I am getting ready to change the fluid in my 95 Z28 w/ T-56. I am wondering how difficult a job it is, and can i do it in my driveway with ramps and a basic tool set? What kind of fluid provides smoothest shifts? Thanks guys

 

It's easy. loosent he drain plug in the pass side of the trans, toward the shifter and let it drain. To refill it, take off the shifter and pour the fluid back in the opening. You should fill it intil it just starts to come out of the drain hole.

 

what that guy said, but with 4.1 quarts of Mobile 1 ATF.

 

IMO pulling the shifter is the hard way. Buy a fluid pump at your local auto store and pump it into the fill plug opening. My T56 took 3 3/4 quarts. Make sure you're on level ground and fill it until the fluid just starts to come back out of the fill plug hole.

 

Here's what I did, and its easy.

Drain as mentioned above. Put the plug back in.

With the fill hole open, cut a piece of garden hose (dry obviously) and fish it down through the engine bay.

Crawl underneath and stick the end of it into the fill hole.

I lowered the car to level ride height, grabbed the end of the hose and stuck a funnel into it, and poured in the exact amount required - which you know already know how much.

Close everything up - done deal.

 

Careful now. There's a big difference between the DRAIN hole and the FILL hole. When you're FILLING it, the DRAIN should be closed, and you want to fill it until fluid comes out of the FILL hole which is higher up on the driver's side of the tranny. We don't want to confuse people here.

Filling through the shifter was easy for me, because I already had the console pulled and the shifter wasn't installed yet, since I was doing the swap. Now that the tranny is in the car, looks like it might be easier to just get a little pump and fill it back up through the fill hole?

As for fluid? You may laugh, but a lot of guys have recommended using HONDA ATF Z1 ..... I used it in mine, and the shifts seem pretty smooth (considering it's a notchy feeling tranny) and it's even seemed to help remedy a problem my T56 has had going from 3rd back into 2nd? Don't know if the fluid could help that or not?

 

Thanks for all the imput guys! I was thinking about installing a short shifter, so i guess i could accomplish both tasks at one shot. I have basic mechanic skills, and am wondering how big of a deal it is to install a Hurst or PRO 5.0 (my options). Does it require taking out the entire center console?