T-56 6-speed discussion...

[rjsjea]

If you scan through the pictures of the B2 cars you can see the amount of butchery it takes to get a T56 into an A-body.
http://www.b2hemi.com/photos01.php

Pat

I wouldnt call that "butchery".....I call that top notch fabrication, my .02.  Great link for the pictures thanks....helps get the visual picture.  I think 6speed is the way to go

I just talk to Weir hot rod parts regarding the 6 speed kit he's got in the works......very nice guy, he needs "motivation" from some potential customers.  That would get him to get it done a little faster....so any potential customers (sycboi, think3205 or Bill etc....) give him a call to let him know you are interested.....(707) 647 0513.  Dont know on pricing yet

[68droptop]

From the looks of the pictures, the body mod for a T56 doesn't seem near as bad as a mini-tub.

I want a 6 speed behind a torque monster 440 (or 500) in a bad way. 

I've not been excited about spending $5,500 for a 5 speed.  Did you notice how that one Viper tranny on ebay sold for $1,125!  What do you think the kit should cost, minus the tranny?   

[rjsjea]

I have been lookin at viper trannies on Epay.....He didnt know on price yet, but I am suspecting they will be a little cheaper than those from Keisler.  Weirhotrod doesnt know if they are gonna make a totally complete kit (crossmember, speedo,clutch pedals etc...) but he will have a mock up car (hopefully mine) around christmas time. 

Give him a call to let him know you are interested......he is gonna make the parts, but needs "motivation from some of you guys".

[Think3205]

you guys should check this guy out. i just got off the phone with the owner Weir Hot Rod Products (WeirHotRodProducts.com) and he does 6-speed conversions. He is working on bellhousing that connect the t56 to sb mopars and B/RB's and HEMI's. he said they work with the 142 tooth flywheel and they should bedone this winter...

already talked to the guy a little ways back... nice guy, but he doesn need some motivation. he told me that as well...

[68droptop]

I'm not worried about the crossmember as I don't mind making it myself.  We have bell housing options, right?  What parts do we need that are not available? 

Can someone who has done it break it done for us with a parts list?

Thanks!

[rjsjea]

Forgot to mention....He didnt think much metal work on the trans tunnel has to be made, so it may be a good choice for the guys who dont want to mod the sheetmetal that much. Not sure on which or if bellhousing options you would want........You can do the swap now with an adapter from Wilcap, but you would need to figure out the crossmember, starter, etc..

[68droptop]

Is the starter a problem?  How about the slave cylinder and clutch, I guess someone has figured it out?

[topfueldart]

So at this point is there no direct viper trans to small block bellhousing available? I know lakewood offers one for SB to TKO, but is the T56 is totally different pattern than TKO?

[rjsjea]

Pentastar parts offers a complete t56 to mopar small block conversion.........but get ready for the sticker shock..........($8,350)   There are adapters available for small block--viper t56.  The Pentastar kit uses a Lakewood bellhousing w/ an alignment kit.

68droptop--Weir is going to use the mopar mini starter, 142tooth flywheel, I think he said 10.5" clutch.

[protouring]

what did you use for a bell housing?

[g-cuda67]

       maybe this helps ? hell if I know      http://www.moparts.com/Tech/Archive/clutch/25.html

[rjsjea]

I think he used a lakewood bell.......modified it to fit

[zpsull01]

Does anyone roughly know how long before we can expect to see this kit? Or a general idea of the price(ex. 3000-5000)? I'm definitely going with this setup, but won't be ready for it until about late next summer. I was planning on taking MikeR's route but if this kit is available soon I'll go with it.

[rjsjea]

This winter.... as previously posted is what Weir is hoping for.   Price would depend on how "complete" this kit would be, dont know if a crossmember,speedo etc.....is part of it. 

Wilcap already has a bell to use for either viper or BW trans if you didnt want to wait...

[daves66valiant]

I am thinking about the T-56 for my 68 Dart. I have never really owned an automatic before and when I did it lasted 6 months before I decided to switch. Quicktime is making bellhousings as well. They look like really nice pieces. I have the tko-500 in my little valiant and had to do lots of crossmember fabrication. So, I feel I could do the conversion myself with a modified bellhousing. Willwood makes the hydralic slave cylinder available through Summit. Not sure about the Hyd. throwout. McCleod maybe or Tilton. I think the hyd throwout bearing on the TKO is from a Frod Explorer. Hopefully, more info will come out of this thread. 

