Score! Just bought a 6spd for my car!
 

For the US onions I'm sure you've heard of the "Cash for Clunkers" program. What the program is, is the Government's attempt to get old, not so fuel efficient cars off the road. So based on a cars age, and EPA fuel economy ratings the government gave money to dealers to help people buy newer, more fuel efficient cars.

So, what the program does is take a car in trade, and the dealer who took the trade in is required to destroy the engine via a oil additive that causes the engine to sieze. The car is then sent to a junk yard where it can be stripped for parts so long as the engine isn't sold.

I've wanted to do a 6spd swap into my GTA for a LONG time. But the T56 keeps its value VERY well. Hot-rodders love it because its a slick shifting 6spd that can hold up to several hundred HP in stock trim, and is very easy to build for insane power levels (think 1000rwhp+ launches on slicks)

These transmissions NEVER make it to the yards thanks to the demand. However cash for clunkers cars are required to be delivered to junkyards directly. Parting, or removing ANYTHING from the car is highly illegal.

Yesterday I found my buy of the year. A 93 Camaro Z28 M6 was delivered to the local junkyard in primo condition. Just 67,000m on the clock, very well taken care of.

The yard charges $175 for transmissions regardless of make/model. And a $25 core charge.

So I scored a T56 transmission with low miles for $216 after tax and core! Typically the transmissions go for close to $600 BROKEN, and in primo condition almost $1500.

The car is going into the paint booth next month, i've almost got all of the body parts, and if I can swing it before the track rental on Oct 31st, I'll be swapping the 6spd. The trans is still super dirty so I'm not gonna take pics till I have a chance to really scrub it down and make it presentable before I put it into my car. Before i can swap it in I still need to buy a clutch, pressure plate, flywheel, master/slave setup, and I have to cut/weld my transmission crossmember to fit the T56. Its probably not gonna happen as paint/interior is priority this year. But I am going to try, and I couldn't pass up this deal.

Its amazing how fast my car is coming together. I'm rather excited. I have a full steering/suspension rebuild coming this winter, and all of the suspension bolt-ons. it'll be painted by the middle of next month, with a new interior as I am replacing the carpets with new carpet, and re-doing all of the sound deadening inside the car for a quiet, solid sounding ride on a 21yr old car.

That's awesome man! Just curious,I know your car is going to be a circuit car too but what is your best time at the drag so far?

Nice find, i can attest to that transmission being pretty robust! ;)

get yourself a nice monster clutch[thumbup]http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/devil1.gif

The current engine is a stock B-body LT1. Factory rated 260hp and 330lb/ft. I have a CAI, headers, full exhaust, and a custom tune on the PCM. No dyno yet, so I don't know what it puts down at the wheels. It hasn't been to the track yet, no official numbers either. The closest I have is the Dynolicous application which reports a 13.7 @ 101mph. Right now the engine is so silent and smooth at at idle you can't even HEAR it running, or feel it. No vibration, no noise. Just pure silence till I romp on it.

Full throttle downshift at anything under 50mph results in pure wheel spin and a sideways car. Partial throttle in 1st is enough to light the tires up and keep them lit. I'll see if I can get a better recording of the car tomorrow than I have in my sig.

Should I be able to drive the T56 will actually give me a power boost because its more efficient and has less drag than an automatic. But drag strip runs will be less consistent and more dependant on my skill with a manual.

Wont' say anything of top speed, some people will get upset. That and I've never actually reached terminal top speed in the car. Estimated about 155mph or so.

The clutch, i'm not sure what I'm gonna do. might just go for a stock clutch right now as I'm sure I can get a used one cheaply enough to finish the swap. I won't need anything more for a while.

nice deal fruitman.......[thumbup]

Ive already munched my T56 tranny a few years ago with too many full throttle powershifts at the drag strip,,,,bent a fork and some other damage inside,,I had it rebuilt with some heavy duty parts for a few thousand and its been great ever since...I dont power shift any more, its just not worth it to me for a few tenths and the car still runs 11.7s at 125 with the 125 shot of juice just granny shifting....http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/devil1.gif

that 6th gear is awesome for gas milage, i am still getting 30 mpg at 70 mph on the highway

Doesn't that apply to 90% of the cars on US roads ?

Yes, I'm rather upset at my friend. He scored a 99 C5 coupe for $9,000 from cali. Sure, it had 103k on the clock but what a STEAL. I want a vette. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/sad1.gif

Mines a 93, so its got different ratios than later T56's. Shorter, gearing overall.

