I got it this far myself, and couldn't get the 2 guide pins at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions to line up, and push it in the last half inch. The fact there is a centerline fin on the transmission making it roll clockwise and counterclockwise easily didn't help. I had a buddy come over and we wiggled it into place after fighting it a bit.

Anyone else have this same struggle before? The splined input shaft went through the release bearing, friction disk female splines with no problems. It was getting the bigger part of the input shaft into the release bearing, guide pins lined up, and that final push into the pilot bushing.

Having a transmission jack that altercates helps, but not as much as i expected.

 

Having had the T56 off my LS1 on three separate occasions, I can tell you it’s quite normal to struggle a little to do that last bit yourself, and very normal that it would go more smoothly with a second person.

 

3 things had to line up I wasn't aware of for that last inch. The input shaft pushing into the pilot bushing, and the 2 guide pins on the transmission that stab into the bellhousing. Couldn't do it myself, arms went to jelly lol.

Alllll that work by myself, and couldn't get the last dang inch.

 

Get two 4 to 6 inch bolts that will screw into the bell housing. Cut the heads off. Screw them into the lower bell housing bolt holes and use them as guide pins when installing the trans. You can cut slots into the end of the bolts for a screwdriver if you want, but they usually come out with no problems.

 

Thanks, that sounds like a great way to avoid the shenanigans of fighting to line up the two top guide pins.