T56 Swap

[Buckeye]

Anyone Done the swap to a 5.0/5.8 powered car? I might be owning a lt1 gm t56 and am looking for info on what is real world needed to make it work in my 68 cougar. Cross member is no biggie just everything else is fuzzy atm. TIA for the help

[5.0calypso93lx]

You'll need the typical midplate and bellhousing from either Mcleod or Quicktime. I do believe the tailhousings on the LT1 T56's are different and you'll need a Ford one. Are those mechanical or electric speedo?

[NXcoupe]

Also need an input shaft and different front cover with bearing retainer. Not an easy swap.

[Buckeye]

hmm ok well..... I am calling D&D tomorrow as well so I guess we will see then if it is worth messing with :(

[latamud]

If you do some research you can do it yourself. I did, no kit. I've posted up on this topic so much I'm a little burnt out repeating myself. There are so many ways to do the swap. Research, research, research.

[Buckeye]

that is what I am trying to do ... but at the moment I am trying to figure out what this t56 is worth, if it will work well for what I want and how much I should pay for it

[latamud]

I see then sell from $700 to $1800 for the GM ones. If you can get it for $1000 you're winning if its in good shape. There's an adapter plate to mount a GM T56 behind a GM Muncie T10 bell, which can be drilled to mount behind a Ford T5 bell.
There are swap bells from quicktime but not sure if they do GM to Ford. I suppose with a swapped input shaft that would take care of that and the clutch disc spline count and pilot bearing.
You will need exhaust mods, slip yoke, shorter driveshaft, some clutch system (mechanical, cable or hydraulic), the trans tunnel needs to be clearanced to get the correct pinion angle.

[Buckeye]

Ok so I think if the deal is completed I will be fine. But I have a few leads on getting the input and cover swaped, any idea where the best place to buy them is? or know or someone thar has a cobra core trans?

[Buckeye]

anyone use this
http://www.jegs.com/i/McLeod/673/8750-07/10002/-1
gonna call about it. Way it is written seem like it is a plug and play deal but we will see

[latamud]

anyone use this
http://www.jegs.com/i/McLeod/673/8750-07/10002/-1
gonna call about it. Way it is written seem like it is a plug and play deal but we will see

It doesn't have provisions for a clutch fork, no where to mount the fork pivot ball-stud. But, easily overcome by making an adapter or using a hydraulic clutch. I own a new SBF to Cobra T56 McLeod bell. Thought I could use it for the Viper T56, but the Viper input shaft is about 1" longer.
There's an idea, if the GM T56 has a longer input shaft compared to the Cobra, run the GM T56 with a 1" (or needed thickness) spacer plate. On the spacer it needs a hole to let the input to pass through and mount the bearing retain to it. Then drill and tap a hole for the ball-stud for the fork.
Something like this:
http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/BorgWarner/images/front.jpg

[Buckeye]

I talked to a REALY helpfull guy at mcleod that told me that my lt1 trans can just be swaped with a 0-12 input and fron cover and then use the 0-12 bell. This does not seem to bad he also seemed to think he might be able to lead me in the direction of a used bell. if not the 8750-00 bell is a fit and then I can use the t-5 clutch