Chevy 283 and a T56?

rekordCv8 · Post by **rekordCv8** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 8:24 pm

I am currently building an '69 Opel Rekord C with a 283 chevy, I was lookng for a suitable 4 or 5 speed manual box and have an opportunity to buy a t56, 6 speed has anyone here put a t56 onto an older small block?
Appreciate advice/input on flywheel/clutch required
Thanks

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:08 pm

Hi
not done it myself however it has been done loads of times (but mostly with a 350.
I think this article covers it http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techa ... y_camaros/
this may help
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techa ... nsmission/
this seems relevent
http://ls1tech.com/forums/small-block-b ... k-t56.html
my only comment would be that with a 283 onto a box designed for a high output 350 ish motor you may find the gears a bit widely spaced unless you tune the engine so as to give you some extra revs so you can change up and be well into the power band.
best regards
Mike

rekordCv8 · Post by **rekordCv8** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:40 pm

Cheers

Lots of reading to do, looks like it might be an expensive and long road to go down although I like the idea of it.
The 283 has been rebuilt to a mild state of tune and as the car is relatively light in comparison to American metal I'm hoping it to be entertaining as opposed to a rocket.
One of the other problems I have is establishing the age/origins of the t56, the breaker thinks it may have come out of a Monaro but that's as detailed as it gets as came in with a load of other parts but it's priced accordingly.

Greg55_99 · Post by **Greg55_99** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 1:43 am

If the car was a Monaro, it probably already has a Chevy bolt pattern bellhousing. The Monaro became, I believe, the Pontiac GTO when it reached the USA with a LS Chevy motor.

Greg

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:25 am

Hi

if it is a Monaro it is an LS bolt pattern and can be bolted straight on, it really is then just a case of sorting out the clutch and finding enough space down the transmission tunnel to fit it.
Best regards
Mike

rekordCv8 · Post by **rekordCv8** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:05 pm

I think it might bolt straight on, have to double check that but according to those American websites it might require a custom flywheel and clutch setup which is made by a company called Centreforce which looks to be more expensive than what I'm paying for the gearbox.
Anybody any ideas?

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 5:19 pm

Hi
try this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QuarterMaster ... 5d34026254
and a Tilton concentric slave cylinder and a small bag of spacers you should be able to get a set up to work without resorting to a full custom set up. A triple plate is not ideal heavy traffic or in a tescos carpark but you can get used to them.
This looks like a full kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Valeo-Clutch- ... 1c32c49520 with a standard (non race) clutch.
Can I just ask what you are expecting to spend on a clutch for a custom transmission/engine combination? Just I would be budgeting around £750 or so unless I had a full machine shop. Careful choice of bits and shopping off ebay and a bit of lateral thinking you may do it for £500 to £600 but this isn't just dropping in a Muncie or Getrag, even then you would be probably be spending £400 on a half decent clutch flywheel and slave cylinder.

Best regards
Mike

rekordCv8 · Post by **rekordCv8** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 5:52 pm

To be honest I didn't really have a budget in mind which is always dangerous but I would like a manual and 4 speeds are very thin on the ground, doing a bit of internet hunting over the last 6 months and very few out there and most at a premium price. Even 5 speed T5's aren't very plentiful and I have kind of stumbled upon this T56 which if I could get to work even with a Nascar clutch I would be very happy:)
I guess the alternative is to buy an Ls1 engine!!

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:22 pm

Hi
I think the tilton/nascar set up would be the simplest to get working, the plates are fairly easy to get with all sorts of splines, the starter is simple as it bolts to the block and can be shimmed in and out to mesh with the ring gear. If you can get your hands on the T56 and measure things up I suspect you will find it is just a case of shimming the flywheel for and aft a bit to get the starter mesh spot on then fitting the concentric slave cylinder and spacing it forward a bit if needs be.
best regards
Mike

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:21 pm

Do you definately want to be manual on the 283 ??

A stock TH350 3 speed auto would drop straight on and has a very low profile in the trans tunnel. Couple this with a B&M ratchet shifter kit and you can stick it in D and cruise all day long. Or you can pull it back into 1st gear and drive it as a manual with upshift rpm decided by how you are feeling at the time ?

rekordCv8 · Post by **rekordCv8** » Sat Feb 08, 2014 1:33 pm

I've nothing against autos as such but it's kind of how the project has evolved. Did a bit of measuring this morning and looks like it should bolt on, also measured input shaft and it appears it might work, so bought gearbox and got a prop thrown in so that also gives me something to work with.
So now on the lookout for a suitable 153 tooth flywheel and a suitable clutch kit, so bit of research to do yet...
Cheers for the input folks really appreciate somewhere to question what I'm at, not sure the wife gets it!!