So a couple weeks back I broke something driveliney in the Camaro. 3rd and 4th were no good, but I could putz around in 1st and reverse. The onset was immediate and between the clutch and transmission I've not found a smoking gun for that. I do believe I found the sudden onset of difficult gear engagement, the pilot bearing exploded. Again. It's been replaced with a pilot bushing. I've never used one before, but a friend told me about squeezing oil into it with your fingers until it leeches out the other side. I was able to achieve that and got the thing in. Popped in a fresh clutch disc as the old one was nearing its serviceable limit and also plopped in a brand new release bearing that I was gifted this past season. My repaired bellhousing cracked again, so I snagged my original which needed a helicoil. No biggie, I grabbed a kit and headed out to the car. I get there and realize I need a 10.3mm drill bit. F me, this was the end of my night but at least I knocked out the other small items. I get home and sure enough I have the correct but but it's too late to head back out to the car so I decide to tear down the T56 that 3rd took a dump on back in April 2018 in a very sudden fashion (at the same track I just broke this damn thing again). I suspected/hoped it cracked a 3rd gear ring and sure enough it did.
You have to zoom in, squint, and hold your mouth just right to see it. It's plain to see when you press the ring toward the gear, spreads out and makes itself known. Nothing else tore up on 3rd. Score! Also score, the 3/4 rings I paranoidally replaced this past summer on the primary transmission ended up being in much better shape than what was in here, so I don't have to buy rings. Double score. The 5/6 shift pads were pretty hammered, but I have more.
You can also see that aluminum 3-4 fork. I was told it had the iron fork, but clearly that's not the case. But guess what? I have a spare from the initial order from when I first rebuilt my primary trans, score again! I also found out that I didn't have the billet keys I was supposed to have, F me. I bought an extra set for 3-4 when I re-re-re-redid my primary a week or so ago, but not 1-2 and those were stamped too. Crap! So looks like I'm out $40 to make this thing whole again. I suppose I can live with that. Don't even have to tap into the cherry bits that
Built6spdMCSS sent me just yet.
Edit: forgot to attach a pic showing how much of a beating the old release bearing had taken since it went in the car back in 2014.
Look at how that top collar has been pulled out so far.
