RecklessV

I'm a fully aware of how far back the rear wheels will be. I've looked at the locus plethore, loved the design and would love to make something like it. I currently have an bmw e46 that I was planning on using a complete c5/c6 drivetrain, but I decided to sell it and do a mid engine rwd from scratch. Already have a aluminum 5.3, just don't know if I should go with the corvette t56 or fbody/camaro one. So my questions are..

To make things easier, does anyone have any info on how they made the locus attach a c5 t56 directly to the bellhousing with the shifter assembly coming out of the front??

If not..

Would be it easier to get a f body, ctsv t56 instead and change The output shaft to accept the c5/c6 diff directly to it?

Or stay with the c5/c6 t56 and make a spacer between the bellhousing and t56 since the input shaft Is longer (I think)?

Also, what bellhousing will allow me to bolt the c5 t56 directly to the block?

I saw on another site that one guy did it exactly how I want it, but it's been 4 years and he doesn't accept pms on that site.

ANY help is much appreciated. Oh and I'm pretty dedicated to making this happen, so I won't take NO for an answer

RecklessV

Incase anyone needs a visual... This is the EXACTLY what I want to do.

joyridin'

iTrader: (1)

My car is mid engine. The trans is attached to the rear end via special made CV joint, not a direct hook-up. I made a special shifter from the original GTO shifter, but that is being chucked and I am converting the trans to center shift. My car has a Jag rear-end.

That is a pretty cool set-up.

RecklessV

Do you have any pics?

RecklessV

So after doing some research, I found out the input shaft Is the same in a c5 and fbody. So I'm guessing a c5 t56 will bolt up to a fbody bellhousing and bolt up to the block?

Anyone seen a way to bolt up a throw out clutch slave to a c5 t56? Since it doesn't have the screw holes that a f body t56 has..

stevieturbo

Presumably you'd just need to use an F type front cover for the T56.

But really...I dont see how that driveline above would ever fit in any vehicle, unless the driver is going to sit on top of the engine.

Really you would be far better seeking a proper transaxle arrangement with diff outputs towards the front of the trans. Some of the Audi offerings seem popular.

Funny, I was just browsing the web and came across those pictures you found too. Mid engined has been in the back of my mind for a while...but finding a cost effective trans that will take a lot of power is difficult.

But there are definitely plenty of transaxle options out there

RecklessV

I've looked into other transaxle options, but like the Audi 01e it's just to weak. The porsche are far better, but for $5k for a used one is just ridiculous. Google the Canadian supercar "locus plethore" it uses that same exact setup and the car looks amazing. Just the wheelbase will be long, 110"-120". But hey for roughly $2k, I can have the whole drivetrain (already have the engine). I wouldn't mind have a longer car , I plan on building it all from scratch so I'm not worried about making it fit into any other car /kit car.

stevieturbo

What about some of the transaxles used in the Sandrails, there seem to be plenty of those, although many just 4/5 speed and quite short diff ratios

If you're stuck with the vette option, then you'd be best starting with the Vette T56 and diff as a unit, and then changing the front of the box and the input shaft as required.

Think you'd need to do more work at the rear to make the F style T56 fit the vette diff ?

What sort of power/weight are you aiming for ?

RecklessV

Yea I'm definitely going the vette t56 and diff route. I read somewhere that the fbody input shafts are actually the same length as the vette one But I'm not sure how accurate that is. hopefully I'd only have to change the front cover, and move the shift linkage to the mid shift location.

As far a power goes, I'll be ok with 400whp for now until I get the chassis/suspension dialed in then I'll worry about turbos. End goal being 600-700 whp on a light 2200-2700 lb car. ::fingers crossed::

I'm working on a customers car right now so once his is done, I'll start working on mine. I found a few local vette salvage yards, and they're selling vette t56 for only $500-$700 and diff (3.42 gears) for $200-$300.

Also, regarding the body, I'm making it all put of fiberglass. My brother is an industrial designer with amazing skills in autocad and he's going to be the one designing it ( he's the computer guy and I'm the hands on )

joyridin'

iTrader: (1)

Not right now. The car is torn apart as I am removing the SBC and installing a LS3. The picture you have is probably the exact same length as my set-up due to the differential being a lot longer. Mine is in a Cobra and you do not sit on the engine as another poster mentioned.

If you look at cars like a Cheetah, Cobra, or Lister, they all have similar set-ups. My weight bias was 48/52. It will probably be more like 45/55 when I am done.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

Granted it's a C5 vette auto trans, but thought you might be interested.
http://www.fiberfab.us/1002205C.html
and
http://www.avenger-valkyrie.org/feat...oung/index.htm
and another link...
http://www.rsgear.com/TCase/TREMEC/T56Corvette.pdf

RecklessV

Great links!. I found this one..

http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=2857&sid=da558193af17a5ac0b20 26a4e685b3d6

it's also an auto though.

stevieturbo

Certainly more compact, but even it will have the engine almost touching the driver.

Cant help thinking an auto is just a completely wrong trans for such a vehicle though

RecklessV

Yea tell me about it. I wouldn't put an auto even if I got it for free. Anywho, I just bought a c5 t56, so once I get it I'll be mixing and matching. So far I know I'm going the mid shift route (putting the shifter in the top of the tranny).

Question, are all ls to t56 bellhousings the same?

stevieturbo

Obviously engine bolt pattern is the same.

I think all the T56 patterns are the same. But there are definitely slight variations in either overall height, or space for starter.

I know there are definitely at least a couple of starter motor variations that wont work with some bellhousings, but couldnt list them exactly for you.

RecklessV

I was talking more along the lines of depth, between engine and transmission. But I'll just get an fbody one. They're usually cheaper anyway.

Cool thanks again for the inputs. I'll report back once I've actually bolted it all up.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

Nope, do a little research here. There are differences between F body, GTO, and CTS-V bellhousings.

RecklessV

So I got the c5 t56, rear diff, and fbody bellhousing (doesn't line up). I wanted to just verify that the only things I need to bolt it all up to the engine was the fbody input shaft and fbody front cover. Correct?

jmd

iTrader: (4)

I thought it was pretty obvious (from other pictures of the Locust Plethora) there was something in between the front trans. case plate and the bellhousing. With that, it would make sense they'd just retain the Vette front case plate.

Have you made any headway in implementing shift linkage?

RecklessV

Yes I saw the plate between the engine and trans on the plethore, but I'd assume it would cost a lot more making that adapter, then just swapping the vette cover/input shaft for the fbody.

shift linkage, I figured I'd either get the the McLeod socker shift adapter... http://www.jegs.com/i/McLeod/673/82-1001/10002/-1?CAWELAID=230006180000868028&CAGPSPN=pla&catarget id=230006180000850337&cadevice=m&gclid=CjwKEAjw0q2 pBRC3jrb24JjE8VgSJAAyIzAdINHIiGg7gVK7bhYzw9D6j6Cb_ My35hj0oHe1kdayqBoCwVvw_wcB


Or the socket shift off of a ctsv since they have the remote shifter and make it all work on the top of the transmission in the (the mid shift location). Only thing is, I don't know where to mount the reverse lockout solenoid, maybe on the actual shifter somewhere?. Just got everything today so I haven't really looked into it. I'll post pics and updates once I make more head way.