftermarket sources are so mcuh cheaper for parts and I can get a hydraulic throw-out bearing to make it very a very easy and cheap hookup. All I have to deal with is one hydraulic line. My problem now is the difference of speedo and the electonic gauges. I do not really see me getting to far involved if the dash is not going to be useable and the 6 speed shifter is in the back seat. This may be a project more than I want to deal with. I am hoping that the good people of this site will guide me if I need to ditch these thoughts. I really want to do this race, I just need to convince momma (the wife) that a '02 SS
or '87 IROC convertible may be the best things for me.