My gearing.
2.97 2.07 1.43 1.00 0.80 0.62

Vs later years
2.66 1.78 1.30 1.00 0.74 0.50

I'm gonna turn more RPM in 6th than later years.

Always wanted a 6spd, no way I could pass up that deal.

No.

Heck, my 21yr old car used to net 24mpg on the highway with 26yr old batch fire fuel injection and a 4spd auto.

My new LT1 is getting slightly better highway, about 25 or 26, still haven't put enough miles on it to nail the figure down. Heck, even in limp home mode I was getting 15mpg before I got the PCM and sensors wired up correctly to enable closed loop operation.

The 6spd should net me about 30mpg or more. My friends 97 Z28 M6 scored 32mpg with the A/C on his trip a few years ago.

Yes, HORRIBLE fuel economy. Our emissions standards are tougher than any other countries.

To put that in euro mpg - your LT1 gets roughly 31 mpg, and with the 6 speed - 36 mpg+.

Yep, its not THAT bad.

Sure, it won't top my daily driver for milage. My Kia gets about 36mpg highway (US rating), but averages about 30. Better than the TransAm which I wouldn't want to get stuck in a traffic jam in or in the city. The big v8 has such an immense amount of torque available it uses almost no effort to maintain highways speeds. But it still requires more fuel at idle to run, so slower speeds use up just as much fuel as highway speeds.

The 6spd LT1s turn about 1500rpm on the highway in 6th gear and can STILL accelerate from that RPM. 6th gear is useful from about 50mph on up. Though 50mph is the bare minimum. Any lower and it may start to chug as the engine speed will get close to 1000rpm.

My car only has a 2-speed...
:/

Stop and Go?

Powerglide

Hm...I forgot to add the smiley.

Always thought it would be interesting to toss a powerglide behind a boat engine. 1st to get on plane and 2nd to cruise.

I wouldn't mind if I had the sturdy Powerglide, but I've got the stamped metal version.

nice one fruity... your building yourself a nice car there http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/smile1.gif

was considering a manual gearbox from a toyota supra to mate up to my 1uz-fe powered lexus, but balked at the amount of work involved.

my car will never be sporty, so really i'm not too concerned

Fruity: You had me check out the Dynolicious app lol. I'm trying to get two of my buddies to test out how accurate it is, seeing as I track both my dd and the track car lol. That's a torquey car you got there man, helluva fun project!

Its actually pretty accurate. Garage419 did a youtube video of it comparing the same runs on a 1/4 mile drag strip between a G-tech, the actual time slip, and Dynolicious. Its a good watch.

I figured i'd post these up here.

A quick 60 to 100mph sound clip.
http://home.comcast.net/~thirdgen89g...LT1_60-100.mp3

And a 2nd gear pull from about 30mph to I think 75, not sure. Might be 80 or so.
http://home.comcast.net/~thirdgen89g.../GTA_30-75.mp3

I've discovered my 4L60E might have a cracked accumulator housing, causing fluid to leak past the 1-2 shift. Problems? Causes it to start in 2nd, till enough throttle is applied then it downshifts to 1st. Though WOT 3-2 downshifts are still hard enough to break the tires loose for a good long while. Good thing i found that T56! cause i'm not rebuilding this one! Can't wait for a M6 swap.

Will I still drag race this car on Oct 31st? YEP. Do I care if I blow the transmission up? Nope. I might have slightly dissapointing results as I'll have to baby the throttle off the line till it drops into 1st, then I can romp on it. So the ET's are gonna suck, but the trap speed should be close to where the car should be.

Don't be surprised if the car turns a 15.x at 100mph unless I can get the manual in first. Unlikely, got about $400 more in body parts to buy, and my cash reserve I built for this didn't account for suddenly spending $216 on a 6 speed. Pedals, clutch, master/slave will add another $400 onto the price minimum. I don't think I can swing paint and the M6 swap, and paint is coming first so I can be proud to show it off.

I set it sideways this morning on the way to work cause the roads were cold, and slightly damp from dew. The car stays straight and true with the tires spinning. Its only when you are on a tilted surface, or turn the wheel slightly that the backend will step sideways.

God i love driving this car, despite all the things I still need to fix on it. I love it, even when I'm complaining about it.

In the end, that's all that matters

Knew a guy who had a 327/powerglide combo in his ski boat for a similar reason - was really funny seeing peoples' reaction to it shifting up!