t56 swap list, everything you need to know!

[daevans315]

I already had the console. Its a little tall but the shifter comes up right through the automatic shifter location. I'll get some pics posted.

Quote: Originally Posted by the_dam_man

Well find out if your conversion gears are working!!!

I might be dropping my truck off in TN to get a 5.7 swap done on it and that would be a perfect time to redo the speedo.

I welded up the o2 bung on my revised y-pipe tonight. so it is ready to bolt back in there. still need to drill adn tap the starter bolt hole in the block but figured I would try getting it started with what I have now (rain season is almost here and would liek to have wheels incase it rains....ever)

I ended up with a summit brand mini starter in mine also. I would tap it now but think I might see if I can find an extended tap so I can tap through the starter as a guide (and a hunk of bushing to use as a drill guide)

one thing I do have to say is that a shifter in the forward position (a mod you have to pay for) would make for a near stock looking install.

So did anyone else switch to a later automatic consol with the cup holders up front?

[tippmann243]

ive got a console from a 95 blazer

looks decent

[the_dam_man]

Quote: Originally Posted by daevans315

I already had the console. Its a little tall but the shifter comes up right through the automatic shifter location. I'll get some pics posted.

I ended up getting the later consol to replace my 97 consol. I know JTR cut their cupholder out but damnit this is the first car I owned with cupholders and like having them lol.

would have it running and driving right now if the damn dealer had some O2 sensors in stock. they should be in tuesday so figured I would button everythign up on the truck this weekend and maybe clean up my apartment for the ladies.

I also have the B&M ripper and it is a little on the short side also. Even with a taller handle it will still perform a million times better than my old NV3500 ever could dream of.

[seek007]

What parts will be needed to swap in a t5 to a first gen. I have a 1991 4.3L shortbed, and I'm not completely satisfied with the trangso shift-kit. I miss my 2.8L 5speed s10.

I'm thinking I might be-able to find a t5 from an s10 at a u-pull it...hopefully. I know I will need a lot of other donor parts.

Thanks for all the information.

[drperry]

You want the NV3500 for the 4.3L.

The T5 was for the 2.8L only. It won't bolt up to the 4.3 witout an adapter plate. And it's not that great of a transmission.

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by drperry

You want the NV3500 for the 4.3L.

The T5 was for the 2.8L only. It won't bolt up to the 4.3 witout an adapter plate. And it's not that great of a transmission.

the t5 was offered behind the 4.3 in the astro van, but those bellhousings are hard to get

[drperry]

I don't think I've ever seen a 5-speed Astro... So I can imagine it's pretty hard to find...

I did like the gearing on the T5 in my old '85 S10 a little better than my NV3500...

[daevans315]

I've got about 3,000 miles on my swap now and really love it. Went to my first autox last weekend with it and even though its a little slow off the line with the 3.73 it put 2nd gear about perfect for autocross with good pull from 30 to 60mph.

I'm getting about 24 mpg around town and the best I've pulled on the interstate is 27. I'm headed from IL to Bristol TN on Wed so we will see what it does on a real road trip.

This brings me to another question. Who is towing with their t56. I know the GVW on the Camaros was in the 3500lb range but I'm certain that has much more to do with the suspension than the drive train... anybody have a feel for what the t56 along can handle?

[drperry]

I know for the Blazer, the 5-speed towing is drivetrain limited....
5-speed with 3.42s = 3900lbs
5-speed with 3.73s = 4000lbs (I think, might be a little more)

I'm guessing a clutch upgrade will fix this, though...

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by daevans315

I've got about 3,000 miles on my swap now and really love it. Went to my first autox last weekend with it and even though its a little slow off the line with the 3.73 it put 2nd gear about perfect for autocross with good pull from 30 to 60mph.

I'm getting about 24 mpg around town and the best I've pulled on the interstate is 27. I'm headed from IL to Bristol TN on Wed so we will see what it does on a real road trip.

