t-56 swap

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06-13-2006, 03:46 PM
sliverado rst

first off id like to thank everyone who built up the other t56 forms from a few yrs ago theyve been most helpfull to me, my only question is have they changed anything with the 5spds from 01 to 04, because i herd in 03 they added a plug for the speedo and whatnot, and i havent herd of anyone swaping trannys out of an 03 truck, and i read somthing on keisler auto makes somthing to relocate the shifter foward, has anyone tired this on a truck yet? i would realy like not to cut it up more then i have to, and keep the middle seat.
thanks
06-19-2006, 07:51 AM
pnhigg

I have been off the board a while trying to finish my own conversion.
Unfortunately, I can't answer the question regarding the 5 speeds in the 01-04 trucks.
I have just recently completed (if it's ever really complete) a 5.3/T56 swap into a 92 SWB truck.
I was an original 4.3/5 speed.
I bought the kit you mention from Keisler and relocated my shifter toward the center of ther T56.
I had to trim only about 1/2 inch from the original hole.
I bought a Hurst stick (I can give the part # later) and put a boot on it last night an everything looks like it was made to fit.
The shiter requires you to take part of the tranny apart, which may or may not be a big deal for you.
Hope this helps.
BTW it is a blast to drive.
06-21-2006, 08:18 AM
6gear

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pnhigg @ Jun 19 2006, 07:51 AM) [snapback]55730[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have been off the board a while trying to finish my own conversion.
Unfortunately, I can't answer the question regarding the 5 speeds in the 01-04 trucks.
I have just recently completed (if it's ever really complete) a 5.3/T56 swap into a 92 SWB truck.
I was an original 4.3/5 speed.
I bought the kit you mention from Keisler and relocated my shifter toward the center of ther T56.
I had to trim only about 1/2 inch from the original hole.
I bought a Hurst stick (I can give the part # later) and put a boot on it last night an everything looks like it was made to fit.
The shiter requires you to take part of the tranny apart, which may or may not be a big deal for you.
Hope this helps.
BTW it is a blast to drive.
[/b]

What gear are you running in the rear? I orginaly had 3.42, tried 4.11 but ended up with 4.56 which I like very much.
06-21-2006, 10:38 AM
pnhigg

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(6gear @ Jun 21 2006, 07:18 AM) [snapback]55905[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

What gear are you running in the rear? I orginaly had 3.42, tried 4.11 but ended up with 4.56 which I like very much.
[/b]

That's next.
Right now it has factory 3.08 (yea, waaaaay too high). I think the truck would run 200mph if it had enough road and engine.
I am thinking 4.10 for now.
I am having some trouble with 6th gear poping out as you release the clutch, so I may have to work on the tranny before I buy gears.
06-29-2006, 03:01 PM
sliverado rst

yes the part number for the hurst shifter would be most helpful, im a B&M man myself but the hurst seems to be the way to go for the truck shifter, whats the kit from Keisler called? when i talked them the dude didnt seem to know what i was talking about. 6gear, how do you like the ls1? was it a big difference from the 4.8, because ive been looking at alot of ls1/t56 combos on ebay, im still debateing if its worth the headake, and the ls2 has some prob with the knock sensor or somthin, and they want an arm and leg for any lq9, sorry for rambleing, any input would be great thanks
06-30-2006, 08:25 AM
pnhigg

Just to clear up my first statement, the shifter itself is a Keisler and comes with the kit.
The only thing in my truck that is Hurst is the shifter stick, knob, and boot.
B&M may make a stick to fit, but Hurst was the first place I went and I bought the stick that comes with their shifters for the 88-97 trucks.
I am not where I can get the part # right now, but I will post it later.
I ordered my from Summitt for around $30 and another $10 or so for the 6speed knob.
The kit doesn't really have a name, but when I called Keisler's customer service I explained what I wanted and the guy seemed to know what I was talking about.
I told him I was putting a t56 in a truck and wanted to move the shifter from the tailhousing to the front location under the access plate.
They sell new transmissions with the kit for older muscle cars, and trucks, so keep asking questions and they'll get it right.
Also it is also necessary to have the transmission # because there are a few different incarnations of the t56 and they will have to know to send the correct kit.
It is a number like 13 078. It will be on the tranny case.
From my experience the guys at Keisler have more to do than they can get done, as they were sometimes slow to return phone calls, and it took a while to recieve my kit, but they always seemed to eventually come through, and their product is very nicely built.
I am very satisfied.
I will try to get some pictures of the install within the next week or so.
I feel like it is a pretty clean stock looking conversion.

Good luck