Psycho T56 idea. Go ahead and laugh
06-03-2011, 11:44 PM
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Staging Lane
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Psycho T56 idea. Go ahead and laugh Prepare to chuckle, or pat me on the back. Either way, hear me out.
So I've been working on my 66 Bonneville project. It already has a 10.5" FF rear and matching 3/4 ton spindles and brakes up front. The engine going in it is a LMM Duramax.
So, I've been going a little crazy trying to think of what transmission to put in it. The 4L80E would fit, but it would take a few bills to make it reliable. An Allison has no hope of fitting unless I want to share my legroom with the tunnel. I've gone as far as thinking about adapting a 4R100 or 48RE - both of them expensive and mediocre at best.
Then it hit me. There are a few companies advertising that they can build a T56 to take 1000+ lb ft. I realize that is "gas" torque, not the violent, shaky diesel torque, but it does have my brain swimming a bit.
What do you think? The Dmax will be mostly stock with improved intake and exhaust, and I'm sure I'll plug in the laptop and advance the timing and modify the fueling a bit for economy and a bit more oomph, but even an outside guess of 400 hp/800 tq should be a high estimate. The ratios match my 4.10s great, and if first isn't deep enough when I'm towing something I do have some 4.56s in a box.
Think it'll take it?
So I've been working on my 66 Bonneville project. It already has a 10.5" FF rear and matching 3/4 ton spindles and brakes up front. The engine going in it is a LMM Duramax.
So, I've been going a little crazy trying to think of what transmission to put in it. The 4L80E would fit, but it would take a few bills to make it reliable. An Allison has no hope of fitting unless I want to share my legroom with the tunnel. I've gone as far as thinking about adapting a 4R100 or 48RE - both of them expensive and mediocre at best.
Then it hit me. There are a few companies advertising that they can build a T56 to take 1000+ lb ft. I realize that is "gas" torque, not the violent, shaky diesel torque, but it does have my brain swimming a bit.
What do you think? The Dmax will be mostly stock with improved intake and exhaust, and I'm sure I'll plug in the laptop and advance the timing and modify the fueling a bit for economy and a bit more oomph, but even an outside guess of 400 hp/800 tq should be a high estimate. The ratios match my 4.10s great, and if first isn't deep enough when I'm towing something I do have some 4.56s in a box.
Think it'll take it?
06-04-2011, 09:59 AM
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It might work but I sure in the hell wouldn't be towing anything with it. How heavy do you think this car will end up being? Weight is a large factor on determining the over all ability of the transmission.
06-04-2011, 10:54 AM
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Staging Lane
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Probably 4000 lbs for the car. But it might tow 8000 for short distances, 3500 for long distances.
Put it this way... I want it to be capable of towing 8000 across town without worrying about it. I've built the rest of the car to handle it, I don't want the tranny to be the weak link. Trouble is finding a transmission that will handle truck torque, but fits in a car tunnel. I don't mind massaging the tunnel or making it a wee bigger, but my initial mockups of the Allison were way off the mark. I would need to add about 6" of diameter to the arc of the tunnel and the pan would sit about 2.5" off the ground
Put it this way... I want it to be capable of towing 8000 across town without worrying about it. I've built the rest of the car to handle it, I don't want the tranny to be the weak link. Trouble is finding a transmission that will handle truck torque, but fits in a car tunnel. I don't mind massaging the tunnel or making it a wee bigger, but my initial mockups of the Allison were way off the mark. I would need to add about 6" of diameter to the arc of the tunnel and the pan would sit about 2.5" off the ground
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06-06-2011, 08:19 AM
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Staging Lane
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Three things prevent me from the ZF. The first one is not a terrible thing, but first gear is super low. Great for a 6000 lb truck trying to get 12,000 lb trailers moving, but pretty useless for me. The second reason is shifter location. Its almost up against the bellhousing.
The big reason is size. Its a little more compact than, say, an NV5600, but still Allison-sized or bigger. Here is a picture of the ZF beside a 4L80E. Notice how the 4L80E necks down to a much smaller diameter to fit the car tunnel
The big reason is size. Its a little more compact than, say, an NV5600, but still Allison-sized or bigger. Here is a picture of the ZF beside a 4L80E. Notice how the 4L80E necks down to a much smaller diameter to fit the car tunnel
06-06-2011, 11:03 AM
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yeah, me neither. 
I've even gone as far as researching planetary trannys like Lencos but they aren't fun to drive on the street
Looks like I'm opening the big wallet for a built 4L80E. Keep the suggestions coming, though. There might be something out there I haven't thought of.
I've even gone as far as researching planetary trannys like Lencos but they aren't fun to drive on the street
Looks like I'm opening the big wallet for a built 4L80E. Keep the suggestions coming, though. There might be something out there I haven't thought of.
