lt1 t56 to ls
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
lt1 t56 to ls I did a search and can't find the answer looking for a t56 to throw in my 66 chevelle. I have a 2002 6.0 in it now witha muncie 4 speed I have a line a 95 firbird witha t56 but am told tht I have to change iput shaft and bellhousing what is different? Love to find a ls style t56 but wow everybody in my area have gold plated ones !!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you do not know what needs to be done then you probably aren't comfortable doing the conversion yourself. The transmission has to be almost completely torn down to make the changes which isn't cheap for a shop to do. I would pass on a LT T56 unless I got it dirt cheap and was tearing it down for a rebuild in the first place.
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Converting an LT1 T56 over to LS can be done by someone who has never taken a transmission apart, in about 30 minutes. Its not terribly difficult.
The LT1 bell housing doesn't fit over the LS1 flywheel. The bell housing isn't large enough in diameter. Some people have made a smaller flywheel work with an offset starter (very expensive) but it costs more than just converting the trans.
Want one of my little secrets?
Go all automatic trans bell housing on the LT1 T56. Hack off the lower part of the bell housing So that it clears an LS1 flywheel. With the right clutch setup, you can use a 100% stock LT1 transmission and save a TON of money on both the transmission and conversion parts.
The LT1 bell housing doesn't fit over the LS1 flywheel. The bell housing isn't large enough in diameter. Some people have made a smaller flywheel work with an offset starter (very expensive) but it costs more than just converting the trans.
Want one of my little secrets?
Go all automatic trans bell housing on the LT1 T56. Hack off the lower part of the bell housing So that it clears an LS1 flywheel. With the right clutch setup, you can use a 100% stock LT1 transmission and save a TON of money on both the transmission and conversion parts.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Cool that's what I needed to know the flywheel diameter is the issue, as for tearing the trans apart I've been rebuilding manual/automatic trans for the last 20 years. Thanks JoeNova , I like the cheaper way out , I have a full machine shop so modifiying the bellhousing isn't aproblem
Trending Topics
Converting an LT1 T56 over to LS can be done by someone who has never taken a transmission apart, in about 30 minutes. Its not terribly difficult.
The LT1 bell housing doesn't fit over the LS1 flywheel. The bell housing isn't large enough in diameter. Some people have made a smaller flywheel work with an offset starter (very expensive) but it costs more than just converting the trans.
Want one of my little secrets?
Go all automatic trans bell housing on the LT1 T56. Hack off the lower part of the bell housing So that it clears an LS1 flywheel. With the right clutch setup, you can use a 100% stock LT1 transmission and save a TON of money on both the transmission and conversion parts.
The LT1 bell housing doesn't fit over the LS1 flywheel. The bell housing isn't large enough in diameter. Some people have made a smaller flywheel work with an offset starter (very expensive) but it costs more than just converting the trans.
Want one of my little secrets?
Go all automatic trans bell housing on the LT1 T56. Hack off the lower part of the bell housing So that it clears an LS1 flywheel. With the right clutch setup, you can use a 100% stock LT1 transmission and save a TON of money on both the transmission and conversion parts.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Cool that's what I needed to know the flywheel diameter is the issue, as for tearing the trans apart I've been rebuilding manual/automatic trans for the last 20 years. Thanks JoeNova , I like the cheaper way out , I have a full machine shop so modifiying the bellhousing isn't aproblem
Cut the LT1 bellhousing. Use the stock input shaft and front plate because you retain the slave cylinder on the LT1 bellhousing. Use the LS1 flywheel. Now your SOLE concern is finding the right clutch. I'll have to check my notes, but I'm pretty sure an LT1 clutch will work here with minor changes.
The problem with the LS1 version is the snowball effect. You replace the bell housing to clear the LS1 flywheel. Now you're missing the hydraulic clutch components. So you buy the LS1 versions. Now your input shaft and front plate are mismatched, etc.
Cut the LT1 bellhousing. Use the stock input shaft and front plate because you retain the slave cylinder on the LT1 bellhousing. Use the LS1 flywheel. Now your SOLE concern is finding the right clutch. I'll have to check my notes, but I'm pretty sure an LT1 clutch will work here with minor changes.
Cut the LT1 bellhousing. Use the stock input shaft and front plate because you retain the slave cylinder on the LT1 bellhousing. Use the LS1 flywheel. Now your SOLE concern is finding the right clutch. I'll have to check my notes, but I'm pretty sure an LT1 clutch will work here with minor changes.
When it it comes to cobbling, if you have to go out of your way to buy custom parts when servicing the vehicle (like a pressure plate and disc from multiple applications, plus custom flywheel,) and there is no actual benefit to running it that way, then you probably should stick with parts that are easy to get.
As I suggested above, it’s really easy. Took me an hour, and I’ve never been inside a transmission in my life. Finding the parts is much harder than doing the work. You’ll end up with a tranny that you can use any LS clutch setup in, and use Oem hydraulics.
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Would I personally use Joe's method for this? No, I would use the LSx bits I already know - but I like the creative engineering. I'm all about creativity.
Thanks for sharing another creative option Joe.