I am in the process of putting a sbc 350 into my 86 RX7. I have a 95 T-56 transmission with matching clutch, pressure plate, flywheel, and starter. I want to use a t-56 since the RX7 has a 4.10 rearend, and also for the fun factor. I have not found a 350 to start building the motor yet, because I have not found out if I can just bolt up the t-56 to a pre 86 small block. I want to use a pre 86 350 and use a chevy steel crank, and x rods. Could I use the chevy steel crank and x rods in a TPI or TBI 350 which I would swap to carb? I know that the t-56 works fine with TPI 350 motor. I am not worried about the clutch slave cylinder because I am using a 1in wilwood that I used in replacement of the smaller RX7 one, and the crossmember is made. What I want to know is what flywheel to use and if the t-56 camaro bellhousing bolts up to the older 350s. Like I said I know that the t-56 works fine with 350 TPI engine, so I think it should be the same as any older 350. If anyone can help me that has done the swap into a pre 86 350, let me know if I am correct in using a t-56 flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate. Also using a LT1 starter that matches the teeth on the lt1 flywheel be used, and does it bolt up to a pre- 86 block. If anyone has any information that will help to answer my questions, I would greatly appreciate it, so I can start finding and building my motor.
Thanks Les

 

The bell housing will bolt up, the spacing is the same.
The problem is the flywheel; all the late model blocks use a small pattern, one-piece rear main seal flywheel, and I don't know if anyone is making a conversion one yet. The clutch is also inset into the flywheel, so a regular style won't work. Double check on your throw out bearing, the LT1 T56 uses a pull clutch, not a push.

Why not just use a late model block and crank? You can use whatever rods you want, the rod journal hasn't changed any. The newer rods used in the Vortec motors, and the LT1 are stronger than the old x or pink rods, and for what you spend redoing your x rods, you can get a nice set of 4340 I or H-beams.
They also make forged cranks for the one-piece seal blocks.

Anything from 86 on up I believe uses the one-piece seal.

 

There are special flywheels to make this work, but they aren't cheap. This guy had one for sale:

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...threadid=91859

 

Yes, McLeod and Cemterforce both make a flywheel for their pull-off style clutches and the early two-piece seal cranks.

Jody

 

looks like I will be building a TPI or TBI motor, don't want to spend the money on a new flywheel, clutch, etc. Not worth the money to me would be different if I had a camaro or something like that, instead of my RX7.

 

Post some pictures of the car when its getting completed. An RX 7 with a SBC sounds pretty bad a$$!