This brings me to another question. Who is towing with their t56. I know the GVW on the Camaros was in the 3500lb range but I'm certain that has much more to do with the suspension than the drive train... anybody have a feel for what the t56 along can handle?

ive wondered this as well and never got any good information to answer that question.

but i think you should be fine. but your going to want 4.10's or 4.56 is you stay with the 4.3 and want to tow

[daevans315]

I made a 1300 mile round trip to Bristol with no conversion problems. I ran 80 to 85 on the interstate ( I was in a hurry and running with a group) I dropped to 24 mpg. Once I got out of the flat lands and into the hills \ mountains of KY and TN I was dropping down into 5th for many of the hills to maintain 80. I think I'm still fighting a mild run rich issue with the 4.3 as it was belching some black smoke from time to time. Maybe a stuck poppet or leak in the fuel injection somewhere. I'm thinking a 4.10 may still be in my future.

[sixspeeddemon]

I'm still contemplating 4.33's, as 6th gear is still pretty low RPM's at speed, but I have some pretty tall tires for the street also.

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by sixspeeddemon

I'm still contemplating 4.33's, as 6th gear is still pretty low RPM's at speed, but I have some pretty tall tires for the street also.

the first time around i was going to do 4.30's but i got a damn good deal on some 4.56's so i went that route

[sixspeeddemon]

yeah, if I was just racing I would put some 5.30's in it, but I like the lower RPM's on the highway. I just need a happy median.

[daevans315]

Quote: Originally Posted by sixspeeddemon

yeah, if I was just racing I would put some 5.30's in it, but I like the lower RPM's on the highway. I just need a happy median.

5.30's!!! How does a pinion gear with only 2 teeth work?

[sixspeeddemon]

Quote: Originally Posted by daevans315

5.30's!!! How does a pinion gear with only 2 teeth work?

You can get up to 7.33's for a 9 inch

[dangt86]

I have read in the past that the larger size difference between the ring and the pinion makes the rear easier to break. The pinion gear with so few teeth has a higher mechanical advantage wanting to walk up the ring gear warp the case. It made sense seeing as I have never seen anyone break a 2.73. The ring and pinion in those look like they are practically the same size.

Can you imagine the drive shaft rpm with a 7.30 rear at the end of the 1/4 at say 105 mph?

[sixspeeddemon]

Quote: Originally Posted by dangt86

Can you imagine the drive shaft rpm with a 7.30 rear at the end of the 1/4 at say 105 mph?

Same as engine RPM, but I think that they are more for crazy-ass rock-crawler guys, I've never seen even super-stockers with more than a 5.86.

[owenlennox]

I have a 2000 s10 that is bagged and painted with 20s I already have a mid 70 350 4 bolt main and a 1994 t56 6-speed out of a camaro I need to know what kind of flywheel is needed and if my driveshaft will work and what will i need for a crossmember. Also if the floor shifter will be located in the right place. Any help is great thanks.

[tippmann243]

ive got two 40 tooth reluctor gears left from test batch. this is needed to get your speedometer working properly with a t56 swap in any 89 or newer model year s-series with an electronic speedometer. pm me for more info.

[tippmann243]

ok guys got one speedo gear left.

i had a lot of interest before. now that they are made no one wants one, whats the deal....

[262X02]

I know earlier in this thread it was mentioned that a spacer was needed to mount a t56 to a 4.3L, but if I remember right I think a couple of guys that did the swap bolted the t56 right to the 4.3 block without any spacer and it worked fine. Any clarification before I start this swap or lead others to false information.

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by 262X02

I know earlier in this thread it was mentioned that a spacer was needed to mount a t56 to a 4.3L, but if I remember right I think a couple of guys that did the swap bolted the t56 right to the 4.3 block without any spacer and it worked fine. Any clarification before I start this swap or lead others to false information.

its all in the first post

[daevans315]

I'm up over the 5,000 miles on the swap an still happy. I have noticed one odd thing. When coming to a stop, I get a quick antilock brake pulse when I put it into 1st sometimes. This usually happens on harder than average braking and putting it into 1st at maybe 20+ ish mph. It happens with the clutch still in, as I'm downshifting. I'm assuming that this is because the output shaft pauses for a second as the syncro's get everything up to speed and the play in all the U-joints and ring in pinion allow this. Has anyone else noticed this? Can I ignore it?

