C3 tranny upgrade
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Joined: May 2019
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From: Waterbury, CT
C3 tranny upgrade
Hi guys I have a 76 Vette with a 350 and a 4 speed, I have 4:10 rear end gears and I want to put a 5 or 6 speed in it. Are there any trannies from another car I could find to bolt in and have work? Not trying to spend 7 grand on a new kit.
Race Director
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From: SW Florida.
cheapest and easiest is borg T5 from 83 to 92 camaro firebird. 88-92 is preferred. best cheap setup is T56 from 97-ish camaro-firebird. if from LT1 engine, bell housing fits our engines. if from newer with LS-? engines it is a lot more doing rounding up parts.
Le Mans Master
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From: Temple Terrace Florida
I installed a Tremec 600 in my 66 coupe. I have a 327/350 with a 4:10 rear. The job was a bolt in with no problems. I can now cruise at 70 MPH at about 2200 RPMs. So much better on the highway. Check out Silver Sport Transmissions or American Power Train for their kits. Jerry
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From: Waterbury, CT
so Derek wil the T- 56 just bolt right up to my engine and be driveable?
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From: Forked River NJ
The T56 will not bolt right in. You have a 4 speed frame without the removeable cross member so it wont fit. The trans mount point is further back so cross member mods will be required and make it removeable will be required. It depends on which T56 weather it will bolt to the bell housing. The TKO is a much easier swap. Yes I have had all 3 in my car. Started with a Muncie 4 speed, then went to a TKO 5 speed. Now have a T56 6 speed. The 6 speed is a lot more work.
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From: Napa Valley California
Won't the T56 6 speed require tunnel and cross member modifications?
SST should be having their annual year end sale.
I would get a quote from them.
Their kits include everything to do the conversion.
I purchased one of their Auto to Manual kits last year.
You'll be looking at around $5,000.00 but it is worth it.
If you can't do it now, save your pennies and go for their kit when you can.
SST should be having their annual year end sale.
I would get a quote from them.
Their kits include everything to do the conversion.
I purchased one of their Auto to Manual kits last year.
You'll be looking at around $5,000.00 but it is worth it.
If you can't do it now, save your pennies and go for their kit when you can.
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Joined: May 2019
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From: Waterbury, CT
The T56 will not bolt right in. You have a 4 speed frame without the removeable cross member so it wont fit. The trans mount point is further back so cross member mods will be required and make it removeable will be required. It depends on which T56 weather it will bolt to the bell housing. The TKO is a much easier swap. Yes I have had all 3 in my car. Started with a Muncie 4 speed, then went to a TKO 5 speed. Now have a T56 6 speed. The 6 speed is a lot more work.
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Thread Starter
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From: Waterbury, CT
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From: Forked River NJ
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From: N J
A little World Class T5 trans from a Camaro or Firebird in your 76 should be fine.
Its not a direct bolt in but did mine at home, would like to believe your shop can do a few simple mods.
Plenty of swaps on the forum with tons of pics make it easy.
Put one in my 77 about 8 years and many miles ago. Zero issues so far. Good luck.
Its not a direct bolt in but did mine at home, would like to believe your shop can do a few simple mods.
Plenty of swaps on the forum with tons of pics make it easy.
Put one in my 77 about 8 years and many miles ago. Zero issues so far. Good luck.
Last edited by John 65; Dec 20, 2019 at 09:23 AM.
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From: Waterbury, CT
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From: Forked River NJ
That is not bad for just labor. Most shops charge around 100/hr labor. It is about a10 hour job for a TKO swap. I have been able to do them in 8 to 12 hours depending on the car. There are always unsuspecting things in a 50 year old car. I charge 50 and hour so I charged 500 to 700 for a TKO swap. A 6 speed wil require many more hours. There is no way you can do it without making the cross member removeable and modify the trans mount.
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From: Waterbury, CT
That is not bad for just labor. Most shops charge around 100/hr labor. It is about a10 hour job for a TKO swap. I have been able to do them in 8 to 12 hours depending on the car. There are always unsuspecting things in a 50 year old car. I charge 50 and hour so I charged 500 to 700 for a TKO swap. A 6 speed wil require many more hours. There is no way you can do it without making the cross member removeable and modify the trans mount.
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From: Forked River NJ
NJ just outside Philadelphia
Having a lift and trans jack sure makes life easier. Plus having done about a dozen of these I pretty much know how its going to go.
Having a lift and trans jack sure makes life easier. Plus having done about a dozen of these I pretty much know how its going to go.
Last edited by Gordonm; Dec 20, 2019 at 06:22 PM.
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From: Waterbury, CT
well I’m in ct, if we have a stretch of good weather and I find a tranny would you be interested in tackling this?
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From: Forked River NJ
While I would like to help out I simply can’t right now. I have 3 cars and a 2 car garage. One of my cars is in storage and the other 2 are stacked on my lift. Just no room. Honestly I would not do this if you are “just dropping a trans off” The kits are the way to go. They come complete and everything fits. I have done one of the so called I have everything for the swap. It does not or rarely works like that. The shifter does not fit, the driveshaft has to be shortened and so on. It all requires more work and time and before you know it the costs go up. I know many here have done it for cheap but they do it themselves and shop for parts on their time and haggle over used parts. The kits are complete. I don’t have the time anymore to do all this hunting around and it is not worth it for me. With the kits it s about a 10 hour job. Otherwise when you start adding up all the time and energy to find and get parts it 20 to 30 hours. Sorry I cant help out right now.
Last edited by Gordonm; Dec 21, 2019 at 01:06 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Southeastern MASS
I vote for the World Class T5, I've had one in my 69 Z/28 for a few years now with no issues and also have one in my 76 Vette, haven't driven that one yet but I expect the same result I had with the Camaro. You can put this swap together with factory parts, the trans will bolt up to your existing bellhousing (I had to use a different clutch disc because of spline count), crossmember required some modification, shorter driveshaft and I modified the floor and console to fit a new Hurst shifter in it.
Peter
Peter