Well tonite was the first nite I decided to take my car to the track for its first run. . . Well I line up, burn outs, dry hop the tires and get ready to launch. . . Rev it out to 4 grand, and dropped it. . . NOTHING. . . just free revved. . . I haven't taken the tranny out yet, but I believe my McLeod has taken its toll on yet another driveline commponent (first the rear, then the driveshaft, and now the tranny). I believe the input shaft prolly tore out, either that or by chance I tore out the centers on the clutch disks. But I'll assume the worst right now (not a big prob right now, I got another tranny but I do need one to take power!). I heard Tremec does a bad *** T56 rebuild but it costs $11,000, and I don't exactly have that on me. . . So does anyone out there know where I can get the forged/beefed internals for the T56?!?!

 

Sounds to me like something other than the trans. Possibly your clutch disk like you stated. The T-56 is pretty beefy to begin w/ and can handle a good amount of power.

What does the car sound like if you put it in gear??? Do any gears work, or will it let you put it in any other gear besides first??? Also, I assume this is on your '97 SS as stated in your sig, correct? From what I've learned, and heard of from others is that the trans will generally not fail while already in gear, rather when you are shifting.

Hope this helps, I'm not an expert, just trying to give you my best educated diagnosis.

Dave

 

Although you don't have times up, i find it hard to believe that you broke your T56. They can handle a ton of power (ie rskrause, others) and keep tickin.

 

Do you have the street twin? My stock disk broke away from the pad, two pieces. If its a street twin I would be shocked

 

Yes its the street twin. . . Thats why I seriously doubt the center of the disks broke out. I haven't taken the tranny out yet, I'll proll do it sunday. I've seen one other T56 break at the input shaft, and there rating is 450lbs or torque. I know I exceed that because I RAPED a Viper on the highway a few days prior, but still I do know the T56 is a very strong tranny but its not impossible. I did check all the gears, it just spins freely, I don't hear any grinding or anything 1-6 gears or even reverse. When I put it in gear I can roll the car. This is why I believe I tore out the input shaft because if the centers of the disks broke out (both of them and I find that VERY hard to believe), I would assume I would hear the centers grinding against other parts of the clutch, I could see the input shaft breaking and free revving without noise though. . .

But like I said, I'll assume the worse for now, and I'll post pics of whatever is wrong when I pull the tranny. . . But anyone know where I can get forged internals or has anyone beefed up a T56 other than the race rebuild kit and syncros?!?!

 

Probably the output shaft is broken at the last snap ring groove. I've already been there once. Street Twin + Slicks + 5000RPM = Ubreakie

Now that being said, There are thos that say some Viper internals can be retrofitted in our LT1 T56's. John Donato claims to be able to relplace the stock output shaft witha larger diameter Viper one. I keep hearing this but not one person has come forward with one of his retrofits. If any one out there has really done this , please speak up and be heard!

Steve

 

*DING* *DING* *DING*

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

http://stealthz.com/DSC00036.JPG
http://stealthz.com/DSC00035.JPG

Sheered the output shaft, and not only that I demolished my rear U joint on my inland empire driveshaft. . .

Like the correct man said, anyone out there that knows what to replace the out put shaft with PLEASE speak up!!!

I still don't know the condition of the input shaft, but I hope its ok. . . So I'll just leave it in there and rebuild the tail. . .

 

D&D Tranmission has what they call:

Viper Blueprinted T56 5.0-5.8.(550+ ft.-lbs).......$2999
(550 ft.-lbs)(2.66 1st, 1.78 2nd, 1.30 3rd, 1.1 4th, .74 5th, .50 6th)

It's for a Ford 302 and 351, but the might have the parts that you're looking for.

http://ddperformance.com/driveline.htm

 

I'd imagine DD performance would have it. . . but Don and I do not get along!!! They ****ed me royally on my last tranny rebuild!!!!!!! Do not get your tranny rebuilt by them!!

 

The folks at D&D have told me that swapping a Viper output shaft into an F body T56 can not be done. So Ive got conflicting information. I'm still believing D&D, until some one comes forward with different information. I don't think I'm quite ready to be Serial Number 000001 on the output swap deal, although breaking trannys kinda sux.

Come forth and be heard ye Viper T56'ers!

Steve

 

It doesnt sound like an inferior part. It sounds like there was too much endplay in the output shaft. Tolerance is like .002"-.000"! Was that aftermarket driveshaft yolk engaging far enough into the output shaft?

 

My moser pinions shaft seems to stick out pretty far compared to the stock rear, so it pushes the driveshaft ALL the way up in the output spline. So yes it was bitting everything it could.

After thinking about it, what I believe has happened was my rear u joint on my driveshaft gave out and made too much play in the driveshaft, thus as graham had said, gave too much play in the output shaft under heavy torque. So I have to figure out how the u bolt broke, its either just too much power for the u bolt or the pinion angle was set incorrectly. But I checked it several times, but hey I coulda made a mistake. . . Something to look out for. . . BTW, my driveshaft is an inland empire aluminum shaft from Jegs. . .

BTW, I did talk to D&D about the output shaft. They said coming in the winter they will have a 31 spline output shaft (same thing as the vipers) available for the F-car T56. So a kit or a special splined shaft will be available then. . .

 

the endplay on that shaft is controlled by shims under a bearing cup, isn't it?

 

Donato Engineering in detroit mich, upgrades your t56 w/ all the bells and whistles for 1600 bux.. Great guy to talk to knows his stuff. .And it is the viper internal's.. the endhousing needs to be machined is all.. I have done the same thing to my output shaft and i too have street twin. One driveshaft, driveshaft yoke (twisted the splines) and the output shaft.. Yet the Street twin is still going strong..

 

Hey can you get me their number, I'd be interested in talking to them. . .