Buggy Disaster

iTrader: (1)

I am swapping to a LSX motor next year, and am trying to figure out what manual trans conversion to install this month.

My options now are, I can do a T5 swap for $1,300 or a LT1 T56 swap for around $1,900.

1. Knowing that I am swapping to LSX next year, should I swap in a T5 for now, or a LT1 T56?

2. Around how much money am I looking at to swap from a T5 to a LS1 style T56.


I know the T5 would have to be swapped to a LS1 T56 and the LT1 T56 would have to be converted.

Thanks

mdwallace

iTrader: (2)

If you are auto now I would wait till next year to do the whole swap at the same time. Buy the ls1 t56 swap and take the year and look for a good deal on all the parts needed and I am sure you can get one with everything needed for for less then 1900. I got in a hurry with mine and bought an lt1 t56 ran it for a few months then it needed rebuilt. so while having it rebuilt I looked for an ls1 doner and spent $1500 on motor and 1500 to have trans rebuilt and converted to ls1. Then you have the extra money in the clutch, slave and misc. parts that aren't interchangeable . So i ended up spending a lot more money by not waiting. If money is no object buy the lt1 t56 and spend the extra to convert it all over next year.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

A 94-97 LT1 T56 that you know the history of would be worth converting when the time comes.

A T5 could be made to work, but would be better sold in order to get an LS1 T56.

Go for used LT1 parts for now; sell when done is my take.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Why do you say an LT1 T56 is worth converting? Just curious. They're older, and higher mileage on average. They didnt get the updates the LS1 T56's got (didnt they get better synchros and whatnots? I know the later GTO T56's got some really nice stuff in them) and it costs at least $600 in pars last I checked to convert it, not counting stuff like the LS1 bellhousing and hydraulics etc. That's just conversion parts for the transmission itself. You need a new faceplate and a new mainshaft and I think there was something else you needed too that I've forgotten.

Im not trying to disagree, I'm genuinely curious as my LT1 T56 is really one of the biggest reasons for me to NOT go to an LS setup. I have a good bit of money invested in that trans, but for the cost of an LS T56 it's almost worth it to skip the conversion altogether. Is it the relative scarcity of LS1 T56's?

jmd

iTrader: (4)

If it's been rebuilt for 2nd gear in the last 14 years, it has either the 2nd or 3rd version of that and carbon blockers. Not that much different other than that. $600 in parts for a plate, maindrive, and bell and it's converted if you do your own work. Not including accessory & clutch items of course.

Yeah, higher mileage ones can be a crapshoot; the biggest parts rebuild I've done was a 2002 F-body, and the newest F-body T56 I've seen is in my car, so it's not fair to use end-of-the-spectrum examples. Which is why "if you know the history" comes into play.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Well when you say "if you know this history" it seems to imply there's an otherwise unstated advantage with a caveat. Just wanted to get the extent of your meaning, because Im pretty sure people will have no clue what the history of their T56's are. I know mine was bracket raced and came out of a 94. It's 20 years old, makes noises, but it always works. Has a weird clicking thing going on while shifting into second gear when its cold out sometimes that I dont like.

So I sort of "know the history of it", and I've considered that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't, so maybe it's worth converting/replacing 2nd gear synchro and carrying on with it instead of buying an LS1 t56 just because I "know" thie history. I figured that's what you were getting at but I was more curious as to whether there was some other reason that perhaps LT1 T56's might be somewhat preferable beyond sentimental attachment.

jmd

iTrader: (4)

Didn't mean to create any hype.

Simply: If I go LS1 tomorrow, I'm keeping my 95 box and converting it myself rather than hoping to pick up a "good used" LS1 box. It does happen to have been acquired through a friend who has passed, now that you mention it...

cuisinartvette

If it helps any I sold a brand new NOS one complete with polished bellhousing for 2k and had a hard time getting that much.

1500 for a used one is fairly good for the seller imo....lots listed for a little less/little more advertised with lo mi but 99% of those ads are BS.
Either buy from a member you trust or a trans shop that has rebuilt ones in stock. It cost me that much to go through my 800 mi T56 (didnt need anything) just to do some upgrades. So risking $ on craigslist is foolish these are too old to be flawless most times. No low mi trans will look old..hoping this helps the seller
Remember people will say anything to get your $. I dont know the seller but sounds like he has a good rep so may be safer than price shopping somewhere else.

GLWS.

1986BANDIT

you are worse than me responding to 6-7 year old threads.

seriously, try finding any t56 in canada
(ontario to be more specific)
under $2500.(it will be thrashed too)