LS1 T56 trans to SBC

[1stGenSS]

I'm picking up a T56 from an LS1, what parts do I need to get it to work with a SBC 350? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Mkelcy]

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=98387

[Steve1968LS2]

Swapping an LS1 T56

If you’re starting from scratch and already have a 3 or 4 speed manual transmission in the car, the easiest and cleanest way to swap a T56 into a first generation Camaro behind a traditional BBC/SBC is as follows: You will need an LS1 T56, the McLeod adapter kit (1/2” thick adapter plate that goes between the transmission and the bellhousing, extended pilot bushing, and “collar” on which the throwout bearing rides – McLeod Part No. 8207 available, for example, at http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=MCL%2D8%2D207&N=700+400374+429 4812239+4294856873+115&autoview=sku), a transmission cross member (I like the ATS adjustable crossmember available at http://www.t56kit.com/main.html), a shortened balanced driveshaft (which you can have made up locally), and an electronic speedometer or an electronic to mechanical converter such as Cable X (available at http://www.gaugeguys.com/cablex.htm, among others).

Using these parts you reuse your current bellhousing, clutch setup (swapping in a 26 spline disk if required), throwout fork, throwout bearing and mechanical clutch linkage. I also prefer an all heim joint linkage such as the one available from http://www.speeddirect.com/index.aspx?nodeID=34.

If you are converting from an automatic, you will also need a bellhousing or scattershield for a SBC/BBC, a flywheel, clutch and 26 spline clutch disk for a traditional SBC/BBC, clutch pedal, clutch linkage (upper rod, Z bar, and lower linkage (or just buy the Z bar and purchase the heim joint kit referred to above), throwout fork, throwout fork pivot ball and throwout bearing. All of these factory style linkage parts should be available from your preferred restoration part vendor.

I prefer a mechanical clutch linkage, particularly for an LS1 T56, because troubleshooting and correcting clutch engagement/disengagement problems with the factory hydraulic linkage generally requires that you uninstall the roughly 130 pound LS1 T56 to get to the concentric throwout bearing, make whatever correction you think is needed, reinstall the transmission, test again and then go through the uninstall/correction/reinstall sequence until the problem is solved. Call me lazy, but that doesn’t sound like fun.

If you want to use the factory hydraulic linkage with either the LS1 or LT1 T56, I suggest you simply use the ATS kit available at http://www.t56kit.com/main.html. The ATS kits use the factory hydraulic linkages and the factory bellhousings.

Weir Hot Rod Products also makes conversion kits for LS1 or LT1 T56’s (http://www.weirhotrodproducts.com/index.html) which use Weir’s cast aluminum bellhousing and hydraulic linkages (which use a concentric hydraulic throwout bearing for both transmissions), but which, in my opinion, aren’t as polished as the ATS kits. (Compare the Weir cross member to the ATS piece.)

Finally McLeod (whose adapter kit is mentioned above) also makes a “modular” bellhousing which is a hydroformed steel bellhousing that uses spacer rings of various thicknesses and transmission mounting plates to adapt a variety of transmissions to a variety of engines. (If you’re doing anything other than a T56 behind a GM engine, talk to McLeod.) In addition, McLeod makes front “intermediate” plates for T56’s that incorporate a clutch fork pivot for adapting an LS1/Viper T56 to a mechanical clutch setup without the use of the adapter plate kit. A modular bellhousing and McLeod front “intermediate” plate locates the transmission roughly 0.75” closer to the engine, increases the effective amount of space in the transmission tunnel (because the transmission is farther forward) and makes the installation cleaner, simpler but more expensive

It sounds like a bit of a pain...

[Mkelcy]

It sounds like a bit of a pain...

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying.

[Steve1968LS2]

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying.

Just the adaptor plate and such.. I suppose I was looking at it from the standpoint of doing a traditional clutch rather than a hydraulic one.

Just comparing it to putting the trans behind an LS1.. which is VERY easy.

[Mkelcy]

Just the adaptor plate and such.. I suppose I was looking at it from the standpoint of doing a traditional clutch rather than a hydraulic one.

Just comparing it to putting the trans behind an LS1.. which is VERY easy.

LOL, true, putting an LS1 trans behind an LS1 engine SHOULD be easy.

The adapter plate allows anyone who has a manual transmission to reuse everything (except probably the clutch disk) from the bellhousing forward. Even if they're swapping from an automatic to a manual, the ability to use the factory flywheel, clutch, bellhousing and mechanical linkage is a big advantage. Either way, the adapter plate makes for a pretty easy swap as compared to going with hydraulics and such.

[BonzoHansen]

Once you hang the adapter is slides in like any other manual trans. My guess is it is easier than adapting a hyd t/o into a car that does not have one.

The only downside I experienced is I think this metod pushed the trans back farther than any other setup. In my 77 it meant more cutting.

[tpichevy]

Old thread but how far does this adapter push the shifter back?