T56 6spd Manual Transmission install into a Gbody

85montess

Greasemonkey
Oct 20, 2007
173
46
28
CT
If you live out in the country get the T56

If you live in the city get the 2004R

I have the T56 and it sucks driving it around the "city" traffic


That's a good point.
The T56 will require some floor mods. It's even larger than the Tremec shown here. I tried to maintain the driveline angle, so I ended up with a pretty big hole.

Depending upon the donor source, you'll have $3K in it when you have it running. As Turna said, if you sit in traffic on I95 in Bridgeport or the Post Road anywhere, you'll wish you had no left pedal. If you will go on long road trips, the T56 will be a joy to drive.

To confuse you even more, check out the GoPro videos Built6spdMCSS has posted. The sounds alone made me want a gearbox in my Malibu. Heed the advice about the bleeder hose if you use the OEM-style slave around the input shaft.

I imagine you used some sheet metal and made your own cover to cover the whole back up? That 3k in parts only? And I will definitely have to check out those videos. Easy reference to find them? YouTube channel or he post them here?
 

TURNA

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Jul 24, 2009
10,941
19,990
113
Socialist NY
If your body mounts are good the T56 will go right in with a hole cut out for the shifter and a little extra for the reverse lock out
 
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81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
4,639
13,542
113
Western MN
I cut a hole for the shifter, banged a dent for the reverse lockout, and modified the stock 2004r crossmember to fit.

I had traded a disassembled 5.3 and $500 for an lt1 t56, bought a used stage something clutch and a McLeod $300 flywheel, Howe t5 hydro tob and machined some parts to adapt that in the lt1 trans, and used some s10 manual clutch pedal parts and a 3rd gen master cylinder. Driveshaft was a 1330 series off a old Winston cup Nascar I picked off eBay for $50

You can do a t56 swap for $1500 which is about what I have in mine including driveshaft but you have to be creative and hunt down deals.

Oh buy the forged sonnax slip yoke too, the cheap ones will twist when you do 3000rpm clutch dumps on drag radials which I trust you you will do.
 
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85montess

Greasemonkey
Oct 20, 2007
173
46
28
CT
I cut a hole for the shifter, banged a dent for the reverse lockout, and modified the stock 2004r crossmember to fit.

I had traded a disassembled 5.3 and $500 for an lt1 t56, bought a used stage something clutch and a McLeod $300 flywheel, Howe t5 hydro tob and machined some parts to adapt that in the lt1 trans, and used some s10 manual clutch pedal parts and a 3rd gen master cylinder. Driveshaft was a 1330 series off a old Winston cup Nascar I picked off eBay for $50

You can do a t56 swap for $1500 which is about what I have in mine including driveshaft but you have to be creative and hunt down deals.

Oh buy the forged sonnax slip yoke too, the cheap ones will twist when you do 3000rpm clutch dumps on drag radials which I trust you you will do.

Yeah.....I'd probably do nice big clutch dumps lol.

Since I'm on the hunt for a bargain, I might as well start looking now for a t56. Is there any donor car that I should be looking for? One that works better than another? I found a couple t56s off eBay from an 05-07 c6 vette for right around $1100 price range.
 

Streetbu

Know it all, that doesn't
Supporting Member
May 22, 2011
3,721
11,525
113
Central NY
C6 Vette trans won't work without replacing the midplate, input shaft and several other parts. Lots if info out there about what to use. Google, or even just this thread, is your friend
 

oldsmobile joe

Royal Smart Person
Nov 12, 2015
2,067
3,053
113
mpls
found a couple t56s off eBay from an 05-07 c6 vette for right around $1100 price range.
these trannys are mounted to the rear diff, not the engine. look for a lt1 t56, 94-97. get one with the bell housing. if you have a one piece rear main, then the donor z28 flywheel and clutch and fork will work. that what i would look for, others may know more and will pipe in.
 

85montess

Greasemonkey
Oct 20, 2007
173
46
28
CT
these trannys are mounted to the rear diff, not the engine. look for a lt1 t56, 94-97. get one with the bell housing. if you have a one piece rear main, then the donor z28 flywheel and clutch and fork will work. that what i would look for, others may know more and will pipe in.

Okay cool. I'll keep my eyes peeled for that. I've read this thread a few times over. I have a one piece rear main seal that's convenient.

Thanks for answering all my questions, I'm Sure I'll have more. I'd rather ask 1000 questions here as opposed to buying the wrong thing or goofing something up.
 

marcar1993

G-Body Guru
Aug 31, 2007
702
209
43
New Jersey
My t56 also fit with nothing other than a shifter hole cut in the floor. No extra massaging needed.
 

Rocc_da_don

Not-quite-so-new-guy
May 21, 2019
5
0
1
This intake came with my lt1 engine and none of the mechanics around know what to do with it. Anyone have any idea on what it is?
 

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