LT1 T56 help needed

[gmjj13]

just wondering if any one could help me out here. i have an LT1 T56 hooked up to a BBC using the ATS T56 kit. Ram 2555 flywheel and Ram 98516HD clutch kit. i am having problems with the clearance between my clutch fork and pressure plate. right now it is about a 1/4 inch. so when i push the pedal, it makes contact with the plate prior to releasing the throwout bearing. when i slide the fork onto the throwout bearing, i have about 1.5" of clearance if i move the fork all the way to the rear. all the way forward it has only about a 1/4. is it possible to adjust the fork so that it will remain in the rear most position. that would give me plenty of clearance. is it possible to tighten the clutch fork pivot bolt to keep the fork in the rear position? what can i do if anything to adjust the fork? is there a different clutch fork T-handle that would move things where i need them? any help would be greatly apprecated...

[gmjj13]

any LT1 T56 gurus out there?

[gmjj13]

[GeoffP]

I suggest calling Ram if you haven't already. There isn't another T bracket unless there's something out there aftermarket (I doubt it). It sounds like something is assembled wrong. Obviously the clutch fork should not contact the PP before the disc is disengaged. I would double check to make absolutely sure you have the clutch fork properly engaged on the throwout bearing. I found that it is easy to engage it improperly through 2 seperate builds I've done with LT1 T-56's...I am thinking this will cause your problem. I am not sure what else to suggest - I hope this helps somewhat.

[TitoJones]

Jeff-

Call me at the shop, lets go over this.

Tyler

[gmjj13]

I suggest calling Ram if you haven't already.

been there, done that. i tried them prior to posting here. i figured that if anyone knew about their products, they should. unfortunately all i got was a "i've never heard of a problem like that before..." then the tech guy asked me to send an email to him explaining my problem so he could show it around at work and ask other tech's if they had any ideas. still haven't heard back. i guess i didn't explain what i needed or he just didn't understand what i was trying to tell him. i thought it was as clear as mud when i explained, but maybe not. hopefully Tyler can help me out tomorrow. thanks for the reply

[gmjj13]

thanks guys.

tyler, i'll give you a call tomorrow. thanks.

[gmjj13]

WTH... no one knows what i'm looking for, and i can't find it on line, and the places i find it online no longer have it.

does anybody know where i can find a GM part number 12523313 ????
apparently it is a discontinued item that no dealership in the US has.

tried calling Tyler a few times since last week when he told me to call, and no luck there either. is there anyone else who might have a clue as to what i can do to fix my problem? i don't want to shorten the pivot stud (which may or may not fix the problem), unless i know for sure i can get another one.

still no word back from RAM either. anybody with any other ideas???

[81 trans-am]

Have you tried Keisler engineering. They make swap kits and may know what the problem is. I wish I could help more but my t56 was still hooked to the lt1.

Goodluck
Karl

[gmjj13]

no luck getting a hold of ATS or Keisler. RAM finally did tell me today that they recommend i use a 3/16 spacer in between the block and bellhousing. i put them between the trans and bellhousing just for temporary to see if it would help, and it just might work. its funny how 3/16 of spacers can move the fork almost an inch. i'm just a bit concerned about running spacers that would leave a 3/16 gap all the way around between the block and bellhousing. anybody else running spacers? does anyone make a 3/16 plate that i could use instead of just spacers. if it is nothing more than aesthetics with spacers, then i don't have a problem using them, but i just don't want to have problems down the road. another thing RAM told me was to send my flywheel back to them and they would machine it down some. right now my flywheel is about 1.25 inches thick. i'm thinking if they machined the flywheel and i used the spacer/plate, i should be good to go as far as clearance is concerned. any trans gurus out there that thinks this is a bad or good idea? thanks for any input good or bad.

[HarleyT]

I had about the same problem, but mines with a small block,spec cluthch new flywheel ect,ect. Anyway I ended up making a 1/4 plate to go between the throw out slave and the bellhousing. By doing this basically I reduced the travel of the clutch fork and it helped alot. It will still hit the flywheel a little bit if I hold it to the very bottom of the travel. I may make another spacer out of 5/16 and it might be perfect.

[gmjj13]

got it fixed. ended up having to space the trans back from the motor with a mid plate to get everything fit just right.

[Ripper]

got it fixed. ended up having to space the trans back from the motor with a mid plate to get everything fit just right.

Great that you solved it!
Just make sure that the input shaft has support from the pilot bearing in the crank.