Is there any hope in a "pull it yourself" junkyard of finding a t56 for cheap....I want one, I can put it in myself with some experienced help I have, but the cost of the parts is the issue. 1500$ for a conversion kit that doesn't include speedo and VSS and 2 piece rear main flywheel means the swap is in the 2500$ range....I could just buy a Probuilt 700R4 for 1500$ and be complete bolt it and call it a day...but then again it would be no fun.

Anyone had to go through this? Is it easier to just buy a complete LT1/tranny combo, take the tranny and parts, and sell the LT1 later. I would love to be able to pick up a complete t56 and all donor parts from the 4th gen car for like 800-1000$....physical labor, time, and knowledge are not a problem, my wallet is....as someone who started a "budget" 350 buildup and with the 350 going in next week has already spent 2500$ I know that when trying to do something, and do it right, unexpected costs arise that you must address correctly.

Is there any hope, or anywhere I go am I going to get drilled for around 1500$ for the setup, online places have complete conversion setups for like 1500$, but I still need 400$ worth of speedo recal stuff, and the 350$ flywheel, again, I'm going near 2500$ even if i buy a so called "complete conversion kit".
Plus I get to pay for freight shipping and I can't have my buddy inspect it like I could going to a junkyard.

What should I do? Just buy a built up 700 for 1500$ and call it a day?

 

Good luck...most places are always out of T56's. I know IrocindatZ currently has a thread in the Wanted section but it couldn't hurt for you to do the same. I don't know what to tell you bro. Good luck!

-Rippin

 

lol yeah I sure do rippin.. i found a complete setup from a 97 z28 with low miles everything i need minus the cable x box and crossmember for 1900, so that around 2300 for everything im about to just take the hit as far as the money goes just so i can finally get one and call it a day... If anyone has a better deal let me know though...
thanks

 

www.thirdgenresource.com sells a conversion kit for like 1500$ with xmember, but I have idea about availability and shipping cost. Plus you can't visually inspect it first, and if something is wrong, even if they do offer some warranty you must keep shipping the tranny back and forth etc.

If my 700 dies before I can locate a T56 then I'll have no choice but to buy a built up 700 as it's my daily driver and I woulnt be able to wait. As long as the stock 700 holds....I'm going to try to find a T56...

 

Thirdgenresources.com and speedautomotive.com both sell conversion kits but they never have them in and when they do its never the whole conversion kit i call it false advertieing but what can you do... Better off just looking for someone parting out there LT1 and getting everything from them then just get the x-member from Spohn and the Cable X box and call it a day..........

 

Thats what I figured...I'm not buying an xmember, I'll have a friend buy some steel from a local surplus and weld me one...25$ of steel and a few hours...it's not a very complex piece.

does GM directly sell the t56 they put in the 4th gens or is aftermarket the only way to go?

 

I got my T-56 for $500.

The guy that was selling said it wouldn't go into 4th, and kept popping out of 3rd. My experience with T-5's told me this could be a very minor problem, or a very major one, so I took the chance and bought the tranny. With a couple night's work, and a $20 3-4 shift fork, I had a working 6-speed tranny.

Then I went all-out on the clutch and shifter and everything and STILL ended up spending right at 2 grand. But I got the best of everything so it's cool.


The moral of the story is: keep your eyes open and you can find a good deal. You just have to wait for it.

 

i beleive that gm does sell one but tremec is the best way to go tahts aftermarket if your buying new i believe that speedautomotive.com sell a after market t-56 new with spec clutch along with everything you need for the conversion for 2600-2700...

 

Agreed

Here's my price list:

T56, P/P, Flywheel, Hydros - $750
X-member - $100
T/O and Pilot bearings - $45
SGI-5 - $80
Pro 5.0 Shifter - $150
Used Clutch Disc - $10

That puts me at a grand total of $1135

There are deal's out there, just gotta keep looking it'll come.

-Rippin

 

Well I mean, manuals in general are pretty simple...unless you have worn/damaged teeth it's pretty direct....I just have no idea where to look.

 

GM sells the T56.

P/N 24502497 - 1LE spec T56, no skip shift, 2.66, 1.78, 1.30, 1, .74, .50 ratios. $1850 from Sallee Chevrolet in OR. Figure $150 or so to ship, perhaps a little less.
P/N 10236021 - '93 T56, $1700 from Sallee 2.97, 2.07, 1.43, 1, .80, .62 ratios.

Check my website for some install notes. I did mine (with all new parts) way back in spring of '95, and it's a 2nd gen, but the install notes might help you out.

'87 305 should have a 1-piece rear main, meaning the factory LT1 flywheel should work with a factory type T56.

Todd

EDIT- fix the wrong P/N.

 

Shouldn't any GM dealership sell the tranny....

 

Yep, any dealer. I imagine the prices would all be the same, give or take a couple. So, you think that's what your going to do? If you've got money go for it but don't forget about the countless other items you'll need and they $ add $ up quickly...

-Rippin

 

I will also agree:

T-56 with hydraulics, bellhousing, flywheel, clucth, and aluminum driveshaft= 1000 bucks-used

conversion crossmember- 60 bucks-used

mcleod street twin clutch with 2 piece seal flywheel and VERY low miles- 250 bucks-used

Autometer electronic speedo- 250-new

total package with a WAY above average clutch- 1610 bucks.

Just start piecing it together and be patient

 

Where'd you get the T56?