t56 help please!!

[grim_reaper888]

i am looking at swapping my nv3500 out for a t56. i have read and read and get more confused as i go. i need some rock solid info.
i have a 69 block, 2 piece rear main, externally balanced 383 stroker. i would like to retain my flywheel if possible since its damn near brand new.

what are the best year/models to look for.
will the slave off the nv3500 work?
am i better with a pull or push style?
will the bellhousings bolt up?
starters the same?
how many teeth flywheel?

i am looking at this trans
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/pts/1227800237.html

thanks for any help and if you need more info let me know.
thanks

[ZR1BLAZER]

i am looking at swapping my nv3500 out for a t56. i have read and read and get more confused as i go. i need some rock solid info.
i have a 69 block, 2 piece rear main, externally balanced 383 stroker. i would like to retain my flywheel if possible since its damn near brand new.

what are the best year/models to look for.
will the slave off the nv3500 work?
am i better with a pull or push style?
will the bellhousings bolt up?
starters the same?
how many teeth flywheel?

i am looking at this trans
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/pts/1227800237.html

thanks for any help and if you need more info let me know.
thanks

ok i will do this again only because you are some what of an old school member. the T56 is a pull clutch ONLY system. for your combo these are the things YOU MUST HAVE!!!!!!
1. 93-97 camaro T56
2. stock T56 slave and master
3. 153 tooth starter
4. stock clutch plate and pressure plate.
5. center force flywheel #700107 A MUST!!!! with the 383.
this answers all the above questions. there is no other way to put a T56 in your blazer. i do suggest a willwood 1" bore master cylinder. if you are serious and need further help PM me your # and we can talk. i can explain everything in person much better.

[grim_reaper888]

thanks, im really serious in doing this. im stuck in iraq right now or would call. i was looking at rounding up the parts while i was here and swaping when i get back. i plan on putting the nv3500 in the wifes blazer to replace her 4l60. thanks for the info it helps alot to know the right stuff of the bat.

[grim_reaper888]

the flywheel you listed says for an internally balanced engine. mine is external.

[ZR1BLAZER]

i just noticed that. sorry. this is the flywheel you need. the other one is the one i bought for my 68 327/T56 swap.
Centerforce 700173

[o07wray]

Try looking at a NEW tko600 or tko500 from http://www.thedrivenman.com/gm/

They know what you'll need.. its not cheep... a setup w/ bell and clutch slave is 2700.00 but you make it cheaper with junkyard parts.. the trans itself is 1900.00 tko500 / 2100.00 tko600.

The shifter location matches the s10 if you flip it form the way they ship it using the rear most location.. its easy and only took 5 min ( its made to have 6 different locations )
as for the rear trans mount I only had to elongate the trans mount hole in the cross member by ½ inch, and use a fender washer. Over all a not problem with firewall clearance and shifter locations.. fit nice.

2105 2106 2107

their on NO comparison to the t56.. the t56 is good for only 300ftlb torque. After that the counter shaft likes to wear through the side case. the TKO 500 is TESTED for 500ftlbs and the TKO600 is TESTED at 600ftlbs... I know a guy that has a 1200hp 502ci Chevy with this trans behind them that are daily drivers.. that one now has 72,000 mikes on it .. not a trans problem... clutches yes,,, LOL. but the TKO600 is stout.

if you try to go used with a TKO be sure you get one that has the Chevy input shaft.. I found lots of used ford TKO's, but few GMs... reason is the availability of cheap t56 ( if you call 1400.00 for a used trans cheap ) that will work in most cases.

If your 383 is making any where near 300+ ft-lb’s torque I'd invest the money like I did and go for the good stuff.

Here is a list of what you'll need of you have a current truck w/manual trans
tko trans 600 2100.00
Lakewood bell housing (used) 100.00
Howe racing throughout bearing 150.00
adaptor line for your current Chevy quick disconnect 60.00 ( available from mcleodind )
output yoke for drive shaft 50.00 ( your stock s10 yoke will not work )
Roller bearing pilot bushing 12.00 ( helps with input shaft deflection with tons of torque )
good 10 inch clutch 200.00

Your flywheel and starter and headers will still work.. You may have to do a little bending to get the pipes around the trans.. ( the TKO is only slightly bigger than the NV3500 )
Your stock clutch master cylinder will work too ,, you’ll need the adaptor above.

