Got a big box of goodies today!

[71chevellejohn]

Which T56 are you putting in it? Aftermarket, F-body/GTO?
Are you planning on using a factory manual console, or just a boot on the floor?

I'm just wondering so I may have a reference when I do mine on my Chevelle.

Thanks in advance.

[NoClassic]

Those guys are doing good things. I Wish I could afford a set of their 11 degree small bore heads.

Who did you pick your LY6 up from?

[Rreemo]

Which T56 are you putting in it? Aftermarket, F-body/GTO?
Are you planning on using a factory manual console, or just a boot on the floor?

I'm just wondering so I may have a reference when I do mine on my Chevelle.

Thanks in advance.

I'm buying one from TDP here locally....Jason is building me one with a 03-04 Cobra tailhousing that will move the shifter back forward about 3" and will also have provisions for a mechanical speedo. I intend to use a factory console in mine....not just for the looks but also b/c that is where my power window switches are located, and I really don't want to have to relocate them.

I've done a Chevelle before....my old 70' had a BBC/T-56 drivetrain. I used an aftermarket unit from D&D (www.ddperformance.com), theirs had so much versatility with the shifter location that I was able to use the factory console in the correct location....also able to use the factory mechanical speedo. If you use one from an F-body it will put your shifter about 4.5" further back than a Muncie 4-spd....you'll also have to use an adapter or electronic speedo.

Those guys are doing good things. I Wish I could afford a set of their 11 degree small bore heads.

Who did you pick your LY6 up from?

This one came from Orange Chevy II here on the board, but I think it originally came from LKQ.

[OrangeChevyII]

I will be joining the old school Lsx club soon.......cant freakin wait!

[txsr20de]

I'm buying one from TDP here locally....

Nice, Jason is good peoples

[Rreemo]

I will be joining the old school Lsx club soon.......cant freakin wait!

Chevy II or something else? BTW - I've decided to do a Gen IV swap into my Chevelle as well....so keep me in mind if you come across another one for sale.

[OrangeChevyII]

68 Nova 4 door

[71chevellejohn]

I'm buying one from TDP here locally....Jason is building me one with a 03-04 Cobra tailhousing that will move the shifter back forward about 3" and will also have provisions for a mechanical speedo. I intend to use a factory console in mine....not just for the looks but also b/c that is where my power window switches are located, and I really don't want to have to relocate them.

I've done a Chevelle before....my old 70' had a BBC/T-56 drivetrain. I used an aftermarket unit from D&D (www.ddperformance.com), theirs had so much versatility with the shifter location that I was able to use the factory console in the correct location....also able to use the factory mechanical speedo. If you use one from an F-body it will put your shifter about 4.5" further back than a Muncie 4-spd....you'll also have to use an adapter or electronic speedo.

Between LS1Tech and the Chevelle forum I haven't found anyone willing to offer a direct answer as to which parts work best w/ each other for what I am looking to achieve. It seems that almost everyone that does it either goes with an auto or just a 5-speed. And the ones that do go T56 are using a custom console.

[Grimpala]

Have you looked at a GTO shifter for the t-56. IIRC it moves the shifter forward a few inches.

[Rreemo]

68 Nova 4 door

I hope with white walls and dog dishes!

Between LS1Tech and the Chevelle forum I haven't found anyone willing to offer a direct answer as to which parts work best w/ each other for what I am looking to achieve. It seems that almost everyone that does it either goes with an auto or just a 5-speed. And the ones that do go T56 are using a custom console.

I only used a custom top plate for mine, and that was just because the stock 4-speed top plate didn't have enough room for the shifter to move through the 6-spd pattern. Otherwise there is no reason why you can't use the stock Chevelle console. I did buy a new console floor hump and in order to have the tailhousing up high enough you will have to trim it for the shifter base (take a look at these pics). You can use a bench seat style hump without having to trim it...it has a big square opening as opposed to the narrow rectangular opening for the console style hump, but the console doesn't sit down as well on top of one of those.

I did this one back in 03'....at the time there was absolutley no information out there that I could find...I think I was one of the first to do it. There were some tricks to work through, but in hind sight it really wasn't too bad. I retained my mechanical linkage and used a Lakewood bellhousing, and I also used a TH400 crossmember....just cut the mounting tab off and made a new one out of 5/16" plate, and welded it to the bottom instead of coming off of the top like the stock one does. Of course I also had to move it back some and drill new holes in the frame rails to make it work. Other things I can think of off-hand....had to use a longer speedo cable, and also had to find a longer shifter handle b/c the standard Pro 5.0 handle was way too short....I ended up with one off of a hurst shifter and having it curved towards the driver was a big plus. I did end up cutting and rebending an old chrome 4-spd stick later on to get more of a stock look, but I can't find any pics of it.

I'm happy to answer any questions you have.....

[Rreemo]

Have you looked at a GTO shifter for the t-56. IIRC it moves the shifter forward a few inches.

I actually haven't....I really didn't think about one of those because they use the external rails and I've heard that it requires a bit of modification to adapt one to a standard T56...but I suppose there could be an option to just use an entire GTO style T56....I know that they use the triple cone gearsets like the Z06 too...so possibly a good thing there as well. I'll ask Jason about it....thanks for the tip.

[Grimpala]

I actually haven't....I really didn't think about one of those because they use the external rails and I've heard that it requires a bit of modification to adapt one to a standard T56...but I suppose there could be an option to just use an entire GTO style T56....I know that they use the triple cone gearsets like the Z06 too...so possibly a good thing there as well. I'll ask Jason about it....thanks for the tip.

I stuffed a T-56 in my 96 Impala SS a few years back and have since thought about using the GTO shifter to do away with the console and move the shifter forward to be able to use an old school shifter like in your pics above.

Been trying to convince dad to put a T-56 in his 72 Malibu for a while now.

Be sure to keep us updated with pics and whatnot.

[OrangeChevyII]

I'm going to look at a z28 tonight, hopefully it's as nice as I think it is.

[black90notch]

any update??

[Rreemo]

Still gathering parts...I'm leaving out on vacation the end of this week and hoping everything else will show up by the time I get back in 2-weeks. I'm off a total of 3-weeks and planning to spend that final week actually getting some work done....hopefully motor/trans in the car as well as the new harness.

As of right now the heads are done, but I still need to install the cam in the shortblock. I'm waiting on some fastners, a couple more gaskets, and other misc small stuff to arrive. I've also got to figure out some more of the details im the fuel system still.