T-56 6-speed discussion...my posts updated

[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...

[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

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.

[sycboi]

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.

I think this Viper transmission is perfect for my 4.10's and 26.1" tall tires.  I am very happy how everything is coming together finally...

-Michael

[Bill_Reilly]

I was reading up the page here a little...  I'm not going to push much for a "kit" really from anyone. Although over the next couple of months I'll know what pieces are required from where.  I'm totally into the 6060 and the quiktime bells, so I'll be researching all about that combination. Since I have an A-body. the whole tunnel comes out anyway.

Frankly, when it comes to these stick conversions, the only right way to do it is remove parts of the floor, even the 5 speeds. Keeping them under the floor puts a god-awful angle on it, usually pointing your headers towards the ground, not to mention the pinion angle change.  The 6-speeds also require a big chunk of the trans crossmember be removed, which isn't a big deal with an alterktion, but stock suspension it is, because you lose 2 of the crossmember bolts.
we did a couple here, and it worked out best to make a whole new crossmember 3" further back, spanning the full distance between the frame connectors.
Here are a couple pics of an e-body we did - we really sunk it up into the floor for ground clearance, probably 2" higher than we needed to, but it worked out real nice. I full expect this much cutting in an a-body install. You can see just ahead of the new crossmember where the old one was - we just boxed in the ends.  Obviously this wouldn't be possible with stock suspension, but it might give you some ideas.

[Think3205]

I was reading up the page here a little...  I'm not going to push much for a "kit" really from anyone. Although over the next couple of months I'll know what pieces are required from where.  I'm totally into the 6060 and the quiktime bells, so I'll be researching all about that combination. Since I have an A-body. the whole tunnel comes out anyway.

Frankly, when it comes to these stick conversions, the only right way to do it is remove parts of the floor, even the 5 speeds. Keeping them under the floor puts a god-awful angle on it, usually pointing your headers towards the ground, not to mention the pinion angle change.  The 6-speeds also require a big chunk of the trans crossmember be removed, which isn't a big deal with an alterktion, but stock suspension it is, because you lose 2 of the crossmember bolts.
 we did a couple here, and it worked out best to make a whole new crossmember 3" further back, spanning the full distance between the frame connectors.
Here are a couple pics of an e-body we did - we really sunk it up into the floor for ground clearance, probably 2" higher than we needed to, but it worked out real nice. I full expect this much cutting in an a-body install. You can see just ahead of the new crossmember where the old one was - we just boxed in the ends.  Obviously this wouldn't be possible with stock suspension, but it might give you some ideas.

that looks great Bill! did you have to custom make the new tunnel or did you use parts of the old one to cover up the new tranny in there?

[Bill_Reilly]

We used the part that was removed, pretty much just adding a strip to raise it up some. Putting the sheet metal back went smoother than I thought it would. Around the bell, we had to cut it into a couple pieces, but it wasn't bad.

[mopar_eric]

Thats way cool Bill thanks for sharin!

Man I want one now ..

[Think3205]

We used the part that was removed, pretty much just adding a strip to raise it up some. Putting the sheet metal back went smoother than I thought it would. Around the bell, we had to cut it into a couple pieces, but it wasn't bad.

doesn't sound like it was too bad... do you have any more pics of the sheet metal going back into place?