iggy89

iTrader: (3)

Well I have been looking at doing a transmission swap(currently TH-350) and I was originally going to go T-5 but I am now looking at doing T-56. I have been doing some searching around on the swap. Only thing is that I am not sure if the t-56 will easily bolt onto the motor or not since I have a 1978 or 1979 350.

When searching what it took to get a T-5 to work, one of the things I found was that I would have to make a new hole for one of the starter bolts. Apparently the 350 didn't use the smaller flywheel before the time when the t-5 came around meaning i would need a newer style starter that doesn't follow the same bolt pattern as the old one (correct me if i am wrong). That conversation is located here by Sonix:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...s-starter.html

And then I believe at some point someone did mention that the t-56 had the same size flywheel. So basically my main questions are:

Do I still have to make modifications for a different starter? (I would just want to verify this)

Anything else that I would have to take into consideration putting it onto my 350?

I hope to do this swap next year in the spring/summer and want to start looking for parts in the winter but want to make sure I get everything that I need. Any help would be appreciated!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

The T-56 will bolt RIGHT UP to any Chevy V8.

Yes you will need to deal with the starter bolt hole. There is no alternative; no "magic" starter that somehow will bolt into the old-model bolt hole location without the bolt having to go RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE of the starter drive. No matter how many people who have NEVER DONE IT post up pictures of the aftermarket mini-starters with the dual bolt patterns. The problem isn't that the late-model starter simply lacks a bolt hole in the place that the early-model block has one; rather, it is that if you were somehow able to put a bolt through ANY starter with its shaft in the right place to work with the 12.8" flywheel and into that early-model hole, it would interfere with the internals of the starter in such a way that there is no possibility of it working.

The easiest T-56 to swap in is the LT1 (93-97) version. It is said that the LS1 version (98-02) can be made to work as well, but I don't know the details of that. Of the 93-97 ones, AVOID the 93; its gear ratios are like 6-cyl T-5s. Get a 94-up one.

For the flywheel, you'll need this one here.

Shagwell

the LS1 version has a different input shaft than the LT1 style. The LT1 input shaft will work w/o mod. I believe you either have to change the LS input for the LT style, or run a specifc clutch, I'm not sure.

Check with Rockland Standard Gear or Keisler for retro fit T56 info, or do a search here on the TGO boards.

Personally, I would stay away from a T5 if you intend on much power or any aggressive driving. They will handle it for a while, and can be built to handle it longer, but they will eventually break. When they break, they usually require much more than a rebuild.