E30 M3 S62 Build - Loads of queries about 4x4 drivtrains

[turbotarzan]

I wouldn't use a C5 Corvette T56, it looks like this and I don't know where the t case would go... And the engine would still require a custom made bellhousing to connect. It would be easier to use some sort of truck or Camaro/GTO parts.

Unless you plan to do what I did and run a rear trans...

IMG_4521 by Der E30, on Flickr

Just remove the rear diff housing and the t-case input shaft. I emaild a guy who is selling one and asked for the leingth of the output shaft. I'll have a gear machined that fits the splines of the outputshaft, same specs on the gear as on the t-case inputshaft. As I said, adapterplate for t-case is a nobrainer. There are adapterplates for ex. Gm tranny to m70 v12 available.
Sounds pretty simple to me...
0,5:1 on 6th makes to topspeed stupid-fast.
There is a finnish saying: The one who dares to drive flat out has not tuned the car enough.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Actually, I would probably look at the c5/c6 t56 before the GTO/f-body versions just because the tailshaft is designed to have the diff bolted directly to it (what you show in your picture) and would be much easier to make an adapter to bolt a tcase to instead of trying to make a divorced tcase setup on a regular t56 or fabricated your own tailshaft housing... Just conjecture though.

There are a couple of different considerations.

The Vette housings would be best for a swap, as the Vette front plate will accept a custom adapter to bolt up to a BMW bellhousing. The Vette rear adapter will make it easier to bolt up a T-case.

HOWEVER, as we can see from the photo, the Vette shift shaft comes through the front plate and goes forward. While the Camarobird transmissions have the shifter in the extension housing, the Vette rear adapter does not have provision for a shifter mount.

So you have to use a "turret style" shifter in the opening at the back end of the main case. In the photo, you can see that the Vette has CAGS and reverse lockout solenoids right next to the turret.

I *think* that either the GTO or CTS-V brought the shifter out of that location, very similar to the way that BMW designs their shift mechanisms. I know that my 2010 Camaro TR6060 has the turret shifter.

Also, the transmission will have to be disassembled to swap out the Vette shift shaft for the appropriate turret shifter shift shaft.

[turbotarzan]

I have a solution to that in my head involving a small hole in the bell but I can't put it words and I won't know until I have the thing infront of me.
The more I read about the t56 the more I need it. With the top speed I would get from it I have to go hardtop and skip the roadster plans. Man I want the dimensions of the Chevron B8 type body that I found.
Also, anyone got the leingth of the t56 output shaft? The bastard who is selling the tranny seems to be a sloth.

[turbotarzan]

Found an awesome solution...

http://www.corvetteonline.com/features/sema-coverage/sema-2011-mastershifts-new-c5c6-electronic-paddle-shifter/

[The Dark Side of Will]

You'll still have to deal with the shifting mechanism being inside the bellhousing.

[iansane]

There are a couple of different considerations.

The Vette housings would be best for a swap, as the Vette front plate will accept a custom adapter to bolt up to a BMW bellhousing. The Vette rear adapter will make it easier to bolt up a T-case.

HOWEVER, as we can see from the photo, the Vette shift shaft comes through the front plate and goes forward. While the Camarobird transmissions have the shifter in the extension housing, the Vette rear adapter does not have provision for a shifter mount.

So you have to use a "turret style" shifter in the opening at the back end of the main case. In the photo, you can see that the Vette has CAGS and reverse lockout solenoids right next to the turret.

I *think* that either the GTO or CTS-V brought the shifter out of that location, very similar to the way that BMW designs their shift mechanisms. I know that my 2010 Camaro TR6060 has the turret shifter.

Also, the transmission will have to be disassembled to swap out the Vette shift shaft for the appropriate turret shifter shift shaft.

I just recognized your screen name from c-c.com.

I know the GTO didn't come out the top like that. They used the same location as the regular cam/bird t56 but used a lever/tower thing to extend it back a couple of inches. It's been quite awhile but I thought the 5thgen tr6060's used a shifter that was mounted off of their tailshaft as well? Definitely like a BMW with a remote shift assembly but I thought it went through their tailshaft housing.

I bought a 6060 last year to replace the t56 in my '91 but after I realized it had no removable bellhousing, fixed transmission output flange and the wonkey shifter assembly I offloaded it real quick. I did really like the factory trans temp gauge and fluid pump/cooler attached to the power steering system though. T56 magnum was much easier to adapt for me.

