T56 Magnum Tranny in a Contemporary????

[kdavies3]

Hi Guys not been on for a while,
I've done a bit of searching around the forum but have failed to find and conclusive evidence of whether or a not a T56 Magnum gearbox will fit in the tunnel of a CCX 3?
I want to go 6 speed behind my FE (fuel prices are a joke here in the UK).
I figure the Magnum is the only Tremec thay will live with torque or I guess it's 5 speed and a TKO 600?

Any ideas greatly received.

BTW my search for 6 pin drive front hubs continues.
I've spoken with George Petrus but he's on vacation in Europe all this month.
He may be able to help on his return or it's a very expensive alternative here in the UK. Which means I need to buy all 4 hubs just to get the fronts that I need.
I don't suppose, anyone needs a pair of rear 6 pin hubs to fit a Jaguar IRS do they?

[Danr55]

Kev, I have a TKO 600 behind my FE with no issues. Works like a charm and fits fine.

[blykins]

Save yourself the expense, weight, and room. A TKO 600 will fit very nicely and they are rated for 600 lb-ft of torque. They are available in either a .82 OD or a .64 OD, so there's really no need for a T-56. I think I've sold one Magnum T-56....to a customer that insisted. The TKO's can be modified to hold as much torque for about the same money if torque capability is needed. Otherwise, it's good to save the extra weight, girth, length, etc.

[Michael4yah]

Hey Brent. Glad to see you back. I have a T56 that I bought for a Hi Tech that I sold but I may put it in my Contemporary. The T56 is stronger than the TKO600 but its probably not that important unless your going to race it. Mine was a special model made on a Viper platform and modified for an FE. Probably only 100 made. The magnum is a really good trans. When you look at how these T56s handle these hopped up V 10 Vipers it really shows its pedigree. The length of it causes the driveshaft to be shorter, I would like to hear if this shorter driveshaft causes the ujoints to work harder. Anyone?

[Michael4yah]

Hey Brent. Glad to see you back. I have a T56 that I bought for a Hi Tech that I sold but I may put it in my Contemporary. The T56 is stronger than the TKO600 but its probably not that important unless your going to race it. Mine was a special model made on a Viper platform and modified for an FE. Probably only 100 made. The magnum is a really good trans. When you look at how these T56s handle these hopped up V 10 Vipers it really shows its pedigree. The length of it causes the driveshaft to be shorter, I would like to hear if this shorter driveshaft causes the ujoints to work harder. Anyone?

[sharkx]

When you factor in the length of the input shaft, the T56 is not longer than a T5. Here's a photo of a T5 and T56 side by side:


The big issue is not the driveshaft but rather the fact that rear mount point for a T56 is much farther back then either a T5 or TKO600.

I have a Factory Five Roadster with a T56 sitting behind a 390 stroked to 445. The standard FFR 10.375 inch driveshaft was to short to use.

After being on the road for 2 years and several trips to the drag strip, I've had no issues.

Bruce

[fordracing65]

Get a 6 speed and make it fit, a 5 speed, does not perform like a 6 speed on the highway. Go with the magnum. The 2 extra gears are nice.

[joyridin']

I have a 6 speed in mine and would never put another one in. Unless the car is fuel injected and you have a huge wide powerband, don't waste the money. You will either find first gear a waste, or 6th gear not usable.

Put a 3.73 gear and a TKO and you will be sitting pretty.

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Michael4yah

Hey Brent. Glad to see you back. I have a T56 that I bought for a Hi Tech that I sold but I may put it in my Contemporary. The T56 is stronger than the TKO600 but its probably not that important unless your going to race it. Mine was a special model made on a Viper platform and modified for an FE. Probably only 100 made. The magnum is a really good trans. When you look at how these T56s handle these hopped up V 10 Vipers it really shows its pedigree. The length of it causes the driveshaft to be shorter, I would like to hear if this shorter driveshaft causes the ujoints to work harder. Anyone?

I shortend my drive shaft for the magnum and havent noticed any extra stress, I race and maintain my car all the time.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

I have a 6 speed in mine and would never put another one in. Unless the car is fuel injected and you have a huge wide powerband, don't waste the money. You will either find first gear a waste, or 6th gear not usable.

Put a 3.73 gear and a TKO and you will be sitting pretty.

That's what most of my customers find out...

They are not worth the cost and the effort to install them. Quicktime makes a lot of bellhousings to adapt them to different engines, but on certain applications where you use a Long style clutch or a twin disc, modification of the midplate has to be completed and an aftermarket pivot ball has to be installed in order to have enough room.

