Who makes an adapter for sbm? Do I understand correctly that the tunnel needs to be enlarged for the 5 and 6 speeds? Thanks.
Tremec
- Thread starter Murray
- Start date
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What car?
Gill Welding.
Sorry, '68 Dart. Will use Gerst suspension.
dodgedifferent2
Well-Known Member
Sb to ford t5 quicktime 6071
Sb to ls1 t56 quicktime 6076
Sb to gm t500/600 quicktime 6083
Sb to viper t56 quicktime 8074
Sb to ls1 t56 quicktime 6076
Sb to gm t500/600 quicktime 6083
Sb to viper t56 quicktime 8074
I am told by Dederich's Motorsports that the TKX will fit in a B/E-body with not tunnel surgery. They could not confirm A-body fitment. That is who I bought my Tr-56 Magnum from.
Tremecs largest Elite distributor. They have everything you need except pedals and crossmember. You spend a lot more money if you buy a kit.
Tremec Transmissions - Dederichs Motorsports
Tremecs largest Elite distributor. They have everything you need except pedals and crossmember. You spend a lot more money if you buy a kit.
Tremec Transmissions - Dederichs Motorsports
dano
Evil Handy Man
Somewhere on this site someone did the new TKX and it required floor modifications too. What engine for the bell? They are available for both LA, B/RB, and G3 Hemi. I have an aluminum one for my TKO600.
CudaFish1968
Well-Known Member
I bought a kit from silver sport transmissions with a TKO 5 speed. Kit had everything needed to convert to 5 speed from automatic.
this pic shows how far into the tunnel it went, I still had to build brace over trans, and tunnel cover.
I did a 5.7L hemi swap and used Gerst IFS.
ESP47
Well-Known Member
Awesome! Any more info on this install? I've been mulling over buying the kit myself.
CudaFish1968
Well-Known Member
What would you like to know ?
goldduster318
Overzealous Car Modifier
T56 Magnum Conversion
I did the T56 Magnum swap. Wouldn't do any of the others, honestly. When you're already cutting and spending that kinda money, go big or go home
I did the T56 Magnum swap. Wouldn't do any of the others, honestly. When you're already cutting and spending that kinda money, go big or go home
JoesEdge
Well-Known Member
I've been considering this swap and just getting everything from Silver Sport Transmissions. Just not sure if they still use the ToddRon crossmember brace or if they built something different. The only thing that makes me hesitate is that I'm not good with sheet metal fabrication.
goldduster318
Overzealous Car Modifier
Unless they changed it their kit doesn't have the top part of the crossmember, and that's a terrible idea. The upper part is a huge part of the structure of the car. When I had the hole cut out the floor was extremely floppy. Had the torsion bars backed off also.
In my thread you can see I got the piece for a Chevelle with a T56 swap. Generally there wasn't much fab, it would just be if you can butt weld sheet metal or not. I was literally just screwing the two pieces over each other with self drilling screws and then cutting through both with a cut-off wheel and welding together with the help of some harbor freight butt welding clamps. Turns out fine if you can weld it. Otherwise I was forming by hand or with a ball peen and doing relief cuts so I could bend it. The only last tip I would have is use some cardboard if you have to fill in some spots to make a template.
DrCharles
Well-Known Member
I prefer to use my set of Clecos instead of sheet metal screws... although drilling 3/32" holes is required
(If you're not familiar with them): Cleco (fastener) - Wikipedia
Modern Driveline is the kit company that carries ToddRon's crossmember. Don't use a crossmember that doesn't have the top support.
Mopar 63-76 A body Crossmember/T-56 Magnum - Modern Driveline
Mopar 63-76 A body Crossmember/T-56 Magnum - Modern Driveline
If running the t bars I am an advocate of putting something back when cutting it out. If I went six speed I would have went with the Todd Ron crossmember. Would likely be done with my install portion now. I've built my own.
SSTs crossmember is like $ 295. For TKO, TKX with no loop over the top. So I do not think the cost of the t 56 kit is to crazy. Does not take much structure over the top to do alot when combined with crossmember. I believe the aftermarket is content with the strength of the crossmember being bolted in to get the strength back as it is likely stronger than OEM.
SSTs crossmember is like $ 295. For TKO, TKX with no loop over the top. So I do not think the cost of the t 56 kit is to crazy. Does not take much structure over the top to do alot when combined with crossmember. I believe the aftermarket is content with the strength of the crossmember being bolted in to get the strength back as it is likely stronger than OEM.
I did the full T56 conversion using the ToddRon crossmember. It wasn’t that bad at all from a fabrication standpoint, I didn’t even fully fabricate a new tunnel, I basically just added a strip of new metal down the middle. I haven’t priced a TKX but the T56 wasn’t that much more than the TKO. I mean, it’s more but you get that extra gear which makes a huge difference. And you still have to do crossmember work either way, and you have to do tunnel work either way. Yeah, it’s more with the T56 but you’re still doing it for a TKO or TKX. You can see my build stuff here, I didn’t use a kit but all the parts I used are listed.
conversion starts here
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Parts list here
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Couple pictures
conversion starts here
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Parts list here
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Couple pictures
DionR
Well-Known Member
Holley has some interesting stuff for Gen3 swaps in an A-Body. One thing they have now is a bolt in crossmember brace for a TKX swap - https://documents.holley.com/199r12231.pdf
The pictures of the floor cut in the above pdf is really pretty minimal.
