Topic: 1981 TA 6-speed conversion HELP

[N PRGRES]

Sucks here in bc as right after the olympics they made all the laws harsher . Exceeding the speed limit by 25 mph and your car is automatically impounded ,huge fine and points .
I was going to do a stroker and maybe a T56 but there's really no point when you live in a communist part of the country  .


And read this quote from our dictator
" Additionally, the Motor Vehicle Act now makes careless acts such as wheelies and doughnuts subject to a seven-day impoundment, de Jong said."

Sure glad I got rid of my dirt bike

As it should be.

[RainMan]

I see you guys are reffering to the  T56 that has the 0.5 overdrive . Why not get the other version  with a .8 fifth and a .62 sixth . Makes more sense to me .
So in theory if you we're running a 4.10 rear ratio the 0.5 OD would sort of work but then your first gear would seem awfully short and nothing more than wheel spin .also your driveshaft would be spinning faster than I would be comfortable with .
Am missing something here?
If I do this its going to be a 3.42 rear ratio with the .62 OD

[LilSki]

The .62 T56 out of the Fbody is a 93 only trans and is the weakest of them all. Plus there are two different gear ratios for that year. There is the M28 with 3.36 1st and the better M29 with 2.97 1st. Both have .62 6th gear. I have the M29 in my 85 and it is a great trans but overall the torque rating on the M28 and M29 is lower than the later versions. I run this trans with a 3.27 rear gear and I cruise at 65 MPH at around 1800 RPM in 6th gear.

[RainMan]

But isn't the t56 from keisler newly designed , or does it still have those flaws ?

[LilSki]

If you want to buy a brand new trans that is fine. But a lot of people like myself would rather find an OEM unit and rebuild it and save a few bucks. In my case I got the trans for $400 that was locked up. It needed a main shaft and a first gear. I got that along with a full rebuild kit and I now have a fresh trans for under $1000. I highly doubt you will find a new T56 for anything close to that.

Then there are those where money is no object and can buy a brand new T56 Magnum. I unfortunately am not one of those people.   

[SnapOnBilly]

So for my checklist of parts:
-T-56 tranny (93-97)
-Crossmember
-Custom shifter with an offset (I think hurst makes a part especially for this, although it is expensive. If you know a cheaper way to go let me know.)
-Converter to change the t-56 speedo from electonic to mechanical


What about a bellhousing? My block is a 78 350. Will the bellhousing off an older transmission bolt up to a T-56? I will prolly go with the mechanical clutch assembly, at least for now, so I will need a bellhousing to match up to my linkage? Or will the bellhousing off a 93-97 t-56 bolt up to my 78 block and work with the linkage I already have?

Also, what about driveshaft? I have the stock driveshaft so will I need to cut it? Or buy a completely different one?

Let me know what other parts I'm missing so I can get an idea of how much I'll be spending. Thanks for your time!
-Cody

I put a TKO 5-speed in mine. Bought the whole kit from Restore a muscle car. American Powertrain made the kit. I stayed with the mechanical linkage. I had to open up the hole in the floor board since the trans sits dead center in the tunnel where as the OE 4-speed did not. Also installed 3:73's in the rear too. It would appear that the factory shifter may not work, snce it would sit up way to high.So I may go with an aftermarket short throw.