Cascade Crew

83Z28BlackBetty

Hey all, so i've decided that my car is no longer any fun to drive. Being that it is slow, dirty all the time thanks to the terrible pollen of Austin, and an automatic.

So i've decided to take care of at least one of these things. I put it out to you, the crewbies and came back with a resounding Trans swap vote.

So the search begins...

Trans
I've found a vendor who sells fully rebuilt LS1 style t56's without core and upgraded shift forks for 1500. It seems high but then again i haven't seen one on craigs list for months.

Bell housing
He also sells the Gen 1 bell-housing for 250.

crossmember
I've seen t56 swap cross members from Spohn for 110, but it looks like there will be some modification needed to mount the torque arm.

flywheel & clutch
My motor is an older 2 piece rear main, am i going to need the super special crazy expensive flywheel if i go with an LS style trans?

"Petals" & hydraulics
Thirdgen pedals should work right, but do i need master and slave from 4th gen, or are third gen ok here?

drive shaft
this will need to be shortened? about how much do machine shops normally charge for this? and is the splines on my current driveshaft going to be compatible or will i need a new yoke as well.

I think that is all my questions for now. I'm eager to hear all your thoughts.

~JAKE

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Awesome I'm trying to do the same here. I thought the spohn crossmember for t56 was only for with an ls1 swap or does the transmission stay in the same place? I'd call to make sure because when I emailed them asking which one to use with 82-92 f body with gen 1 abc and ls1 t56 they replied, "none." but I'm sure one of the t56 elitists can step up and inform.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject:

Look at what I already posted.

You need the McLeod adapter plate AND Pilot bushing to run an LS T56.

SBC bell housing works. I spent the extra dough and got an SFI Lakewood scatter shield cause I like my feet.

Standard 2piece 10.5" flywheel
Standard thirdgen 26spline clutch/pressure plate.
Pedals thirdgen.
Master, slave, line thirdgen
Fork thirdgen
Driveline - maybe shortened. I don't know what setup you have now. If you have a 700r4 or Th350 with the small mainshaft, your yoke is fine 27spline. Shortening is usually between 100-200 to shorten and balance.

Xophertony · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:35 am Post subject:

I have an extra Gen1 bell housing I would part with for considerably less than $200. Surprised

Alphius · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:46 am Post subject:

Jake, would you mind letting me know what your source for the T56 is? That sounds like a decent deal to me.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:44 pm Post subject:

Price seems okay. Would be better if they have kevlar synchros, solid keys, and bronze shift pads.

Alphius · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:53 pm Post subject:

Slightly off-topic (but kinda not) question here.

What would I need to change in upgrading from scenario 1 to scenario 2?

Scenario 1. - GenI SBC with McLeod adapter, LS1 T56 and stock-style clutch/hydraulics/etc., shortened driveshaft.

upgrade to

Scenario 2. - GenIII/IV LSx with the same T56 as before.

What would be changed, and what would have to be purchased in order to make the same T56 work for the swap? I assume it would be bellhousing, LSx clutch, stock length driveshaft and 4th gen hydraulic system. Is there any more?

Reason I ask is I may go for the T56 before the LSx in order to lessen the sticker shock of doing the entire swap all at once. But that route may not be worth it if I need to spend a bunch of money to convert the setup over when I go LSx anyway.

And Jake wants to know as well for his eventual LSx swap. Very Happy

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:52 pm Post subject:

Sounds about right. I never got a chance, but I really wanted to check out fitting a SBC Gen I scatter shield to an LS.

LS uses the top bolt, and not one of the upper 45deg angled bolts. So it should work... I just don't know about depth.

But yeah, you'd need the LS flywheel for sure. Not sure if the clutches are interchangable as far as using a fork style clutch from a SBC onto the LS flywheel.

The LS uses a hydraulic throw out bearing. No fork, no provision for a fork in the LS bellhousing.

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:09 am Post subject:

Thanks for inquiring for me gabe. That's all very good info.

Paul, the 10.5 in flywheel I need is basically a stock flywheel for our cars? If so i can get one of those easy.

Where is the shifter location on a t56? Am I going to need to do anything more than just cut a hole in the floor?

Thanks again for the answers to my stupid repetitive questions.

~ jake

91RSVert · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:26 am Post subject:

Just had a thought on the driveshaft.

I thought one of the popular mods was to install an LS1 alumn driveshaft in our cars and no modifications needed. Why would he need shorten the DS if its considered a normal bolt in mod?

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2320

Because in our cars the T56 sits farther back than in a 4th gen. 3rd gen and 4th gen uses the same length shaft. Thus requiring shortenning.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:50 am Post subject:

I had to space out the shifter stick and I moved it forward an inch. Not sure if it was just my chassis or what. Never heard anyone else doing that.

Yes a standard 153tooth flywheel for a 2 piece rear main SBC.

iansane · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:11 am Post subject:

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:58 pm Post subject:

I cut my hole where the shifter outlet was. Then like I said I spaced the shifter to the drivers side an inch and forward an inch to get it perfectly centered in the shifter hole of the STOCK console.

Keep in mind too, the McLeod adapter plate is 1/2" thick, which also pushes the trans back. Which is why you need the special pilot also.

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:04 pm Post subject:

I just found out that there is a group purchase on TGO on the Hawks t56 swap cross member.

Is this what I need, or is this only for a complete LS1/T56 swap?

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/transmissioncrossmember82-92camarofirebirdhawkslsxconversiontransmissioncrossmembert566speed.aspx

BluFbdy · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject:

thats the one i bought for my swap

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:17 pm Post subject:

You're swapping LT1, he's doing LS1. Different ballgame.

As Paul already mentioned the LS1 unit sits farther back than the LT1. That could push the rear mount back past the slot in that crossmember. Could always just cut and reweld it a little farther back if it's an issue though.

BluFbdy · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:01 pm Post subject:

good point, but wouldnt hawks offer a different crossmember for lt/ls if that were the case? this has me wondering if ive got the right one lol

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject:

Call and ask em. I thought the LS swaps kinda put everything proportionate to where the GEN 1 stuff sits...