Hey guys,

I am not to familiar with transmissions and was wondering if it is possible to mount a 6 speed manual out of a newer Camaro up to a 454cu in. in my 69 Camaro.
Also does anyone know how strong the new transmissions are and if they will hold up to 450 to 500 HP.

Any info would be helpful.

I am putting out 400 RWHP in my 93Z28 and the 6 speed holds up just fine to some pretty hard hole shots. I use a centerforce clutch and the power transfer from engine to transmission is immediate. I can't say how they hold up to the torque of a big block.

cruzin, welcome to the site. I'm running a 94 t-56 6spd in my 69 conv.you cant use 98 and up without MAJOR work, 93 to 97 will work chime in guys if i'm off here. look in the archives there's alot of info about this swap.
your second question, my buddy is running about 550rear wheel hp in his with a stock t56.

my ride:

www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/hillbridge/72 (http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/hillbridge/72)

Thanks guys,

Hey chuck was the swap in your 69 pretty hard to do? Or was it a pretty easy mod?

Thanks

I did a little research on this very swap a few months ago. From what I could tell, it is a pretty involved swap compared to a five speed install. It is also pretty expensive. You have to have the T56 transmission and bellhousing from the newer Camaro. You have to convert your mechanical clutch linkage to a hydraulic. You also have to have a different clutch and pressure plate than you would normally use for a Muncie four speed or similar. You'll have to fabricate a crossmember. You will need an electronic speedometer. There is a way to get your cable driven speedometer to work, but it is pretty expensive if I remember correctly. The shifter comes up 4" to the rear of where the stock shifter comes up and you will have to shorten the driveline.

I'm not trying to deter you from doing this swap, but you should know what is involved before you get into it. The T56 is a good transmission and I know of one that is behind a very stout 502 and it is living quite happily.

Teeto Jones is a member of this site. He has developed a kit that includes a crossmember and some brackets to change your mechanical clutch to a hydraulic clutch. He can also provide you with many more details on what is involved with this swap. Do a search on his user name or T56 swap and you will find out a lot. It has been covered several times before on this site.

I believe that Tremec is now making a T56 that is much more compatible with our older muscle cars so you might want to check into that as well.

Just a few additions to the above post.

You can do this swap three ways. Any way you do it will require a fabricated crossmember, the shifter will be 3" to 4" to the rear of where the stock shifter comes up and you'll have to shorten the driveshaft.

If you use the Retrofit T56 (currently $1,999 from D&D before shipping) that's all you need to do. You can reuse (if you want to) your current clutch, flywheel, clutch linkage, etc. and the Retrofit T56 comes with a mechanical speedometer drive.

For any swap using an LT1 or an LS1 T56, you'll need an electronic speedometer (or an electronic to mechanical adapter).

Using an LT1 T56 with a two piece rear main seal engine, you'll need to get an aftermarket flywheel which will accept the LT1 "pull" style clutch. You'll also need the LT1 bellhousing and you'll have to convert to the LT1 hydraulic clutch linkage.

Using an LT1 T56 with a one piece rear main seal engine, you can use a factory flywheel.

Using an LS1 T56 with a one or two piece rear main seal engine, you'll need to get a spacer to adjust the input shaft length to work with the earlier (than an LS1) block. You'll also need the LS1 bellhousing and you'll have to convert to the LS1 hydraulic clutch linkage. You can use any flywheel and any diaphragm clutch that works with your particular engine.

Bob Weir makes full kits (including bellhousings, crossmembers, clutch linkages, etc.) that allow use of a standard flywheel/clutch with an LT1 (as well as an LS1) T56.

Teetoe Jones makes a kit to put the LT1 T56 in a first generation with the "pull" style clutch and either has or is working on a kit to put the LS1 in a first generation.

cruzin, the guys pretty much covered it all. I have a lift in the garage so that helps a ton. I couldn't emagine doing it with out it. I must have pulled the tranny out 7 or 8 times.

It cost a bit over 3 grand but was worth every bit of sweat and pain. It is a really fun car to drive.
my ride:

www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/hillbridge/72 (http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/hillbridge/72)

I already have the adpater plate to mate the LS1 style (98+) T56 to a standard chevy. I do need to test it, but the hard part is done. Email me at Teetoe_Jones@hotmail.com if you need any info.
See these pages as well:
http://www.pro-touring.com/t56/
http://www.pro-touring.com/tech/american_touring_specialties.htm
Tyler

Thanks for all the help. I still have to decide what I am going to do.

Thanks

ok kind of diging this post out of the trash but i was wondering what i would need to get if i was to put this T56 in a 67 camaro with a SB 350 in it and not a LS1 or LT1 engine. adapters or what ever? its a great engine and im not goint to mess with sawping it our just for the trans but i want the 6 speed too. any advice? and any links of places i should look would great too. im a cherry camaro owner and i don't really know where to start.

Search on "T56" (without the quotes) here and in the manual transmission section at pro-touring.com and you'll have days of reading.

sounds great. been a member for an hour and a half and its been helpful already thanks

Also to add to some of the dated materials above. the LS-1 t56 is now a pretty easy and cheap (in comparison) swap. By using Mcleods adapter one can use the factory mech. linkage, bellhousing, clutch, and flywheel for any first gen swap. All you would need is a different throwout bearing, shortened driveshaft, and a VSS adapter to adapt a electronic signal to mechanical speedometer.

David

and a VSS adapter to adapt a electronic signal to mechanical speedometer.

David

My information may be dated, but I was under the impression that the electronic transmission signal to mechanical speedometer adapter was pretty pricey ($300 or so), while the mechanical transmission signal to electronic speedometer adapter was relatively inexpensive ($65 or so).

Ahh heck you follow me wherever I go Mkelcy! Ya your right I was just trying to clarify the basics real quick so nobody would get the wrong info. Sorry, just trying to help out fellow ignorant fools :D.

By the way, thanks for the help with the clutch and scatter shield, I just seem to go around and round with this.

David

Ahh heck you follow me wherever I go Mkelcy!
Heh, at least you only have one person following you around. I have the honor of getting corrected constantly by TWO, Click and JimM. At least we're in good company if we have to be corrected, it's by some good (and smart) folks!

Ahh heck you follow me wherever I go Mkelcy! Ya your right I was just trying to clarify the basics real quick so nobody would get the wrong info. Sorry, just trying to help out fellow ignorant fools :D.

By the way, thanks for the help with the clutch and scatter shield, I just seem to go around and round with this.

David

Sorry, don't mean to be stalking you.http://www.camaros.net/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif

Also forgot to add that the VSS signal from any of the T56's that have electronic senders will work fine with the Autometer (and I'm guessing other manufacturers') electronic speedometers with no adapters required.