i would like to see as many pics as you have would you mind posting them or emailing them to me? rjkutz@kag-1.net

thank you.

 

Sure thing. I took a ton of pictures. There are a few that might be of particular interest to you, such as the ghetto gear puller I made to pull 2nd gear and the way I rigged up my dial indicator to measure the shaft endplay. Do you have any space restrictions on your email account?

 

Thanks for sharing the info buddy. Additionally, there is a good article on rebuilding T-56's in the latest GMHTP mag. Or maybe it was in a different one? I can't remember now, I've got so many subscriptions.

 

It was GMHTP. I saw it on the news stand last week and thought "where the heck was this two months ago?!" I swear I took some of the exact same pictures! The article is definitely worth the read for anyone considering a DIY rebuild.

 

Hello, I have a few questions for you restoroc.

1) I am going to attempt the rebuild, do I need a hydraulic press if I am not replacing any bearings? Is there a way to rebuild this without one?

2) Can you please send any pictures to Marc1130@aol.com

3) If I am not replacing the bearings do I need to readjust the preload? (I don't have the special tool)

 

You rock brother.. I am going to attempt the same thing with increased confidence this summer after seeing your results. A quality job through and through! Thanks for documenting it for us. Sticky worthy IMO.

 

marc1130: As long as you don't change any of the bearings or races, you don't need to check the bearing preload. The service manual stresses that you shouldn't even replace bearings unless they need it. Having said that, replacing all the bearings was an easy job. Any machine shop should be able to make the tool you need for less than an hour's labour cost. A good dial indicator is also worth having. Digging into the transmission requires a fair amount of effort to being with. Bearings are wear parts with finite service lives and how much is peace of mind worth to you? As a caution, if you can tug on the input shaft and feel any back and forth play in it, the transmission case has stretched and the bearings DO need to be reshimmed.

As for tools, if you're not doing the bearings, you won't need a press. You can get by with a good set of snap ring pliers, a dead blow hammer and drift pin and some long-reach gear puller. I made the one pictured below out of a cheap all-purpose gear puller and some steel bar.



In addition, here are some shots of what you'll need to set endplay if you attempt it. The endplay tool sticking out of the case is merely a glorified handled to wiggle the countershaft. I found I could make most of the measurements with my magnetic dial indicator base stuck to the steel inspection cover on the transmission.






Several months later, I'm definitely pleased with my efforts. This transmission is smooth as butter! Those wanting pictures, I'll put something together and send it out over the weekend.

 

Mine's apart on the bench right now!

It's getting a new 2nd gear (the teeth on the gear that the synchro slides over are shot and/or missing!? ) as well as the whole 1/2 synchro assembly (again, it's completely chewed up inside the hub).

I'll be replacing all the synchro rings for all the gears while I'm in there, AND I need a new reverse synchro hub, as it's slightly chewed up inside (although the synchro ring is suprisingly NOT bad? ).

Looking forward to finally having a smooth shifting T56 in my car . Since I put this tranny in used last summer, it never worked right from day one ... can't wait to row through the gears with ease, instead of a fight!

 

Your issues sound very similar to mine, Pete. Strangely enough, my reverse blocker ring was fine, but the rest of the synchro assembly was demolished. When you get it all back together, you'll be amazed at what you've been putting up with (I bought the car with the bad transmission and just thought it was supposed to be that way).

 

Yeah, sounds like you were suffering a lot of the same problems too?!

Weird how the reverse hub goes like that, eh? I tell ya, it would infuriate me sitting in a parking lot, trying to back into a parking space, and fighting with 2 hands on the shifter, trying to get into reverse . I see now why there was a problem!?

I'll try to post a picture at some point of 2nd gear ..... you gotta see how many of those small "teeth" are missing ... it's unbelievable!! (actually, amazing it even went into gear at all! ).

Also, before the car goes back on the road, I'm swapping out the 3.23's for a set of Motive 3.90's ..... it's going to be a whole new animal!!

 

great thread. can you send me the pics at bbachmann@atitelemetry.com , thanks.

 

I am considering a rebuild myself. If you could send me the pictures too, it would be awsome!
Mdenz3@hotmail.com