Just a thought exercise (and another LS thread). The T56 trans seems to be the most expensive and hard to find piece of anyone doing an LSx swap that wants a manual and more than 4 gears, so what platforms are LS-friendly that allow you to re-use the stock trans with some creative adapting?
I know the Z32 Nissans (300zx) are a good candidate, the LOJ kit comes with the bits to utilize the stock trans, what others are there?
Any gen 1 Chevy V8 trans of sufficient strength can be used with a LSx, the bell pattern is only different on one bolt (leave it out). For sticks you need a special flywheel that conveniently came in some 3/4 ton truck (you can order one anywhere cheap), which even takes the old style clutch. For an auto I'm not sure on what flexplate you use but I'm sure they exist to run a TH350 or whatever.
There are a lot of truck 5spds out there. Not bad if you can stand the gearing.
Four speeds are also totally fine for many applications. I have a 1-2-3-OD in the truck which I liked. It's behind a gen 1 engine but could easily go behind gen 3 as Kenny said.
This is relevant to my interests as I've noticed the same thing about the swaps. As I'd like to retain the full modern fuel injection etc I'd like to go as complete a swap as possible. It still seems like it's gonna be best to buy a totalled donor car off of Copart or similar places to make sure we'll have everything we need. Not sure if the hive has better input on other options?
Complete internet heresay: The 944 turbo trans supposedly can be adapted behind an LS1
The 80s Jaguar had TH400s and get SBC quite often, ergo a LS would be an easy swap too.
Some of the full size jeeps had TH400.(per wiki): The Ferrari 400/412, Rolls-Royce 65'80 Silver Shadow and the 80-92 Silver Spirit and the corresponding Bentleys, the Nissan Prince Royal, and the AM General.
The Borg Warner T-10 came in (per wiki):
1957-'63 Corvette
1957-'63 Chevrolet full-size sedan
1961-'63 Pontiac, Olds F85, Buick Specials
1960-'65 Ford and Mercury full-size, except station wagon
1960-'65 Ford Fairlane, Falcon, Mustang, Mercury Comet
1963 Dodge and Plymouth V-8, except Hemi
1968-'70 AMC Rambler, Rebel, Ambassador, Marlin, and American
1971 AMC Hornet and Matador
1968-'74 AMC Javelin and AMX
The T-5 is not highly thought of when putting big power through it but here is the list of cars that got it (per wiki):
1982-83 AMC Spirit
1982-83 AMC Concord
1982-88 AMC Eagle
1982-86 Jeep CJ-7
1984-86 Ford Mustang SVO (World-Class T-5 1985-1986)
1983-1995 V8 Ford Mustang (World-Class T-5 1985-1995)
1983-1986 V8 Mercury Capri (World-Class T-5 1985-1986)
1994-2010 V6 Ford Mustang
1983-1993 Inline-4 Ford Mustang
1983-1986 Inline-4 Mercury Capri
1983-1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and Mercury Cougar XR-7
1986-2004 Ford Falcon
1985-1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1988 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
1988-1989 Ford Sierra Cosworth Sapphire 2wd Chevrolet S-10 Blazer
1983-1992 Chevrolet Camaro (World-Class T-5 with RPO code MK6)
1993-2002 Chevrolet Camaro (V6 models World-Class)
1986-1990 Chevrolet Astro
1986-1990 GMC Safari
1994-1995 Chevrolet S-10
1982-1986 Jeep CJ-7 and Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler (optional)
1983-1986 Mercury Cougar XR-7
1982-1983 (Datsun) Nissan 280ZX Turbo
1984-1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo
1989-1995 Holden Commodore VN - VS S1 Panther Solo 2
1983-1992 Pontiac Firebird (World-Class T-5 with RPO code MK6)
1993-2002 Pontiac Firebird (V6 models World-Class)
In reply to RossD:
Jeeps in the late 70's that had the quadratrac system did use a TH400, but it had an AMC bellhousing bolt pattern, so it wouldn't be any easier to swap than any other AMC transmission. I suppose you could get a gm TH400, swap the guts from the AMC 400 in so that it will work with the quadratrac transfercase, then the LS will bolt up. This could be a formula for someone to look into that wants an LS awd. The quadratrac was a AWD setup that had a center diff posi that was lockable for 4WD. Low range was an option, so if you get one without low range the transfer case isn't that heavy. It was a fairly robust tcase if you replaced the chain every 50-75K miles. It was popular in off road racing back in the day. The downside the rear driveshaft output is offset to RH side, inline with the front driveshaft, so you should have a rear axle that lines up. A good option for that is the full size jeeps that used this also used a Dana 44 rear with the diff offset to match. D44's have plenty of aftermarket support.
