Just wondering from you fellow 3rd gens out there....cost for your 6sp change over including tranny and misc parts and labor....


VS.


All the TH3500 or TH400 users out there????

 

6-speeds, most guys do for around $2,000 once it's all said and done. Most of that is for the transmission itself so I think if someone landed a deal on the tranny it could be done for much less.
-Rippin

 

Is it really that much easier to do a T56 swap into an original 5 speed, or is it just as hard as if the original was an auto?

My current search is a 350TPI with an auto, but I am starting to reconsider for a 5 speed and 305. Im hearing that it is much easier to do a motor swap than go from an auto to T56.

The only reason why I had considered buy a 4th gen was because a T56 was available, but if it really isnt all that difficult to swap a T5 with a T56, then... hmm....

 

so the typical cost of a 6speed is what...about 1100-1200?? and about 800 worth of other stuff including labor?

 

Well if you start with a 5-speed car, you've already got the slave cylinder, pedals, hydros (depending on year), etc. so it's a lot simpler. A T-56 swap (from what I've read) is easily a weekend swap. If going from a T5 car, it's a bolt in. All you need (other than parts from the donor car) is a special crossmember (www.spohn.net).

A motor swap is much easier but if a high powered sbc with a manual transmission is what you're after, auto to T-56 might be the better. A T5 isn't all that strong. I've seen guys run 12's on their 5-speed cars but it's only a matter of time.

Your best bet would be a 5-speed 305 car, swap in a T-56, build a motor and drop it in, that's only if you don't want to go through swapping an auto to manual.
-Rippin

 

I am not Swapping motors .... I have a Stout SBC that has broken 3 700r4s and 4 rear ends.... I just looking to put something in that would last and last and last...

400 would be the way to go... but that could be over kill only talking about a car that goes mid to high 11's on the GAS...

with a manual it would be fun and no worries about stall converters... I need a bigger one RIGHT NOW!

 

Actually, I am VERY close to just going ahead and buying that B4C Camaro I posted in another thread (obviously its a 5.7 and auto). I guess now my future plans (which I had also considered as well) will be transmission swap (keeping an automatic, though.... not sure what I could swap to) and more power under the hood.

I wonder if a 4L80E would fit underneath? Heh this is a project I wanted to get started on with my truck. All I need is the unit, the computer, and a shorter driveshaft (one from a 454SS fits absolutely perfect). For the Z, though that would be a different story.

 

Mine was about $3000, maybe a bit more or a bit less. $1500 for the tranny, with used clutch setup. I bought a new clutch disk and pressure plate, about $500 and tossed the old one. Spohn torque arm, about another $500. SGI-5, poly bushing, and miscellaneous tools, etc. You'll need a new PROM for it, so factor that in.

 

My T-56 swap cost me a little over 2 grand, including the tranny/bellhousing, new SPEC stage 3 clutch, Centerforce conversion flywheel (it went behind an early-model block,) new Ripper shifter, new clutch hydros, and the crossmember. I got a steal on the tranny though, paid $500 for it. It wouldn't go into 4th and it kept kicking out of 3rd so the guy thought it was toast...replaced a $16 shift fork and all the shift fork pads and it's as good as new. Then again, you don't have to buy a $500 clutch or a $160 shifter to do the swap....I just wanted to.

And I can tell you from experience that it isn't that hard goin from 700-R4 to T-56. My '91 already had the holes in the firewall for the clutch hydros...all I had to do was chop a hole in the tranny tunnel for the shifter and then bolt it all in. IMHO it would be much more efficient to get an L98/700-R4 car and have the 350 to build on...unless you want to do a 406 or something and plan on swapping engines anyway.

 

Yeah NO need for a New PROM here... I run a Holley Carb... on a tradition Small block... 74 truck engine...

Nice deal on the trans... I guess you did the swap yourself???

Tell me about the flywheel again....for a first gen??

 

GreatJ:
When swapping a T5 to T56, do you NEED the master/slave cylinder from the LT1 car? Thanks
-Rippin

Edit: How about the clutch hydros? Doesn't my 92 already have a hydraulic clutch so wouldn't they work with a 6 speed?

 

Don't know if youd be interested in this due to cost but ddperformance buys a bunch of the tremec T-56 trannys that were intended for the dodge viper and machines them so that they will fit in our cars. The things are rated at 550 foot pounds and are from what i have deciphered the best tranny you can buy in terms of performance and cost effectivenes (although i cant say that form personal experience only what ive heard). It is supposed to be an absolutly beautiful transmission and will run you approxmiatly $2500. For more info on the chevy/viper transmission go to ddperformance viper tranny

 

S Holley.....Yes, I did the swap myself, with hand tools in my gravel driveway. The gravel made it a PITA (literally) but otherwise it was much easier than I expected. If you want to put a 6-speed behind an early-model engine, you have to buy a conversion flywheel from Centerforce (part # 700100 I think.) Nobody else makes them and you can't use the LT1 flywheel because it has an extra counterweight (due to the change in crank design to accomodate the 1-piece rear main seal.) It may be possible to grind off the weight and use the flywheel but I don't know and personally wouldn't want to risk my main bearings trying.

Rippin.....there is only one major difference in the clutch hydros. The high-pressure line for a T-56 is much longer than the T-5 piece. This is because the slave cylinder on a 6-speed mounts from the back to accomodate the pull-style clutch, unlike the T-5 slave which mounts from the front. You could get a piece of steel braided line and have the fittings from your stock pressure line put on it, but I don't see the point when you can buy brand new hydros filled with fluid and factory bled for about $100, and you won't have to worry about them leaking or going out from old age.