Thread: Manual trans in a 34 Roadster?

Tweet

Will the position of the shifting handle on a T56 manual transmission fit the driver?
Of course this depends on engine type and position.

The engine will be a Chevolet smallblock.
The firewall on the body is removed app 4 inches in the middle to make room for the distributor and app 2 inches on the sides.

Then I hopefully can move the engine 3-4 inches backward compared to were it would have been placed with an all original firewall.

Someone with a T56 equipped 34 Ford here?

I am not overly familiar with the T-56 but I have a ZF-6 in my 34. I believe the ZF-6's shifter is located farther back than the T-56. So if if worked for me I am pretty sure yours will work for you.

As long as you are willing to notch your seat for the shifter...I did have to notch the front inside corner of the driver's seat so the shifter would have clearance.

And I personally like the nostalia look a a four speed so we bent a Hurst 4-Speed shifter and a Borgeson steering coupler to the shifter and then had the transmission shifter machined on the shaft to fit the coupler. Now the shifter simply slides onto the machined shifter shaft and everyone thinks the car has a 4-speed.

Let me know if you need more help.

Troy

Here is another angle of the shifter...

Very helpful for me Troy!
To me it looks like the shifter fits quit well to drivers position.
I suppose I can find the distance from the bellhouse to the shifter some where on the web.
What engine do you have?
Is the firewall on the body recessed?

In the meantime some other questions has showed up:
It's about the bellhouse.
Transmissions made for Lt1 engined or older can use a bellhousing from 1955 to 1997. (Correct me if it's wrong.)

I'have also been told that GM started to use hydraulic clutch linkage in 1984, and isn't there a different between bellhousing made for mecanical linkage and bellhousing made for hydraulic linkage?

Isn't hydraulic better if I'm planning to use a heavy duty clutch?

If you notice the curved angle where the Hurst shifter connects to the transmission shifter, you will see how we curved it towards the passenger side several inches to gain clearance for the driver. And it has worked very well.

I am using a '76 Chevy 350 Block, so it is the same as yours. As for the firewall, it is a Direct Sheetmetal product recessed for a small block.

I would take a look at Wilwood or on the web as for hydraulic conversions. And I highly recommend using a hydraulic. These "pointed-nose" Fords don't have much room as it is...especially when you try to cram mechanical linkage into the mix. We used to run mechanicals of course, but our knees have paid the price due to having to make them so stout so as to be safe. I personally feel it takes 3 pedals to be a Hot Rod, so I was very "relieved" to find out how well the hydraulic version worked out. I simply used the factory Corvette cylinder from the ZR vette I got the tranny from. I dont think you will have any problem finding a hydraulic solution.

Let me know how I can help...here are some more photos of how the firewall is recessed. Pardon the dust on the car...I have been cutting wood in the garage and there is sawdust all over the black paint...but thats the price I pay to have Henry's favorite color!

Hydralic then. Thanks again for valuable knowledge.

Take a look at this auction on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Is this what I must look for?
What will you say is a reasonable price for this?

Take a look at this auction too:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Will this trans fit to the bellhousing in the first auction?

Another question: Is it correct that T56 transmissions later than '93 will not fit an older bellhousing/engine?
I've heard something about not mixing LS1 and LT1.

A lot of questions here, Troy. I have still a long wy to go before my car runs. I'll finish the bodywork during the summer and starts with the frame hopefully around september.

Here's my homepage. In Norwegian language, but I suppose the pictures speeks for themselves:
http://home.online.no/~staalgi/index.cfm