calteg wrote: Complete internet heresay: The 944 turbo trans supposedly can be adapted behind an LS1
With some aftermarket bits, yes. The NA ones work too but have less desirable gearing, are frequently open diff, and are weaker. Great place to stick one but once you buy the bits, it costs as much a T56 and isn't as strong.
Porsche 944 use their stock transaxle with the LS swaps...
Appleseed wrote: There are a lot of truck 5spds out there. Not bad if you can stand the gearing.
With the torque to weight ratio of most swaps, I am not sure that it really matters what the gearing is. You are smashing ants with a hammer, and you are worried about where on the handle to grip the hammer?
NOHOME wrote:Appleseed wrote: There are a lot of truck 5spds out there. Not bad if you can stand the gearing.With the torque to weight ratio of most swaps, I am not sure that it really matters what the gearing is. You are smashing ants with a hammer, and you are worried about where on the handle to grip the hammer?
The bigger issue with the truck trannies is that a lot of them don't do so well with being shifted fast.
CLynn85 wrote: I know the Z32 Nissans (300zx) are a good candidate, the LOJ kit comes with the bits to utilize the stock trans, what others are there?
This very much makes me want another Z32. But I must have slicktop.
350Z/G35 coupe + sedan 6speed can handle a lot of power, syncro's are junk in early versions(03-05) but later versions, the CD009 (06+)is stout. With a adapter plate, and some cutting and a bell housing, it will bolt onto a LS series engine. These 6 speed trans are available, strong,well supported and very cheap. I bought my CD009 for 800 bucks. Could have purchased a brand new one at around 1800 from nissan.
I think the only really "GRM cheap" way to do an LSx swap is to get a truck/suv engine with the transmission and swap it over. In most cases that would be an automatic, because as noted above the truck manuals aren't geared well for use in lighter sportier cars.
RossD wrote: The Borg Warner T-10 came in (per wiki): 1957-'63 Corvette 1957-'63 Chevrolet full-size sedan 1961-'63 Pontiac, Olds F85, Buick Specials 1960-'65 Ford and Mercury full-size, except station wagon 1960-'65 Ford Fairlane, Falcon, Mustang, Mercury Comet 1963 Dodge and Plymouth V-8, except Hemi 1968-'70 AMC Rambler, Rebel, Ambassador, Marlin, and American 1971 AMC Hornet and Matador 1968-'74 AMC Javelin and AMX
Remember there is also the Super T-10, which came in various cars through at least the early 80's. I know that F-bodies and Corvette's had them though '82, and a modified version (with a seperate overdrive added) was used as the 4+3 in Vette's from 84-88. Richmond still sells these brand new for about $1600, which isn't chump change but is about half the cost of a new T-56.
rslifkin wrote:NOHOME wrote:The bigger issue with the truck trannies is that a lot of them don't do so well with being shifted fast.Appleseed wrote: There are a lot of truck 5spds out there. Not bad if you can stand the gearing.With the torque to weight ratio of most swaps, I am not sure that it really matters what the gearing is. You are smashing ants with a hammer, and you are worried about where on the handle to grip the hammer?
This I could understand.
