What are the specs on the 6 speed tranny? Are they the same as the LT1 models? What about their torque rating? The rear end, what is the final drive gear ratio?

What is the MPG rating for city and highway? I am more interested in those with aftermarket cams. Mine gets 31 on the interstate with an aftermarket cam. Considering LS1's more aerodynamically correct front end, I assume its better? I know the LS1's are lighter as well, that should have some affect on gas mileage.

I have some current problems with my LT1 as of now, and I would like to compare it to an LS1. This way I will know what to watch out for when I put in a stroker crank and bigger cam.

My trannys gears are getting eat up by the torque I produce, are the LS1 6 speed trannys any better? I know about the dreadful rear end, cannot hold very much torque.

Any other info I might have missed would be greatly appreciated as well.

 

Torque rating is the same up from 94+, ls1 trannys aren't any better internally. I believe in the middle of 99 they switched from borg and warner to tremec to manufacture the transmission and tremtec used cheaper synchros and a few other parts. On a side note what kind of power are you producing? It takes quite a bit of power to break these transmissions, the limit for stock ones seems to be about 850 rwhp before they start chewing up parts. How do you know your gears are getting beat up? Are you sure you're not talking about the synchros?

 

I know our cars have good transmissions, but that seems a little excessive for a car making about 925-950 HP at the crank.

 

There are two types of T-56s.

The 93s are Borg-Warner units with slightly different 1st and 6th gear ratios than the 94-97.

The 94-97 are again Borg-Warner units.

98-02 are Tremec units, as Tremec bough B-W in the 1997 year.

Now, the Borg-Warner units are direct Viper spec trannies, supposedly capable of 1000hp/1000tq, even though I've seen them break by people who powershift everywhere including the grocery store.

The Tremec units were build with inferior parts from Mexico in an attempt to lessen their initial production costs. The Tremecs supposedly will handle 600hp/600tq before breaking, which seems to be more believable.

Also, the BW units have an external slave cylinder where as the Tremec units have an internal slave cylinder. Then you have the bellhousing bolt pattern difference between the LT1/LS1, even though the housings are detachable and swappable.

Any other questions?

 

bonemaro are you sure of your dates? I was pretty sure the change in transmissions didn't occur until mid year 99.
Also i believe they actually aren't direct viper spec transmissions, they don't have the steel shiftforks like the vipers and they use a smaller output shaft.

 

I'm pretty sure the dates are correct, but not 100%. If those aren't the transition dates, that's when the announcements were made and the changes started.

As for the Viper spec, they are internally with the exception of the two items you mentioned. Everything else is the same. As a matter of fact, I ran into a guy at the TA Nats that was the guy in charge of GM R&D for the BW units. He went to Dodge and BW and got everything setup for GM using the trannies. Kind of an interesting story he told, and his reaction to the Tremec buy out was hilarious

 

I thought the Tremecs could only hold 450 torque?? I believe HP rating on driveline components has no meaning, for its torque that really shreds the gears. Does anyone on this forum have a 500-600 torque beast that is still using the factory tranny? I thought the LS1 use a Hurst tranny?? Which is better, Tremec or Hurst?

taguy001 - You mentioned synchros. My synchros dont seem to have too much trouble, but the whole tranny seems to be falling apart. Im putting down roughly 430 -450 ft lbs and my tranny definitely doesnt like it.

I believed that the trannys could only hold 450 ft lbs, so I went with a weaker clutch so my tranny wouldnt blow. I've gone through 2 clutches in a year, and my tranny worsens for the wear as time goes on. I dont powershift too, no dumps too.

What about gas mileage? Anyone have some specs of their MPG in city and highway?

All this info is very helpful. Thanks guys!

 

I say that I dont believe HP rating on driveline components is worth anything because the clutch that I use says that it is rated at 400 hp. I dont even make more than 375 hp at crank yet I make a sufficient amount of torque. From my experience, It seems that its torque that eats the driveline components.

 

Thought I read somewhere that the trannies were rated up to 575 lb/ft torque. Borg warner was on 98-99 camaros, after that I believe tremec BOUGHT borg warner, so the quality probably didn't drop too terribly much. Tremec makes a quality transmission, and I wouldn't doubt if the reliability of the transmissions actually INCREASED after the merge.

 

No, they are rated at 450lb/ft for 94+. 400lb/ft for 93. Don't let that fool you, they'll handle double that.