Trying to find out if t56 is LS or Lt1

[dirtymaro68]

I have a t-56 that came with my 383 stroker that I purchased off a fellow member a couple years back. Trying to see if it will work with my LS1. Previous owner said it was purchased from the
gearbox.com and built for up to 700 rwhp. Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks guys.

[Blevinator]

Early LS1. Buy a GMPP hydraulic throwout bearing, hook it up to a 99-02 clutch master cyilner, good to go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg-Warner_T-56_transmission

[GeoffP]

I'm pretty sure that's an LT trans - note the mounting boss for the T-bolt on the front plate. The front plate is the giveaway. The good news is that it can be converted but the LS input shafts can be hard to find because Tremec isn't keeping up with demand.

[duckmanjbr]

Early LS1. Buy a GMPP hydraulic throwout bearing, hook it up to a 99-02 clutch master cyilner, good to go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg-Warner_T-56_transmission

I dont want to start any argument or any fighting but what makes you say it's an early LS Blev? I'm pretty sure that mid section is a LT style. Notice the large hole on the drivers side for the clutch fork to fit through as well as the bolt hole used to mount down the pivot point on the mechanical fork. The LS series has two smaller holes in the mid plate for the throwout bearing lines to run through and has no bolt hole for the pivot point. Please keep in mind I'm NO T-56 specialist and I don't know everything when it comes to these. However, I did just run out and take a look a mine in the garage to verify what I was thinking.

I know the newer LS's all have a hydraulic throwout and that can be modded to the older LT mechanical style but if thats really what's in the pic I don't have any knowledge on that.

[Mkelcy]

Measure the input shaft from the front mounting face of the T56 (where it would bolt up to the bellhousing) to the end. If it's about 5.5", it's an LT1 T56; if it's about 6.5", it's an LS1 T56. The number on the paper tag indicates, as said above, an early LS1 T56.

[dirtymaro68]

Ok thanks for the help guys gonna head over to the garage and check it out and check back in here in a couple hours. I was hoping it was a LS I just picked up a 69 Nova a couple days ago from a towing company in town for dirt cheap and it had a LS1 with a auto tranny out of either a 99 or 2000 firebird that had flipped. Pretty much just threw everything off the car into the nova with some rigged up motor mounts ill post some pics when I get back.

[TitoJones]

The front plate is for sure the LT1 style not an LSX type. LSX face plates have a machined circle with 2 threaded boses around the input shaft for the hydraulic throw out bearing to bolt to. Yours clearly has a machined boss for the fork pivot at the 5 o'clock mark as well as the relief for the fork to come out of the case.

Tyler

[dirtymaro68]

Measured the input shaft its 6.5". Ok so the mid plate is wrong. The t56 will work though all I need to do is change that plate? Would anybody know where to get a LSX 1 and Bell housing? Heres some pics of that nova.

[GeoffP]

You have to change the mid plate and the input shaft. MAKE SURE you reset the preload on the main shaft if you do it yourself. You can ruin the trans if the bearing preload is wrong.

[Blevinator]

I went through the same thing you are trying to do. I had an aftermarket t56 with the same shaft length as the LT1. You can make it work by using the correct height (depth) bellhousing, and mechanical linkage (although some fabricating will have to be done), or hydraulic linkage using an aftermarket hydraulic throwout bearing such as one that McLeod offers, still using the aftermarket bellhousing. LS1 input shaft is almost exactly 1" shorter than yours)
Aftermarket bellhousings are around $450-$500.
You could also have it converted to an LS1 style by replacing the midplate,input shaft etc. This is one of those (dont try this at home) exercises. I can give you the name of someone who builds these every day who can help. Just PM me. You could then buy a T56 bellhousing used for $100-$150.
Personally, I would sell the trans to someone trying to hook it up to a small block 350 etc, as this is the perfect trans for them.
I can give you a place that sells rebuilt, upgraded T56 trans for close to \ equal to what you can sell this one for.
Oh and I only looked at the trans tag earlier to determine what you had. Sorry.

[Samckitt]

I gotta go along with Geoff. Looks like an LT1 version to me.




I'm pretty sure that's an LT trans - note the mounting boss for the T-bolt on the front plate. The front plate is the giveaway. The good news is that it can be converted but the LS input shafts can be hard to find because Tremec isn't keeping up with demand.

[Blevinator]

It is an LS1 that was converted now an LT1 version