"close" ratios for an NV3500 seem pretty normal for car ratios as well:
3.49 2.16 1.40 1.00 0.73 3.55
"wide" ratio seems to wreck 1st gear though
4.02 2.32 1.40 1.00 0.73 3.55
TGMF wrote: 350Z/G35 coupe + sedan 6speed can handle a lot of power, syncro's are junk in early versions(03-05) but later versions, the CD009 (06+)is stout. With a adapter plate, and some cutting and a bell housing, it will bolt onto a LS series engine. These 6 speed trans are available, strong,well supported and very cheap. I bought my CD009 for 800 bucks. Could have purchased a brand new one are around 1800 from nissan.
They dont just "bolt onto a LS series engine", they require a kit and the kit will cost over 1k.
yupididit wrote:TGMF wrote: 350Z/G35 coupe + sedan 6speed can handle a lot of power, syncro's are junk in early versions(03-05) but later versions, the CD009 (06+)is stout. With a adapter plate, and some cutting and a bell housing, it will bolt onto a LS series engine. These 6 speed trans are available, strong,well supported and very cheap. I bought my CD009 for 800 bucks. Could have purchased a brand new one are around 1800 from nissan.They dont just "bolt onto a LS series engine", they require a kit and the kit will cost over 1k.
Hence why I noted, "with a adapter plate, and some cutting" it will bolt on. And yes, the Adapter plate and the needed bell housing makes it cost around 1k.
If you're adapting the trans to fit a car other than a G/Z, this option is still cheaper than a T56... and obviously, if you've already got a Z/G car its by far the cheaper way to go.
TGMF wrote:yupididit wrote:Hence why I noted, "with a adapter plate, and some cutting" it will bolt on. And yes, the Adapter plate and the needed bell housing makes it cost around 1k. If you're adapting the trans to fit a car other than a G/Z, this option is still cheaper than a T56... and obviously, if you've already got a Z/G car its by far the cheaper way to go.TGMF wrote: 350Z/G35 coupe + sedan 6speed can handle a lot of power, syncro's are junk in early versions(03-05) but later versions, the CD009 (06+)is stout. With a adapter plate, and some cutting and a bell housing, it will bolt onto a LS series engine. These 6 speed trans are available, strong,well supported and very cheap. I bought my CD009 for 800 bucks. Could have purchased a brand new one are around 1800 from nissan.They dont just "bolt onto a LS series engine", they require a kit and the kit will cost over 1k.
Oye! Reading comprehension fail! My apologies!
TGMF wrote: Hence why I noted, "with a adapter plate, and some cutting" it will bolt on. And yes, the Adapter plate and the needed bell housing makes it cost around 1k. If you're adapting the trans to fit a car other than a G/Z, this option is still cheaper than a T56... and obviously, if you've already got a Z/G car its by far the cheaper way to go.
How much does a used T56 cost?! I see one on Ebay right now with a Buy It Now price of $1000. Plenty in the $1500 ball park. Assuming your swap isn't a 350/G35, and you're spending $1k just for an adapter plate/bell housing to use on the Nissan trans, is that really any cheaper?
if you can get used ones in the 1k range? nope, no point in cutting and adapter plates. Thought people were saying the T56 was going for more these days?
In reply to gearheadmb:
If you want AWD with a Chevy V8, the tcase in a AWD Astro van is the same case used in the GMC Syclone/Typhoon, 35% front 65% rear. That came bolted to a 700R4 stock, I think it will fit a modern 4L65E with the right extension housing, maybe an output shaft.
There are few GTO T56s on Car-Part for under $2k. While not exactly cheap, it sure beats the dicking around required to put something else behind an LS when what you want in the end is a 6 speed, manual shifted, sports-car-based transmission.
If I was looking to buy anything manual trans and LS swapped, it would be T56 or nothing. So there is the resale to consider as well.
Is the grassroots way to cobble something, or is it to buy a complete car, take what you need, and sell the rest.
Kenny_McCormic wrote: In reply to gearheadmb: If you want AWD with a Chevy V8, the tcase in a AWD Astro van is the same case used in the GMC Syclone/Typhoon, 35% front 65% rear. That came bolted to a 700R4 stock, I think it will fit a modern 4L65E with the right extension housing, maybe an output shaft.
also pre-98 bravada's
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