I seem to recall some manufacturer using the forward most shifter mount for their t56 cars (that turret you talk about) but I can't remember who. Vipers? Or if I'm overlapping some memory about the tremec 3500

[iansane]

I have a solution to that in my head involving a small hole in the bell but I can't put it words and I won't know until I have the thing infront of me.

I'd wager to say that the shift shaft from a 'vette, when mounting the trans in a traditional configuration attached directing to the motor, would pass right through the same space as the clutch disc/PP....

[DER E30]

I'd wager to say that the shift shaft from a 'vette, when mounting the trans in a traditional configuration attached directing to the motor, would pass right through the same space as the clutch disc/PP....

Yes the vette shifter for sure goes right to where the PP is.

The T56 input looks exactly like the input of the torque tube. The input of the torque tube goes right into the clutch, like every other normal car's.
I don't know about the trans output though as I haven't taken the diff/trans assembly apart...
A shifter assembly should be easy to put together with the correct parts from some other car. The hole (for the shifter) in the front case of the vette's t56 is easy to get rid of I would imagine, that hole is in a separate plate that bolts to the trans main case. I am pointing at the split with the file in the pic...


IMG_4599 by Der E30, on Flickr


So, if somebody makes a Camaro or wharever t56 to M60 adapter, then the vette trans would probably bolt right to the Camaro bellhousing adapter, then to the t56-M60 adaptor, and boom done. At least with the clutch end of the trans.

[The Dark Side of Will]

More photos of parts involved: http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showpos...&postcount=481

You can see in the last photo that my trans has the turret style shifter. It's from a 2010 Camaro SS.

Figuring out how to deal with the reverse lockout solenoid will be fun... I may have to machine a new turret box to accept it.

[DER E30]

I see you're way further than I had thought! So the idea is to weld the vette front housing to the BMW bellhousing, and done? Looks promising!!!

Do you even need a reverse lockout? I never got why you'd need one anyway except for the RETARTED placement of R. (over by 5th) Every proper trans should have it by 1st!

[The Dark Side of Will]

No welding... I'll have an adapter machined up to bolt the BMW bellhousing to the Corvette front plate. I intend to use a Tilton dual disk clutch; the adapter will carry the HTOB for that unit.

Yeah, the reverse position is a little weird... Been told that it's not hard to go for 5th and hit R instead... not good.

[The Dark Side of Will]

I just recognized your screen name from c-c.com.

I know the GTO didn't come out the top like that. They used the same location as the regular cam/bird t56 but used a lever/tower thing to extend it back a couple of inches. It's been quite awhile but I thought the 5thgen tr6060's used a shifter that was mounted off of their tailshaft as well? Definitely like a BMW with a remote shift assembly but I thought it went through their tailshaft housing.

I bought a 6060 last year to replace the t56 in my '91 but after I realized it had no removable bellhousing, fixed transmission output flange and the wonkey shifter assembly I offloaded it real quick. I did really like the factory trans temp gauge and fluid pump/cooler attached to the power steering system though. T56 magnum was much easier to adapt for me.

I seem to recall some manufacturer using the forward most shifter mount for their t56 cars (that turret you talk about) but I can't remember who. Vipers? Or if I'm overlapping some memory about the tremec 3500

I think I've seen yours over there too.

Check out the photos I linked above... the 2010 Camaro TR6060 has the turret style shifter.

[DER E30]

No welding... I'll have an adapter machined up to bolt the BMW bellhousing to the Corvette front plate. I intend to use a Tilton dual disk clutch; the adapter will carry the HTOB for that unit.

Yeah, the reverse position is a little weird... Been told that it's not hard to go for 5th and hit R instead... not good.

Sweet.

I've never hit R when going for 5th, (I suppose B/C I have R lockout still working) but I frequently find 5th when looking for R. Its a PITA, I kill it about half the time because my LS has more than enough power to dump the clutch in R, but dumping it in 5th is an automatic kill. Also my clutch pedal is fairly awkward to use, so slipping it is harder than it should be. I'm getting better at finding R, but it's not like a bimmer where there is extra resistance to get in to R, so 5th feels the same.

[The Dark Side of Will]

I frequently used to pick out R when going for 1st when I first started driving BMW's... but got used to it. The TR6060 in whatever form will just be a matter of getting good at using it.

[turbotarzan]

You'll still have to deal with the shifting mechanism being inside the bellhousing.

Yup, 30 min. after posting I went back to the site and said... damn! And then I had to open the bar again...