Gary

Posted by LeadSled (Jess) on ls1.com


I contacted Richmond ( www.richmondgear.com )today about replacing the stock T56 tranny in the LS1 with one of their Richmond ROD 6 speed trannies. The ROD is a much stronger unit and you can select from custom gear sets:
1st gear available ratios:
4.41
4.06
3.28
3.04
3.01
2.77
2.24
2.08

Plus 3rd, 4th and 6th are all custom ratios. 5th is 1.00 which means the 4th gear ratio will be lower (1.19, 1.24 & 1.74). This means you can use a high rear gear set like a 3.23 which is stronger than a 4.10 rear due to its larger size but it will perform like a low rear gear set in a T56.

3.23 X 1.19 = 3.84 (close to a 3.73 equiped T56)
3.23 X 1.24 = 4.00 (close to a 3.90 or 4.10 equiped T56)

2.73 X 1.74 = 4.64 (close to a 4.56 equiped T56 by using 2.73 gears!)

Here is a link to the custom ratios page:

www.richmondgear.com/cat/rod2.html

Please check out the information on their page. They already make a swap for the T5 equiped 3rd gen F-bodies that includes a torque arm mount and tranny mount.

I sent them a link to LS1.coms LS1 Drivetrain forum so please show your support here if you are interested in a solution to the problematic T56.

This is the answer to the T56!


Thanks,
Jess

Sears

I hear that they are really heavy though. Do you have any info on this?

And whats wrong with a T56? <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">

LEO

iTrader: (3)

Gary thanks for the info. Do you have any idea on pricing? I really like the idea of custom gearing. Imagine using a 2.73 10 bolt rear end and have it accelerate like a 3.73 or 4.10 gear!

BIGBOS

Why couldn't this of come about earlier.... <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0"> <img src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" border="0" alt="[whiner]" />

Damian

iTrader: (89)

From what I can remember, these trannies are not cheap, but you definately get what you pay for. There is a shop here in Atlanta that installed one of these trannies in a Stang with over 1000 HP to the ground, and it was holding like a charm.

I'd be curious to know the weight of it also.


Josh

Camaroholic

iTrader: (1)

Other things to consider...

These trannies have side mounted shifting mechanisms. They are not the elegant ball at the end of the trans, they are the old style linkages. Look at the picture in the Summit catalog - it shows 3 points of pivot on the side of the trans. Those linkages take up space, and I'm not sure that the tunnel has enough room for that setup. (My '79Z has linkages like that, it's pretty crazy looking <img src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" border="0" alt="[judgement]" /> ).

And, they are rated to 450 ft-lbs (in the catalog)... Isn't that the exact same rating as the T56 anyway?

Just askin. <img src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" border="0" alt="[devil]" />

-Andrew

99 WS6

...Dry weight approx 108 pounds. (from the website)...

Around $3000 from summit racing. The catalog stated " up to 450 ft/lb torque "

[ January 21, 2002: Message edited by: 99 WS6 ]</p>