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View Full Version : The lighter side! Fun Fun Fun



Fnlybldnmy55
01-24-2014, 02:46 PM
Parts back from Powdercoat ! A warm fuzzy feeling. :)
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Viper T56 on the way too!!!!!!!!!!!!

carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)
01-25-2014, 06:41 AM
nice.

Run-em
01-25-2014, 10:07 AM
Purty !

sleeper55
01-25-2014, 10:30 AM
Looks good, are you moving the shifter location? If you dont have bucket seats that shifter will be under your seat.

Fnlybldnmy55
01-25-2014, 04:12 PM
Goin buckets!

sleeper55
01-26-2014, 07:05 AM
I have the same trans in my 55. The rear shifter locaton is great with buckets. Makes for really nice shifting.

chevynut
01-26-2014, 08:02 AM
The Viper transmission has the shifter located about 4" forward of the 4th Gen Camaro T56 shifter position. Here's pics of both of them so you can see how much further forward the Viper shifter is. Not all T56 transmissions are the same. The Viper T56 is also a lot stronger than the Camaro version and has a larger output shaft as well as some internal upgrades of shift forks, etc.

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Here's a pic of my Nomad with the shifter installed on the Viper T56, and the engine 1.5" forward. I think it's in the perfect location. It feels just right when sitting in the bucket seat. With the right shifter, and a little longer legs, it may even work with a bench seat.

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One thing to keep in mind is the 6th gear is a .5 overdrive. So unless you have a relatively steep rear gear, it's going to be somewhat useless. It also depends on your tire diameter and your engine. Take a look at the engine RPM calculators on Richmond's site and you'll see what I mean. I have a set of Viper 4.10 gears in my Dana 44 to get the RPMs up a little at 75 mph. My Ramjet 502 puts out over 500 ft-lb from 2000 RPM and up, but I think the lower gears will work better. The stock 3.45 Dana 44 gears allow my engine to run at 1672 RPM at 75 MPH. The 4.10 gears increase that to 1987 RPM. I also have a set of 3.73 gears that would make it 1808 RPM.

http://richmondgear.com/index.php/gear-transmission-calculators

I think a high gear (like a 3.08 in an early D44 rear) with a mild SBC would make 6th gear just about worthless. It would run under 1500 RPM at 75 MPH.

Fnlybldnmy55
01-26-2014, 09:54 AM
Did you guys need to raise the trans tunnel in your install? Some say yes, some say no. You guys would know. Thanks, Ken

chevynut
01-26-2014, 12:23 PM
I had to raise my tunnel. The T56 has a "hump" right behind the bellhousing, and that's where most of my interference was. I don't know of anyone who didn't have to raise the tunnel with a T56. Rick_L, I believe, thought he wouldn't have to but ended up doing so as I recall. It's not that hard to do.

Fnlybldnmy55
01-26-2014, 12:27 PM
I have Lakewood shatterproof bell now so hope I have same results as you.

Fnlybldnmy55
01-26-2014, 12:29 PM
What's a lil more metal work among friends? Lol

Rick_L
01-26-2014, 02:40 PM
FWIW some (maybe most) of the aftermarket transmissions have the shifter similar to the Viper location.

I have a Camaro transmission for mine. The stock Camaro shifter location is fine for bucket seats, at least for me. I'd think the difference between that one and the Viper location would be a matter of preference and maybe your height, but both would be workable.

If you don't raise the tunnel a bit, you're going to have to lower the transmission mount. Lower than you should IMO.

chevynut
01-26-2014, 08:37 PM
If you don't raise the tunnel a bit, you're going to have to lower the transmission mount. Lower than you should IMO.

I agree Rick. Sure you can make the transmission fit if you tilt the engine back down enough. But then you had better check your driveline angles to make sure they're correct. If you drop the back of the engine, you should adjust your pinion up. I don't think the T56 will fit with the engine at the stock 4 degree angle unless it's lowered in front.

Fnlybldnmy55
01-27-2014, 04:02 PM
I will definitely raise the tunnel in my case. Sounds like trouble trying to cheat the system. Not only that I want as much ground clearance as possible.

Rick_L
01-27-2014, 04:50 PM
I've seen two installations where the tunnel wasn't raised. The lip between the firewall and tunnel was cut on both though. I have no further details on either. I did ride in one of them and there were no vibrations. The other guy is a very good builder and I'm pretty sure he would have fixed the angle if there was a vibration. Both of these guys didn't have a problem with the clutch master cylinder hitting the #7 header pipe either - which I did. I ended up raising the tunnel in the area of the shifter about 1-1/4". And zero at the pinch weld between the tunnel and firewall. I did trim the pinch weld flange.

The other half of this deal is that mine fit the tunnel pretty much the same way Chevynut's fit. I've also seen a couple of other detailed installations on the forums which were very similar.

Fnlybldnmy55
01-27-2014, 04:55 PM
I guess I really won't know till install how much mods will be needed.