Manual Transmission T56 | T5 | MN12 | Clutches | Hydraulics | Shifters

Bye Bye T-56 Hello 4spd

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Old 04-02-2010, 12:25 PM
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Default Bye Bye T-56 Hello 4spd

I finally made the switch. T-56 no more. Hello 4 spd!!

After the uphill battle with the t-56 I am officially retired from the 6pd. I ran a best of 9.94@138 with a best of 1.30 60ft. That was with a 364 LS1 off set stroker and a 200shot. When I switch to the 403 and a 200 shot I was breaking all the time.

After a lot of research I decided on a 4 speed. Talked to Bubba at G Force Transmissions in PA and he recommended there G101A with their V Gate shifter. Price to my door was around $3000.00
It’s a Muncie/T10 style trans with a straight cut gear set. After the clutch it’s just forward and back on the shifter.
And for a clutch I called McLeod. Billy and Lee educated us in their Soft Lok slipper clutch and there throw out bearing.
Then there was the Quick Time SFI Bell Housing. A LS1 to Muncie style with their SFI approved window.

Now for some pictures.
Check out the shifter.

It’s a T-52!

McLeod Throw Out Bearing

New alum driveshaft compared to my old t-56 chrome moly one. Saved 5lbs.

McLeod Soft Lock Clutch

Quick Time Bell Housing

Throw Out Mocked up on the trans.

Moser M9 Trans brace with new trans bracket made.

Get out your plasma cutter. Your gonna have to make some room on for the linkage and the shifter.

Shifter is 6-7” over from a stock T-56 shifter

Picture from underneath. It’s tight next to the fuel lines but isn’t that bad.

Custom made shifter box with shifter boot 

Have to get a new carpet to fit the shifter the right way.

Had to move the seat over to fit the shifter, but I not that bad at all.


Gear Ratios
1st-3.022
2nd-1.093
3rd-1.33
4th-1.00
Rear End Ratio-3.70

Overall the install was not that bad. A lot of measuring and adjusting was done. The trans and shifter came in out of the car many times. Hardest thing was adjusting the throw out bearing and getting that right.

Parts Needed:
G Force G101A with V Gate Shifter
Mcleod Soft Lock 4914-00-07 (LS1 clutch with 18 spline clutch)
Mcleod Throw Out Bearing 1400-20
Quick Time Bell Housing RM-6036
Custom Driveshaft with TH400 Yoke
Custom Trans Brace
Custom Shifter Box and interior work

Time and patience. And of course not have a problem cutting your car up a little bit

And yes it’s a loud and I love it. 
So a little history on the car:
I had a 364 LS1 offset stroker with a 200 shot and ran a best of 9.94@138 and best 1.30 60ft. I put a new motor at the end of the summer 09. A LS2 403 keeping the same 200 shot. Broke parts left and right. I did run it NA and ran a best of 10.66@128. Then sprayed and got a couple of 10.0X @142. Bad 60fts and sloppy passes.
Info on the Car it self
99 Camaro SS
LS2 403
12.8:1 on 116 Race gas set up for nitrous
251/259 .624/.624 112LSa+2 Adv hydraulic cam.
All the suspension goodies 10 point cage etc.

So I went out for some license pass on Wednesday. Told the track I was going to do my 2 runs first NA just to break in the clutch.
Run felt ok, nothing special. Fun banging the gears and not missing any of them 
Come down the return road and the track manager wasn’t happy with me and I didn’t know why. He didn’t like me running 9.93!
Ya that’s right 9.93@137 1.45 60ft without nitrous.

I was in shock. Best prior NA was 10.66. Make another break in clutch run of 9.91@137.9 1.41 60ft. Car is bogging a little after the nose goes up.

So I start my lic runs and waste 4 passes. Couldn’t finished my runs and the tracks traction was gone. Have to finish up my lic passes on Saturday. Going to do them NA and they on a rental day hit it with the spray. Adjusting the clutch has a learning curve and wants to get this done right.

Hope this helps anyone that is interested in doing this swap.

