When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My E36 LS1 swap is ready to receive a transmission. I intended to run a T56 Magnum F, so I have a T56 bellhousing and clutch currently installed. However, a friend of mine is selling a bare TR6060 at a great price. My question is, how interchangeable are the two transmissions? Would I need to get a different clutch and bellhousing for the TR6060 or can the T56 style work?
I was under the impression that TR-6060 and T56 Magnum were the same transmission, just with different naming for OEM vs aftermarket.
The internals are the same. It is the cases that are different. For one, the TR6060 has a fixed bellhousing while it is removable on the T56 Magnum. Since you can stick a bellhousing on the Magnum to suit your engine, the Magnum is a better choice for aftermarket applications. Also, the T56 Magnum has a more conventional shifter and multiple shifter locations, which makes it better for aftermarket applications.
Then you have the Magnum F. A HUGE complaint about the T56 Magnum has been the fact that, despite the name, it’s not really a drop-in for the T56. I don’t know what possessed engineers to design the T56 Magnum the way they did. But it is an oddball in the sense that the shifter is located a few inches forward compared to the T56. This means that, to work in T56 applications, it is usually necessary to cut transmission tunnels and use sometimes expensive shifter relocators. The same, of course, is true for swap applications, where swap kits have been designed around the T56 shifter location. The Magnum F takes care of this situation by using a conventional T56 case. Now why Tremec didn’t do this in the first place is beyond me.
TR6060 is what is found in the OE applications and built to whatever the manufacturer specs require to fit properly as designed.
There are numerous versions of it and even within the same model vehicle depending on the year and trim package.
The T56 Magnum is more of a generic package designed to go into rear wheel drive applications where a TR6060 was not an option (mainly conversion purposes). Within the Magnum family, you have a few options in gear ratio, GM or Ford and then you have the shifter options between the Magnum, the Magnum F and the Magnum XL.
A number of years ago I LS6 swapped a 99 E36 and used a new T56 from Summit. 2002 Camaro bell housing. LS7 clutch assembly. 2002 Fbody slave. Tick speed bleeder.
The T56 shifter came up close to the stock to the shifter hole. Had to make bracket to make the shifter placement perfect. The T56 has a slip yoke output for the drive shaft.
I believe the 6060 have fixed flange output shaft.
Couple of pics. Sold it after a few years for a new project. It was a great swap.
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.
T56/TR6060 interchangeability 