Unfortunately I think the part will not work without the matching Holley motor mounts for the Gen3. Their kits says it will fit a 6.4 in the car with the SRV without cutting the firewall. So I think it moves the motor forward several inches and a standard SBM location would create interference between the mount and the brace.
But it does make me think a TKX swap might be able to be done with much less surgery on the floor. Still need a crossmember but maybe not a complete tunnel beyond that??
The pictures of the floor cut in the above pdf is really pretty minimal.
Unfortunately I think the part will not work without the matching Holley motor mounts for the Gen3. Their kits says it will fit a 6.4 in the car with the SRV without cutting the firewall. So I think it moves the motor forward several inches and a standard SBM location would create interference between the mount and the brace.
But it does make me think a TKX swap might be able to be done with much less surgery on the floor. Still need a crossmember but maybe not a complete tunnel beyond that??
goldduster318
Overzealous Car Modifier
They save the space because of no upper crossmember. In my case with the T56 Magnum, I have just an incredible amount of space on the sides of the transmission just because of making the floor flow into the ToddRon crossmember, which is sized appropriately. These are some in process pictures so it's easier to see without the paint. Its faster to get this out of the car than it was to take the A-833 in and out, even with more bolts.
If you're putting an upper crossmember in as you should, you'll run into the same type of issue. This thing to me, while better than some, is still kind of hokey.
I personally don't think other than time spent its any easier to fill the hole they cut either. Matching up to the floor where the auto on the floor shifter piece goes through and making it taper correctly so flows nicely would be pretty difficult.
This is with the automatic floor patch in place and the ToddRon Crossmember. You'll notice its about even with the inside of the crossmember
You'll see I had to slice it and hammer it flat when I made the upper part.
If you're putting an upper crossmember in as you should, you'll run into the same type of issue. This thing to me, while better than some, is still kind of hokey.
I personally don't think other than time spent its any easier to fill the hole they cut either. Matching up to the floor where the auto on the floor shifter piece goes through and making it taper correctly so flows nicely would be pretty difficult.
This is with the automatic floor patch in place and the ToddRon Crossmember. You'll notice its about even with the inside of the crossmember
You'll see I had to slice it and hammer it flat when I made the upper part.
The Holley gen 3 stuff is cool. Nice to see the adapter components. They make a b body bolt in torsion bar brace for the modern auto that goes over the top. Wonder why that a body one does not. However that bracket may work with an OEM location. As the mounting holes on the transmission are just off center of the torsion bar crossmember when correctly placed from front to back. Looks like there is a metal bracket that moves trans forward for reasons stated. If that was taken out it may possibly set correctly?
goldduster318
Overzealous Car Modifier
Just curious, if your tunnel is welded to the floor, how do you get the transmission out with the engine in? I know I have the huge oval for the OE floor boot for a 4-speed and I have to shift it into 3rd and it clears by about 0.2" on the way out with the engine not titled down (I have a torque strap anyway so it doesn't move much).
DionR
Well-Known Member
I don't think they can even get an upper crossmember in there. Looks to me with the motor forward of the stock position, the shifter interferes with the crossmember regardless of how the shifter is bolted to the trans. This is in reference to the rear shifter position, not the forward one which would be wierd to use in an A-Body (IMO). So I think Holley had no option but to create a brace that fits under the trans instead of over the top.
Looks like that is one difference between the T56 and TKX. Based on the Holley instructions and DC Darts pictures, the TKX can leave all the OEM bolts for the crossmember while the T56 and the ToddRon kit removes the inner bolts and adds new ones. This leads me to believe that the TKX could have a much slimmer tunnel in the end. If a crossmember is built that goes over the trans, it would be taller for sure, but just maybe not as wide.
If some way could be done to do something similar to the Holley bolt in brace but with the motor in the stock position, the tunnel work looks to be pretty clean. But I could be wrong, just a guess.
DionR
Well-Known Member
Another thought is that with the TKX you could run the Lakewood LK7000 bellhousing if you didn't need an SFI bell, which would allow (maybe?) someone to run the stock mechanical clutch and save some coin. Between the QT bell and juice clutch in goldduster318's parts list, current cost is somewhere around $1700 while the Lakewood cast bellhousing is closer to $400 total.
I know there is a cast bellhousing option for the T56, but I don't think it allows for the mechanical clutch linkage.
Not saying the TKX is the better option, just tossing out ideas and options.
I know there is a cast bellhousing option for the T56, but I don't think it allows for the mechanical clutch linkage.
Not saying the TKX is the better option, just tossing out ideas and options.
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