T56 swap

davec73

SCCoA Member
Well it's official I am 100% sure I'm doing a t56 swap on my 92. So far I have an lt1 t56 I am buying so I am wondering what other parts are going to be necessary to make it happen. Here is my list so far.
McLeod twin disc clutch sbf
McLeod slave and master cylinder kit
McLeod t56 bell housing part # 8750-00
Longer custom 4" drive shaft 27 spline t56 1350 series yoke
Trac loc with 28 spline different 410 gears
 
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I've never actually done a t56 swap, but I havd done a number of t5, t45, and tr-3650 swaps, and have looked into the t56 swap a few times. My method for those swaps has been to use the Mustang clutch fork with a 94/95 4-cyl S10 slave, which is externally mounted, and a custom bracket to hold the slave in position to push on the Mustang clutch fork. If you are using a bell housing meant for putting a t56 into a fox body mustang, I see no reason why the same setup wouldn't work.
 
I've never actually done a t56 swap, but I havd done a number of t5, t45, and tr-3650 swaps, and have looked into the t56 swap a few times. My method for those swaps has been to use the Mustang clutch fork with a 94/95 4-cyl S10 slave, which is externally mounted, and a custom bracket to hold the slave in position to push on the Mustang clutch fork. If you are using a bell housing meant for putting a t56 into a fox body mustang, I see no reason why the same setup wouldn't work.
Plan to try this setup to eliminate having to pull the Trans when and if the slave fails. I plan to use mcleods setup as well as a McLeod fst twin disc clutch. The bell housing and input shaft is were the ? Comes into play on my end. I think it's the 26 spline ford and sbf t56 bell housing but that's were the fog is for me. To eliminate as much shimming as possible I want to use the best components.
 
I think the use of an external mount slave is a great idea. It would make it alot easier to change (not having to pull that beast t56) and if it ever leaked, it wouldn't get oil all over the clutch. but thats my 2 cents
 
slave cylinder?

Well the more I research all of this the more confusing it seems to get but to far I have figured a few things out. The t56 I am buying is an lt1 firebird so the mid plate on it is configured for a shift fork. The bell housing I found is an frpp t56 to small block ford and has the entry slot for the shift fork but I don't know which fork I will have to use (early ford or lt1). If I go with the internal slave I can switch the mid plate cover to an ls1 which will accept an internal slave. I am going to call one of the techs at McLeod tomorrow and see if they have any idea but any input is greatly appreciated. I was reading the other threads on the t56 swap but they are using different bell housings than I plan to use so Its all a bit confusing to me.
 
Use the mustang clutch fork and throw out bearing. Make a bracket to hold the S10 slave in position to push on the Mustang clutch fork, with a piece of threaded rod and and 2 nuts locked together as an adjustable pushrod. As for what input shaft and clutch to use, I would research the depth of the McLeod bell housing compared to one for a T56 in a 03/04 Cobra. If the bell housing depths are the same for those 2, then use the 03/04 Cobra input shaft because that will give you the right diameter for the pilot bearing, and allow you to use any Mustang clutch kit. If there is a big difference in the depth of the bell housings, I would use whatever input shaft has a similar depth bell housing, then for the clutch you will have to separately buy a clutch disc for that car and a pressure plate for a mustang, and then you will have to make an adapter or something for the pilot bearing.
 
Use the mustang clutch fork and throw out bearing. Make a bracket to hold the S10 slave in position to push on the Mustang clutch fork, with a piece of threaded rod and and 2 nuts locked together as an adjustable pushrod. As for what input shaft and clutch to use, I would research the depth of the McLeod bell housing compared to one for a T56 in a 03/04 Cobra. If the bell housing depths are the same for those 2, then use the 03/04 Cobra input shaft because that will give you the right diameter for the pilot bearing, and allow you to use any Mustang clutch kit. If there is a big difference in the depth of the bell housings, I would use whatever input shaft has a similar depth bell housing, then for the clutch you will have to separately buy a clutch disc for that car and a pressure plate for a mustang, and then you will have to make an adapter or something for the pilot bearing.
The bell housing is an frpp mod to sbf. The input shaft I have to use is the 03 04 cobra 26 spline. The bell housing has the mounting position for an external slave cylinder already but I was going to use the McLeod master and slave because of the stiff pedal problems John ran into. However if the S10 unit will work with the stock tbird master cylinder that would save me prob 500 dollars.
 
