Upgrade stock T56 vs aftermarket t56

ablake6620

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Greetings I am currently working on building up my car and had a few questions regarding the transmission. I am installing a 2.9 whipple this winter, along with the supercharger I am installing a McLeod RST 26 spline clutch. That being said the transmission has to come out obviously and will at the least require changing the input shaft to accommodate the clutch. Now my question is what is more preferable? Upgrading the stock t56 through a place like tick performance or outright replacing it with something like a magnum or Rockland gear t56. It seems to me that for the money to build the stock t56 or just sell it and get one of the aftermarket transmissions and he be pretty equal cost wise. For guys that have taken either or both routes do you have an input to help with my decision? My current t56 seems to work fine so it isn't blown and could be sold to someone in working order. Also what is a terminator t56 used even worth? Thanks
 

CobraBob

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Contact TimsPony. He switched to a Magnum T-56 and as far as I know he loves it. Personally, I'd rather upgrade to a new transmission like the Magnum vs. having a factory T-56 transmission built. Let's see what others have to say.
 

Corbic

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Magnum is superior to the T56.

I regret having mine rebuilt instead of just upgrading.
 

modFTW

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well that is a matter of opinion. I had a magnum and loved the trans itself but personally hated 2 things about it.
-There is no aftermarket shifter that I am aware of for it
-Having to buy an aftermarket bellhousing to use the trans was an added cost

Basic cost for the magnum
Magnum- $3050
Bellhousing- $4-600
Crossmember- $145

Cost of Gforce Gear 1200HP T56
$4750

If your going to spend the money. Why not spend a bit extra and have a bullet proof T-56.
Just my $.02
 

Corbic

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well that is a matter of opinion. I had a magnum and loved the trans itself but personally hated 2 things about it.
-There is no aftermarket shifter that I am aware of for it
-Having to buy an aftermarket bellhousing to use the trans was an added cost

Basic cost for the magnum
Magnum- $3050
Bellhousing- $4-600
Crossmember- $145

Cost of Gforce Gear 1200HP T56
$4750

If your going to spend the money. Why not spend a bit extra and have a bullet proof T-56.
Just my $.02

Standard bell housing works as does the cross member?

You just need to shorten your drive shaft.
 

cj428mach

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Standard bell housing works as does the cross member?

You just need to shorten your drive shaft.

Ditto-

The factory crossmember just needs the holes egged out and the transmission will bolt right up to a stock bell housing.

I absolutely love my t56 Magnum and was originally considering rebuilding my t56 but I can honestly say the Magnum is everything people make it out to be.
 

Shadow Grey 03

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Im just mad that the magnum wasn't an option when I originally had my t-56 built. Magnum will hold more than a mildly built t-56 too.
 

CompO_Eric

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I would buy the magnum. The only regret I had was buying a wide ratio vs close ratio gears. I bought another magnum with the close ratios to go back to stock gearing. Same bell housing and cross member as the the stock T-56 but a different drive shaft.

Is there a reason you're going RST vs RXT?


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geoffmt

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The Mag has wider gears, from what D&D told me and a different output/tail and different syncros. basically its a 6060 with an upgraded tail. can shift smoothly up to 8k rpm. I bought one after buying a new stock t56. never installed the stocker. I figured it was worth it to buy the stronger setup as I am not easy on my equipment and will have a 7600-7800 rpm shift points with my new setup once running. I heard the stockers get notchy after 7k. I ordered the close ratio1-4 and the tall 5-6, D&D put in the bronze fork pads, got an exedy racing flywheel and an RXT clutch. cant wait to have this thing running!
 

cj428mach

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The Mag has wider gears, from what D&D told me and a different output/tail and different syncros. basically its a 6060 with an upgraded tail. can shift smoothly up to 8k rpm.

If you look for pictures online, the t56 magnum gears are much wider than the t56 so you have a lot more gear contact surface. After blowing the teeth off my cluster gear in 3rd just going WOT while I was already cruising in 3rd gear I knew I didn't want to go back just standard t56. There was nothing to prevent it from happening again so I wanted larger gears. At least with the t56 magnum I can sleep better at night knowing theres more contact surface of the gears.

.......I'll wait for someone to come in and bash the magnum for its narrower synchro's .
 
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N/Angel

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subscribing, I need to either rebuild my broken T-56 or get a new trans, being on a tight budget doesn't help.
 

cj428mach

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I don't know what you need but I have several ebay auctions ending in a few hours with T56 case parts, 6th gear, and I still have several other parts left over from my blown up t56.
 

AMP-D

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The T56 Magnum is a great box and superior to the T56 in almost every way. I say almost mostly because the T56 does have beefier teeth on the engagement area and is more forgiving to miss shifts or really hard shifts whereas the Magnum has smaller, finer teeth that will flatten easier than the T56. Its basically a trade off for the wider portion of the gear itself.

I'd say if your T56 is rebuildable without too much drama or expense, 9 times out of 10 thats the route to go, especially if you're trying to retain its value.

If the transmission is worn out pretty good, the price tag in parts alone can add up so that is definitely where a Magnum makes more sense, especially in cars exceeding 800hp.
 

N/Angel

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I don't know what you need but I have several ebay auctions ending in a few hours with T56 case parts, 6th gear, and I still have several other parts left over from my blown up t56.

If I only knew what I need. It's the second trans gone bust, and that despite the low horsepower.
 

DeadEnd..

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What tires are all of y'all running? I see lots of trans are failing. I went with the magnum too Stock gear ratios. You also need the speedo plug. It's 24 bucks on amazon. I think my drag radials help with the shortening of my trans life. Nitto Nt05r. Those things are the truth! One track pass then. Next time out on the street on the way home my trans failed.


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cj428mach

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MT ET Streets, its the only thing that even comes close to hooking on 22+ psi of boost.
 

badmpg03

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Thank you for this thread. I was about to do full upgrade with t56 cryo treat, oil pump etc after I blew another cluster and input shaft.
I said f* it and bought a magnum from D&D. It's getting a custom external oil pump and carbon treatment on all 6 gears.
 

Shadow Grey 03

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The magnum also is much smoother engaging gears during normal driving. The stock style t56 may be more forgiving when missing a gear, but it's much easier to bang gears in the magnum. I've had professionally built t-56s too. Magnum is my choice.
 

N/Angel

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Anyone know if the bellhousing of the Magnum and the T56 is the same?
I would like to you use my T56 bellhousing with the Magnum to make the transmission swap easier
 

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