The overall length is indeed longer. I tried several transmissions in my Fox body Mustang, including a T5, a TKO, and a Viper T-56. Yes, the trans mount sits further back, but due to the depth of the bellhousing needed to swallow the input shaft, it puts the end of the tailhousing almost 2" further back as well, necessitating a shorter driveshaft. This is all with the same engine. If you have this situation in a Cobra, you better have an IRS to help with u-joint issues.

From an engine builder and a drivetrain seller, I'm trying to save you all $500....

[blykins]

Some helpful information:

Official dimensions from Tremec's website combined with dimensions from Quicktime's website (using a SBF as a reference).

This is taking overall length - input shaft length + bellhousing depth.

Tremec Ford T5 behind Quicktime bellhousing behind SBF - 31.38"
Tremec Ford TKO (long input) behind Quicktime bellhousing behind SBF - 30.71"
Tremec Ford Magnum T-56 behind Quicktime bellhousing behind SBF - 34.29"

Now, you can get the older T-56's in a shorter input size for use with a shorter bellhousing, but even then it just cuts about .9" off, which still puts you at almost 33.5" overall length. Also, those older boxes are only rated for about 450 lb-ft. As of right now, my info/price sheets only have info on the Ford Modular engine T-56's.

Tremec T5 weight - 80#
Tremec TKO weight - 95#
Magnum T-56 weight - 125#

Those are Tremec's "official" dry weights for their transmissions. I think the TKO's feel a little heavier though.

[sspano01]

I love my T-56. I have a 521 BBF with fuel injection, and a 3:1 rear.
I can cruise along at 70 MPH at about 1400 rpms. That gets me about 12 MPG on the highway

The T-56 is large, so the drive shaft becomes pretty short. I liked the extra weight, help hold that Cobra down on the ground !

[kdavies3]

Thanks for all the opinions guy's I'm leaning toward a TKO 600 I think but the original question is still unanswered will a Magnum fit in the tunnel of a contemporary it gets pretty narrow towards the rear end.

[RICK LAKE]

kdavies3 K you can make anything fit if you want. If have been with both a 5 and 6 spd trans for racing. I also have a t-56 sittting in the garage. My ERA has a solid cross member, going from front to back under the car. I had my frame changed to fit both transmissions. Heres the thing
What is the gearing in the rearend of the car?
I run 3.31's and have found that 1st gear is a waste with both trannies.
One trans has a 3.00 ratio and the other is a 3.25. I never use them, even racing. You go about 30 ft and have to shift if not smoking the tires, them less.
A stock T-56 is good for about 600/600 torque and HP if blueprints with better internal parts. Better cones or syncros, new stronger main shaft, better shifting forks, tighter clearances. Have seen them break in GTO's. Skip shift is anything, unless racing in a small tight track, only going to use gears 2,3,4 and maybe 5 on a long straight. ^th is for cruising but also has a down side, (LUGGING) the motor and drivetrain. If you have a torque motor with a small camshaft, you can cruise at 70 mph doing 1,400 rpms. If you have a nasty camshaft and a motor that idle at 900 rpms and rocks the, the vibration and lugging will shake the car and bang the drive train.
Have you looked into a super street Richmond trans??
Bolts into you car, shifter 1" back from spot now. Will take 600/600 continueous power , not peak power. 2.85 firsty gear to move you and .87 for overdrive. New motor I am building is getting this setup with a rearend change to a 3.08 from 3.31.
Alot has been done to the TKO 600 trans to fix the problem they used to have
Having multi points for the shifter is the best in a cobra. Over time and abuse,IMO I just don't see this trans not having shifting problems. Same goes for the T-56 and I rebuild them at a dealership for GM. Rick L.

[joyridin']

The biggest issue I had was the diameter of the T-56 body near the shifter area. My frame narrowed back and the trans was just too wide. Most other trans narrow down near the tailshaft, the T-56 does not. My driveshaft is about 10" from c/l of u-joint to u-joint and no problems.

Correct on the camshaft/big engine scenario. I have a 383 SBC and it is a waste. Like I said earlier, you either have no first gear, or cannot use 6th gear.

[kdavies3]

thanks all,
I think I'll probably go with the TKO 600 but I'll take alook at Richmond before I part with the hard earned.
The comments about the diameter of the T56 Magnum are what make me think it wouldn't fit the tunnel in the CCX I don't think the frame is an issue.
I have a 3.31 rear end so I'll do some calcs on the best 5th ratio for me.

[blykins]

Make sure you take into account the cam specs on the engine. A lot of guys shoot for the lowest cruising rpm possible, but forget that the cam may not be efficient at lower rpms. Trying to get a "peppy" engine to cruise at 1700-1800 rpm may result in some bucking or some other undesired reactions from the engine. You can always downshift to 4th, but that kinda negates the intent.

[cobrarkc]

Here is a link to someone who has done this.
Contemporary Cobra, installing T-56 6 speed trans.