LT1 T56 to '86 and up small block

[SkylarTheCamaro]

Ok so here's the deal,

I have been wanting to do the auto to manual swap since I bought this car but haven't gotten around to pulling the trigger.

A '97 LT1 T56 showed up on craigslist the other day and upon further research it sounds like this should bolt directly up to my '98 one piece rear main seal small block. Transmission, Flywheel, Clutch, Slave cylinder, pressure plate... all of it. I also don't know if its a big deal that my engine is externally balanced. So going from a balanced flexplate to a used flywheel worries me.

So what I'm looking for from ya'll is, a little bit of reassurance that this is true. Not to mention all of the odds and ends I should know about the swap. Because I know nothing about manual transmissions.

Anything helps.

 

[Randy 81]

The 97 LT1 is balanced the same as your 98 engine, so it will work.

 

[SkylarTheCamaro]

The 97 LT1 is balanced the same as your 98 engine, so it will work.

it's a '98 block but nothing else is original to it. Its a full forged 383 stroker. Custom blue print and all that.

 

[badazz81z28]

I did the T56 to SBC conversion years ago. Simple process.

 

[SkylarTheCamaro]

I did the T56 to SBC conversion years ago. Simple process.

Did you use a mechanical or hydraulic setup?

 

[badazz81z28]

I used mechanical linkage. I used a standard SBC bellhousing and the steel adapter to bolt the T56 up. This was could use all standard SBC clutch and flywheel.

I use hydraulic now on my LS set up

 

[Randy 81]

Unless the flexplate has some unusual balance, it shoud still work. A good machine shop could check the flexplate balance compared to the flywheel, just to be sure.

 

[black_aerocoupe]

All production 86-up (one-piece rear seal) gen I and II small blocks had the same flexplate / flywheel balance, which was internally balanced, with the crank rear weight moved from crank to flywheel.

Their crank bolt pattern, pilot bore, etc. were the same.

Hopefully your 383 is balanced the same as a stock 86-up too. If not, balance of the flywheel to match will be needed.

The rest of the swap is pretty straightforward.

 

[ZEN357]

You might want to look at a swap kit so you have everything you need from these guys.

https://americanpowertrain.com/

 

[woody80z28]

Yup, should be easy. I have the same trans in my car, but with an old block and a conversion flywheel. Stock style clutch and hydraulics though. The stock style pull clutch is pricey. Back in 07 the SPEC 3+ I got was the best strong street clutch. I absolutely love it. There may be more options out there now, though.