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by daevans315

I'm up over the 5,000 miles on the swap an still happy. I have noticed one odd thing. When coming to a stop, I get a quick antilock brake pulse when I put it into 1st sometimes. This usually happens on harder than average braking and putting it into 1st at maybe 20+ ish mph. It happens with the clutch still in, as I'm downshifting. I'm assuming that this is because the output shaft pauses for a second as the syncro's get everything up to speed and the play in all the U-joints and ring in pinion allow this. Has anyone else noticed this? Can I ignore it?

i dont have abs so i dunno what to tell ya

[the_dam_man]

can't remember if I mentioned this or not in the couple T56 threads. I ended up drilling my block for a straight pattern starter. went real well. I used a long 3/8" tap a long 5/16" drill bit and two 5/16 x 3/8" bronze bushings. I just bolted up the starter as normal with the one bolt and got it straight and tightened it up. then used the drill and bushings to drill my hole. then tapped the hole. I then removed the starter and used a bottom tap to get full threads in the hole and bolted it all back up after cleaning out the hole.

I have the drill/tap/bushings if anyone wants to use them. I am sure I could mail them in a envelope (one of those cardstock ones) for a couple bucks. I would require a $20 deposit + $5 for the shipping

[foxracer1]

Quote:

I have noticed one odd thing. When coming to a stop, I get a quick antilock brake pulse when I put it into 1st sometimes. This usually happens on harder than average braking and putting it into 1st at maybe 20+ ish mph.

It may be sliding the rear tires ever so slighty. Try to train your self to wait until your almost stopped. Its hard on the syncros.

[drperry]

You shouldn't be downshifting into 1st anyway... Not during daily driving, anyway...

[TFS355S-10]

Quote: Originally Posted by tippmann243

ok guys got one speedo gear left.

i had a lot of interest before. now that they are made no one wants one, whats the deal....

Ya still have the ring? If so, how much?

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by TFS355S-10

Ya still have the ring? If so, how much?

all gone.

[the_dam_man]

well I got about a week on my 4.10's with my swap (about 10K on the swap)

def going down to 3.73's once it warms up some. I think the 4.10's would be good if you lived in a city but I jsut drive to damn much to end up with the same final drive as I had before with just an extra gear in there.

Hoepfully I will like the 3.73 gears better.

BTW I do have a short 25" tire or so which is pretty much like a gear step.

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by the_dam_man

well I got about a week on my 4.10's with my swap (about 10K on the swap)

def going down to 3.73's once it warms up some. I think the 4.10's would be good if you lived in a city but I jsut drive to damn much to end up with the same final drive as I had before with just an extra gear in there.

Hoepfully I will like the 3.73 gears better.

BTW I do have a short 25" tire or so which is pretty much like a gear step.

my 4.10's and a 27.1" tire are damn near perfect

[the_dam_man]

it might also be the fact I drive close to 30K a year so kinda wanted something a little nicer on the highway where I do 95% of my driving.

A taller tire would def help me out though. I would put my black 19's back on but they are getting ate up from the tall spindle swap (not recommended to be done with spring drop over 1-2"....and I have 3"+)

[the_dam_man]

well I just finished towing with mine.

did about 1200 miles pulling a 5x10 enclosed trailer. the 4.10's made pulling easy but couldn't run in 4th and had to run in 5th on the interstate (I wasnted to keep it in fourth to reduce stress on the trans since fourth is a straight thru shot and no loading is seen on any gears) had about 600# in the truck and about 400# in the trailer plus the trailer weight (all steel trailer) truck pulled fine in 5th the whole time with no death of any parts. never tried 6th since it feared loading up the trans too hard.

so the question.....can you tow with a T56....YES you can.