[sycboi]

I purchased the QuickTime RM-8073 (BBM to Viper T-56).  It will be ready for release in a week or so...


-Michael

[zpsull01]

Has anyone heard anymore from weir yet? I was going to email them a while back but they didn't have an address listed on the site. I'm thinking about giving them a call to just see how its coming along.

[rjsjea]

I talked with him a couple weeks ago..........and no progress.  Quicktime, Keisler may be a better option. 

[Think3205]

what's everyone's thought on the TKO600 vs the viper T56? i was told i could do the tko swap for cheaper and get basically the same result... plus everything is already ready for it...

any thoughts or opinions?

[rjsjea]

The TKO600 is stronger (factory rated) and will fit better.  .64 or .82 5th gear options is cool.  The .50 6th on the Viper T56 wouldnt get used much for me...... .....Either way it wud be cool

[Think3205]

isn't the TKO600 also a 6-speed? or do they make them as a 6-speed? if i go manual, and i will, i want a 6-speed with close to a final gear ratio of .50

[rjsjea]

TKO 600 is a tremec 5spd.  Built to handle "600" ft lbs of torque.

[zpsull01]

I thought about a 5-speed for mine but nothing really sets it over the top like a 6-speed. That was the selling point for me. Plus I already had my Dana set up with 4.88's but I guess with a .64 final drive it still wouldn't be that bad.

[Think3205]

the t56 isn't the only 6-speed out there though, is it? don't know why i thought the tko600 was a 6-speed...

[sycboi]

TKO 600 is a tremec 5spd.  Built to handle "600" ft lbs of torque.

The Viper spec T-56 I just purchased is rated at an easy 650 ft lbs.  It has carbon fiber syncros and a steel 3-4 shift fork plus many other upgrades.  I like the 5th and 6th gear ratios because I do ALOT of highway driving (Indy, Carlisle, Columbus, ect...)!

[zpsull01]

The Viper spec T-56 I just purchased is rated at an easy 650 ft lbs.  It has carbon fiber syncros and a steel 3-4 shift fork plus many other upgrades.  I like the 5th and 6th gear ratios because I do ALOT of highway driving (Indy, Carlisle, Columbus, ect...)!

I'm going to be doing a lot of highway driving too so I like the T-56 as well. And if you don't mind me asking, where did you get your tranny and about what did it cost?

[Think3205]

i always like the idea of the t56 because i'm setting up my Dart for pro-touring and i'd like the extra top-end...

[sycboi]

I'm going to be doing a lot of highway driving too so I like the T-56 as well. And if you don't mind me asking, where did you get your tranny and about what did it cost?

ddperformance...$2,649 delivered to my place of employement...not cheap...

-Michael

[sycboi]

I'm going to be doing a lot of highway driving too so I like the T-56 as well. And if you don't mind me asking, where did you get your tranny and about what did it cost?

ddperformance...$2,649 delivered to my place of employement...not cheap...

-Michael

I ended up canceling the order on that T-56 and got one from TransAction out in California.  I hope I don't regret that decision...

At any rate, I just took my '03-'04 Cobra Pro 5.0 shifter mechanism and bolted it onto my Viper T-56 transmission and then bolted my pistol grip handle to the mechanism with zero modifications to any of it.  All went together flawlessly...

-Michael

[Bill_Reilly]

I've driven a few cars with T56's in them and it's easily worth every dime. They're a total blast. Although my most important thought on the .5 6th gear(Viper) is the gas mileage. At 75mph I'll only be turning 1700rpm with 3.73's - I'm shooting for 20mpg. Another thing to consider if you're just thinking about it - the T6060 is out now, which replaces the T56 for 08 Vipers. It's a stronger trans, shifts smoother, and has a shift pattern 50% tighter. It only requires a small adapter to replace the T56 directly, which I hear QuikTime is already working on, so it should be an easy bolt on in a few months.
  The shifter mount is different though.