Might be an option to take on the bracket but the wilwood 3/4 bore master cylinder I found is 70 bucks. These guys are way over priced
 
Information on lt1 t56 swap

Well after making a bunch of calls to t56 specialists and McLeod the list of parts that will work with a 26 spline t56 LT1 transmission are as follows
LT1 t56
frpp or quicktime t56 to small block ford Bell housing
Mcleod fst twin disc 800 hp clutch
Mcleod 1400-22 internal slave
McLeod 8-1380-4 extended pilot bearing
Wilwood 260-10372 3/4 bore master cylinder (may need bracket some fab required to clutch pedal assembly)

Custom 4 " drive shaft
373 410 or 456 gears.

I plan to leave the rear dif 28 spline to save a little money now because at this stage in the game a solid axle may be in this cars future.
 
hey Dave, just curious, what made you select the lt1 t56?

I have a t56 from an 03-04 cobra that I bought for my lincoln ls (to mate to the 4.6 modular swap), the engine and trans is sitting next to the car right now since im out in Wyoming with work but I'll be tackling it when I get back home next year.

I had contemplated snatching another one up for one of my supercoupes since most of the 03-04 cobra's I deal with get swapped to 4r70w's so I can usually come by them often enough

btw, I don't have cell phone service out here so if you sent me anymore txt msgs I wouldn't get them. Just shoot me a PM or email if you need to chat at me.
 
Bumpy stick till the end with this guy! You auto guys are quick on the 1/4 mile my direction with this car is the sc I've always dreamed of having and I'm getting there pretty quick if this swap goes the way I think it will I should be able to be quite a bit faster on the drag strip as well.
 
Must be embarrassing being beat by all those children, women and disabled drivers.:eek: Kevin, Brian David are you guys all disabled:rolleyes: Guess I never noticed. Anyway back to the thread

Ken
 
The list is assembled for most of the parts and I am in the process of figuring out how to get down to get the trans. Once I have it all and get the car back together in running condition I am pulling the existing drive train to get the new one in. I will have to waite to get it functional after Matt and I get the dash out to install the master cylinder and clutch pedal. I plan to take lots of pics and document the entire thing.
 
I have nothing against autos one of the reasons this has always been my favorite car is the fact it came with a manual and that is the reason I will always stay with a manual.
 
Getting closer

Well I am due to go pick up the t56 sometime in the very near future and Mcleod racing has come through for me with the ultimate "bolt in" clutch set up for this combo. I plan to have the transmission looked at to upgrade the shift dogs blocker rings and install a steel 3 - 4 shift fork as well as anything else that needs replaced while its apart. The current list of parts for the swap with the LT1 t56 out of a 93 up firebird or Camaro is as follows
McLeod t56 to small block ford Bell housing 8750-00
Mcleod fst twin disc 800 hp clutch (custom fit by lee at McLeod racing to fit our flywheel)
Mcleod 1400-22 internal slave
McLeod 8-1380-4 extended pilot bearing
Wilwood 260-10372 3/4 bore master cylinder
MGW f body shifter with 1.75 extension and custom bent handle
Hurst pistol grip shifter

I still havnt figured the clutch pedal assembly with the 3/4 bore master cylinder out yet because I am still trying to find a stock pedal assembly to mach it up. I am thinking that I am going to purchase a wilwood clutch pedal made for the 3/4 bor master cylinder and mount it in a stock assembly so I don't have to spend 200 dollars on the brackets to mount the master cylinder to the stock assembly because a new wilwood 6:1 clutch pedal is 65 bucks shipped. I am sure ther are less expensive methods to go about doing this swap but I am going for ease of install where the parts all work well together and there is no spacing of the bell housing and more critical parts. According to Mcleod these parts will allow the T56 to bolt right up to my motor and the slave cylinder will slip right over the quill on the lt1 t56 so no shimming will be required.

The reason I chose the lt1 t56 in specific wasn't as much of a performance based decision as it was fit. With the small block ford bell housing and clutch setup the lt1 trans is supposed to bolt right up to the block. The othe determining factor was the lt1 t56 already has a 26 spline input shaft in its original gear set. the cobra transmissions have to have a 26 spline input shaft installed if you want to get away from the weaker 10 spline design they came stock with. The last factor was shifter location as the lt1 tranny has the shifter outlet near the back of the trans which will allow me to install a modified shift handle or shifter to make the location of the shifter correct in the car instead of spacing the bell housing.
 
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