Going to make some in car video this saturday.
Old 04-02-2010, 12:40 PM
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Very nice writeup. I plan to do this swap sometime in the future. The T-56 is a great trans, just not that great for drag racing. Does your car see any street time?
Old 04-02-2010, 12:58 PM
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Thats what you call a crash box. I've done a few of them over the years and they are great for drag racing. That vertigate shifter is old school but they flat out work when adjusted properly.
Old 04-03-2010, 10:34 PM
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A Muncie. Damn Havnt heard or seen a Muncie in years.They were/are awsome.
Old 04-03-2010, 11:54 PM
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That's badass man, I'd love to hear that M-22 like whine!

-SS
Old 04-04-2010, 11:27 AM
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They didnt get the name Rock Crusher for nothing. For a factory transmission. They are strong. Had to be behing the LS-6 and a boat of a car back then.
Old 04-05-2010, 04:16 PM
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Way to go Barry! That car is Bad ***!
Old 04-05-2010, 08:18 PM
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Glad to see someone else using the soft-loc. I'm on the fence of going with the soft-loc or just going auto with a t400. I was told the soft-loc will help save my t56 from breaking. Do you know if they make that Bell housing for the T56 with the windows? I was going to drill my current scattersheild and fill it back in with a pipe plug and paint over it. Quick glance under the car should fool tech or fill in the pipe plugs with silicone and paint .Good luck with it, just wait till you spray it
Old 04-06-2010, 08:48 AM
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Originally Posted by 02SOMWS6
Glad to see someone else using the soft-loc. I'm on the fence of going with the soft-loc or just going auto with a t400. I was told the soft-loc will help save my t56 from breaking. Do you know if they make that Bell housing for the T56 with the windows? I was going to drill my current scattersheild and fill it back in with a pipe plug and paint over it. Quick glance under the car should fool tech or fill in the pipe plugs with silicone and paint .Good luck with it, just wait till you spray it
Quick Time Inc makes any of there bellhousing with SFI windows.
Old 04-06-2010, 03:06 PM
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that trans is a very nice peice. i had a chance to get inside 2 G-Force tranmissions at school recently. one was a Nascar spec transmission and the other was the G101A. tore both apart and back together with adjusting the V-gate. even safety wired everything. very nice transmissions.
Old 04-06-2010, 04:39 PM
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Small price to pay for the reliability.....will call you tomorrow Barry
Old 04-09-2010, 02:36 PM
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Would it be possible to street drive this setup? Different tuneup on the clutch?
Old 04-09-2010, 02:40 PM
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depends...if it has disengagment ramps on the dog rings, it wont stay in gear unless your on the throttle. most transmissions only have it on 5th gear, like the G-force prostock style tranny.
Old 04-09-2010, 02:41 PM
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you would have to change the shifter as well. that shifter only allows for upshifts. you have to come to a complete stop before you can down shift it or go back to 1st gear.
Old 04-11-2010, 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by bww3588
you would have to change the shifter as well. that shifter only allows for upshifts. you have to come to a complete stop before you can down shift it or go back to 1st gear.
Correct. This is an awesome race tranny and shifter combo.

"STREET" has many interpretations. Barrys setup doesn't fit any of them though.
Old 04-12-2010, 02:52 PM
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thats why if a ProStock car breaks traction or gets loose, they coast the rest of the way down the track. once they get off the throttle, it comes out of gear and wont go back in unless they stop.
Old 04-13-2010, 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Firehawk441
"STREET" has many interpretations. Barrys setup doesn't fit any of them though.
I didnt know about the disengagement ramps or the shifter but thats very very cool.

For instance if one had a "street" car with a face platted T56 could the soft loc be setup to survive on the street while still providing slip? Do you have to operate the clutch to shift(WOT) with a soft loc?

sorry for the thats a very nice setup.
Old 04-13-2010, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by cause4panic
I didnt know about the disengagement ramps or the shifter but thats very very cool.

For instance if one had a "street" car with a face platted T56 could the soft loc be setup to survive on the street while still providing slip? Do you have to operate the clutch to shift(WOT) with a soft loc?

sorry for the thats a very nice setup.
I dont use the clutch between shifts. That is because of the straight cut gears. I would use the clutch on a t56 on shifts no matter the clutch type.
Old 09-14-2012, 09:51 PM
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How is this 4 speed holding up?????? Looking to do this in my newest project.
Old 09-14-2012, 10:33 PM
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Jesus.. thing is tiny compared to the T56


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