C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

T56 wont mate LS3

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-23-2015, 04:42 PM
  #1  
C3-69er
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
C3-69er's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default T56 wont mate LS3

Hi,
Bought an LS3 (525hp) +T56 Magnum combo connect and cruise package. But it wont connect😁
Clutch shaft fits pilot bearing nice and goes all the way in if I dont have the bellhousing in between. With bellhousing it just wont go. Any ideas?

I used the transmission/clutch shaft to center clutch as I didn't have the align tool in hand. I think it should do the job. Been unbolting the clutch 4-5 times and centering it this way every time. It seems that if I put the bellhouse in the transmission does not go in straight?





Old 09-23-2015, 05:22 PM
  #2  
74modified
Burning Brakes
 
74modified's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2008
Location: Mobile Alabama
Posts: 1,037
Received 14 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

I used a alignment tool on mine - and no problem. I picked it up online for ~$5.00. If the shaft is hitting the pilot bearing with the bell housing on, either the clutch is off a little or the bell housing is bad. Are you bottoming out like the shaft is too long?
As an aside, I recommend adding a remote bleeder before you put it in - much easier to bleed.
Old 09-23-2015, 05:52 PM
  #3  
Gordonm
Race Director
 
Gordonm's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Forked River NJ
Posts: 19,592
Received 754 Likes on 464 Posts

Default

My T56 from an 06 GTO bolted to my LS3 with no issues at all. I have an old input shaft from a Muncie that I use to align clutches. Never has failed me yet. As for the remote bleeder I agree 100 percent. I have a speed bleeder on a long braided line for bleeding it. I can pump the clutch pedal while holding the speed bleeder in my hand. Works great.
Old 09-23-2015, 06:22 PM
  #4  
tt 383
Racer
 
tt 383's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 435
Received 17 Likes on 13 Posts

Default

Do they need indexed like the TKO units?
Old 09-24-2015, 01:28 AM
  #5  
C3-69er
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
C3-69er's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Alignement tools is on its way, ordered one. My guess is that clutch just isn't centered.

I've had the clutch bolts on and off and torqued to the epcs several times now. Any issue with that? Should the bolts be replaced at some stage?
Old 09-24-2015, 11:58 AM
  #6  
ignatz
Safety Car
Support Corvetteforum!
 
ignatz's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2004
Location: los altos hills california
Posts: 3,609
Received 1,126 Likes on 730 Posts

Default

Could just be the clutch but to do the job right you want dowel pins in the flywheel aligning the pressure plate (Ahh I see them in the picture, nice!) and an indexing check on the bell housing with a dial indicator to determine that it is really centered. You can get offset dowels for the motor to move the bell housing around a bit and fix anything that is off center.

The plastic alignment tools don't work very well. Usually I use the tool to get close and then push the clutch pedal in and the transmission slides right in, all else being good. That's of course in the car.

You won't want to do this job again from under the car after discovering a vibration. I had a picture around here somewhere about how to do the bell housing indexing but can't find it. I'm sure there's lots of these. I attached my indicator with some very strong magnets to the flywheel
Old 09-24-2015, 01:48 PM
  #7  
C3-69er
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
C3-69er's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

This should be a bolt on package. It says in the instructions that if you're using all these brand new parts bellhousing should be centered and no need for routine measurement.

Measuring if bellhousing is centered sounds like a thing to if alignement tool don't make them mate.

I just dont understand how offset dowel pins can change the position of bellhousing as the bolts are rather tight and remain in the same position.
Old 09-24-2015, 02:14 PM
  #8  
Rick@RKT Performance
Supporting Vendor
 
Rick@RKT Performance's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: Frederick Maryland
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 0
Received 147 Likes on 111 Posts
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18

Default

The crate LS3 will come with big pilot bearing. If you're using T56 bell housing, you'll need the small pilot bearing. Check to see which one you have and replace it with small bearing and you should be good.

The small bearing is for 97-04 C5.