[birdogg27]

Can I mate a t56 to my 1994 2.2 liter?

[Petro]

Anyone having wiring directions for how they installed the reverse switch to their brake? I'd rather have brake setup than a remote mounted switch. Or an aftermarket shifter with push button or depress-to-activate would be nice..

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by Petro

Anyone having wiring directions for how they installed the reverse switch to their brake? I'd rather have brake setup than a remote mounted switch. Or an aftermarket shifter with push button or depress-to-activate would be nice..

i got a pigtail from something at the junkyard.

black wire to ground. white wire to a 12v switched wire off the brake light switch

[Petro]

So I could just extend the wires from the Trans to brake...And the wires from the trans are White and Black..Black to Ground...White to switched off when brake pressed? Or would it be white to switched on when brake pressed?

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by Petro

So I could just extend the wires from the Trans to brake...And the wires from the trans are White and Black..Black to Ground...White to switched off when brake pressed? Or would it be white to switched on when brake pressed?

12V out of the pedal switch

[daevans315]

Kind of a cross post but I wanted to throw this out. I have more than a year and 15,000 miles now on my swap. This spring I put on the marine intake as my poppet valves were sticking. WOW.. the low end torque with the new intake really makes the t56 nice. The 3.73's and my 24" tall tires are just fine now. Pulls 6th gear down at ~1500 RPM at 55 no problems even up hill. The off the line is maybe a bit sluggish but I can still break the 255 45 17's loose with just a minor clutch slip off the line. Getting 25mpg around town when I can keep my foot out if it. Haven't beat 27 yet on the highway.

Summary... marine intake + t56.. very nice.

[drperry]

I kinda wish I had a 2WD, so I could do the t56 and a V8 swap... I don't want to lose my manual transmission when I go V8, lol.
Though, 3.42's and 30" tires might make a t56 a little... Sluggish.

As for low-end throttle response... If you don't have an EGR, you can remove your throttle body deflector blade...

I can't shift my NV3500 into 3rd at high RPM's, lol.

[foxracer1]

A marine 4.3 intake? got pics

[AnalogRocks]

Hi Guys, new to the forum but not new to S-10's I've owned a couple for 18 years.

I just grenaded my NV3500 for the 3rd time. I found a 1995 Trans Am with 113 000 miles on it. T56. This tranny will work I'd guess??

What's a high millage tranny worth if in good working order?

My truck is a 1994 4.3 TBI reg cab short box 2wd.

Does anyone make a shifter relocation kit so the S-10 stock shifter location can be used?

Why do we need to use a bell housing adapter on the 4.3's? I thought the 4.3's were the same bolt pattern as the small block LT1's?

Does anyone make this adapter plate?

Who makes a good quality clutch? Stock power output around 180-200HP

Finally, does anyone make the rear cross member for the conversion yet?

Thanks,
Jeremy

[tippmann243]

please go back and read the first post.

[Redsdime]

im doing a lt1 6speed out of a 94 z28 swapping to my 4.3 auto 98. i see that the shifter is on the back of the tranny. what issues am i going to run into?

[raviolli]

Quote: Originally Posted by the_dam_man

(sorry new to this bowtie world.....driven fords the last 14 years)

welcome to the golden gates

[tippmann243]

Quote: Originally Posted by Redsdime

im doing a lt1 6speed out of a 94 z28 swapping to my 4.3 auto 98. i see that the shifter is on the back of the tranny. what issues am i going to run into?

no issues with my swap because of the shifter

[Redsdime]

sorry about the late reply

i dont know how to have the 6speed come through my floor bc of my truck being an auto

could i use a floor shift console cut out the auto stuff and just cover the inside with a boot? im just wondering if it will match up

[tippmann243]

[Redsdime]

aw yes thank you for the pic

im sure i can use the 98 and up also


what would you recomend for a clutch and pressure plate?

and what about the slave cylinder master on hte firewall?