You can use the Mc Leodind throw-out bearing, but it is twice the cost of the Howe, and the Howe in my application is still working good after 20k miles.

In short for for the extra money and peace of mind,, and nowing you'll never have a trans issue... I'd spend the money every time. breakin' on saturday night suxs.....

[grim_reaper888]

2700, for everything i need to do the complete swap? thats not too bad i guess for a new trans. i may have to look into this alittle more as well.
do they offer a six speed or is it only 5's. i really would like the sixth gear to be able to go on long cruises on the highway. the nv still dostn do well with the 373 rear.

i do think your right that if im gonna spend a couple grand anyway might as well do it right the first time. i already swapped to the 8.8 rear so that should be about bullet proof for now after the c-clip eliminators.

i was allitle confused on the site, is everything you listed part of a kit? the clutch, throwout, pilot,output,adaptor line, bellhousing. all of it?
do i just tell them what i have and request it?

and my external balanced flywheel will still work?
is it a pull or push style clutch?

sorry for all the question, but you have peaked my interest quite a bit. i plan on making the truck bulletproof one thing at a time and this is my next step.

i will probably do a 2wd frame swap and full tub, but i want a solid motor and trans before i do it. know anyone that makes a blazer tub kit by any chance?

thanks for all the info, you guys are great.

[o07wray]

they have a complete kits starting at 3200.00.. but you'd be better off just buying only what you need. they will sell you only what you need.. or the whole kit.

your current starter, flywheel and clutch master cly stay, needing only to buy
1. trans
2. throwout bearing
3. hyd line adaptor for thorwout bearing ( this is not a yoke style.. but one that fits around the input shaft. just like your nv3500. Ill attach a PDF of the Howe bearing sheet.
4. output yoke
5.speed sensor ( this trans works with both mech or digital pickups )
6. pilot bushing
7. clutch
8. bellhouseing. you may still be able to use your old gm, ask Dave at the driven man.

as for the final drive ratio the tko600 has a .62 overdrive!!! 5th gear. so with my 3.08 gear.. at 70mph I'm turning 1600rpm!!

with your 3.73 gear 70mph should give you 1900rpm to 2000rpm..

hope this helps

[grim_reaper888]

ive got an elctronic speedo now so thats good, the bellhousing on the nv3500 is one piece, so id still have to get one. thats a hell of a overdrive ratio. my nv pulls quite a bit running 70. i want to be able to cruise highway and be easy on the motor, so thats why i was pullling for the 6 speed.
thanks again for all the help, im gonna start ordering parts pretty soon.

[grim_reaper888]

i have never really seen a throwout like that. the nv is a external slave, with a fork.
so the throwout has the slave built in?

[o07wray]

yep.. throwout and slave in one... nifty and compact... only thing is a braded line going in...

as for the ratios... you should have no problem at 1900 rpms,,, with a stroker your touqre is flat 300ft lbs or more, above 2000rpm... so you should not have to lug it,, and it should climb any hill without changing gears down to 4th. a t56 has a .50 6th and a tko600 has a .62...so unless you want to cruse at 130mph and above ,, use the t56
I drove mine from Jacksonville fl to Columbus Oh via I-95 to I-26 to I-77.. got 27mpg and never had to change gears even on a 9% grade!!!

[grim_reaper888]

how is your bottom end gears for pulling? i dont tow very often but i like to be able too.

[o07wray]

great.. I pulled a dual axel 28ft travel trailer. 5,000lbs. pulled great.. but stoping sucked!!!

I had no problems with 1st ,2nd or 3rd. with a 3.08.. you should have no problems at all with your 3.73... acutaly 1st should be a seat slammer!!!

now getting 5th to hold on a steep hill was a problem, but the overlap from 4th did just fine... to run at 70mph 4th was running 2800rpms... but with that rpm... I could pass going up hill and walkaway from most stock cars on the flats.

5th would hold on the flats... but it would take time to get up to 80mph after 80 and 2300rpm or so... it pulled like 4th did... but I didn't have balls big enough to try to run a 28foot,5000lb freight car past 85mph...sooo I can't tell you more.

soo with your 3.73 gears.. 5th gear will pull @ 70mph just fine.. you'll not need to do anything....

[grim_reaper888]

nice thing about the 8.8 is the rear brake upgrade. ill probably even go with a brembo big brake setup later.
it sounds like a damn good trans. im gonna look into it now. waiting on a reply from them with quotes.
thanks for all the help.