__________________
Old 09-24-2015, 02:44 PM
  #9  
C3-69er
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
C3-69er's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

I have the small one on the left. I prefitted it to the clutch shaft before installation and it fit perfectly.
Old 09-24-2015, 02:57 PM
  #10  
Rick@RKT Performance
Supporting Vendor
 
Rick@RKT Performance's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: Frederick Maryland
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 0
Received 147 Likes on 111 Posts
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18

Default

Originally Posted by C3-69er
I have the small one on the left. I prefitted it to the clutch shaft before installation and it fit perfectly.
Then I would say it would be the alignment.
Old 09-24-2015, 06:44 PM
  #11  
Gordonm
Race Director
 
Gordonm's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Forked River NJ
Posts: 19,592
Received 754 Likes on 464 Posts

Default

My clutch alignment tool

Old 09-25-2015, 07:12 AM
  #12  
derekderek
Race Director
 
derekderek's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2015
Location: SW Florida.
Posts: 13,022
Received 3,388 Likes on 2,633 Posts
Default

i take it there is no access to the 6 pressure plate bolts once trans is installed? the old way was to leave clutch loose and tighten once trans aligned the clutch. you might wanna try a test fit with clutch loose, or maybe without disk even in place to see if it is something else messing with you.
Old 09-25-2015, 08:23 AM
  #13  
Gordonm
Race Director
 
Gordonm's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Forked River NJ
Posts: 19,592
Received 754 Likes on 464 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by derekderek
i take it there is no access to the 6 pressure plate bolts once trans is installed? the old way was to leave clutch loose and tighten once trans aligned the clutch. you might wanna try a test fit with clutch loose, or maybe without disk even in place to see if it is something else messing with you.
It's not the trans that is the problem it is the bell housing. You have no access to the PP bolts once the bell housing is installed. I don't see even on a GEN1 motor how you have access to the PP bolts once the bell housing is installed.
Old 09-25-2015, 09:38 AM
  #14  
GUSTO14
Le Mans Master
 
GUSTO14's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: eastern NC
Posts: 8,801
Received 1,962 Likes on 1,283 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Gordonm
It's not the trans that is the problem it is the bell housing. You have no access to the PP bolts once the bell housing is installed. I don't see even on a GEN1 motor how you have access to the PP bolts once the bell housing is installed.
Com'on Gordon, you're old enough to remember these...




GUSTO
Old 09-25-2015, 09:42 AM
  #15  
derekderek
Race Director
 
derekderek's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2015
Location: SW Florida.
Posts: 13,022
Received 3,388 Likes on 2,633 Posts
Default

I think he meant gen 1 LS, not gen 1 small block.
Old 09-25-2015, 10:01 AM
  #16  
Gordonm
Race Director
 
Gordonm's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Forked River NJ
Posts: 19,592
Received 754 Likes on 464 Posts

Default

Yes I do remember those form years ago, and yes those would be able to get the PP bolts no problem.

I did mean the Gen1 SB not the LS. With the bellhousing on how would you get to the PP bolts? Unless you "windowed" the bellhousing I don't see it possible to get to them.
Old 09-25-2015, 10:09 AM
  #17  
Gordonm
Race Director
 
Gordonm's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Forked River NJ
Posts: 19,592
Received 754 Likes on 464 Posts

Default

Not that this is going to answer any of your questions but this is my setup with a Quick Time Blow shield bellhousing and the large bearing in the LS3 crank shaft.







I also cut the botton flange on the bellhousing for a little more streamlined and ground clearance. Its even with the bottom of theoil pan.

Get notified of new replies

To T56 wont mate LS3

Old 09-25-2015, 01:12 PM
  #18  
derekderek
Race Director
 
derekderek's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2015
Location: SW Florida.
Posts: 13,022
Received 3,388 Likes on 2,633 Posts
Default

So put the trans in with clutch loose. If it doesnt go, you know there is a clearance issue somewhere, not a disk alignment issue.Put driveshaft yoke in and see if it spins. Then gently remove trans and bell hsng and tighten clutch.
Old 08-16-2016, 02:17 AM
  #19  
Collin Chapman
1st Gear
 
Collin Chapman's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Similar issue

Did you ever find a solution for this?
Old 08-16-2016, 05:55 AM
  #20  
C3-69er
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
C3-69er's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Yes! With the cheap plastic alignement tool it went right in👍


Quick Reply: T56 wont mate LS3



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:20 PM.