Looks like a Fun Street car, can't wait to see how you finish her off. Absolutely Love those year Novas.
I have to list up a 72' drag only Nova on Ebay this coming week. Sucks when you take a car too far it is no longer streetable and you miss out on all that fun. :(

T56 swap in progress:

Parts list:
Trans: D&D spec LS1 T56
Shifter: Pro 5.0
Bellhousing: Quick Time 6023-PB (pivot ball)
Crossmember: X-Factor XFGM-10301 Aluminum
Clutch: Centerforce Dual Friction DF148552
Speedometer: Garmin, baby!
Driveshaft: Denny's 3.5" Aluminum
Bearing retainer/collar: CAGM-50003 (American Powertrain)
Scotch: Macallan 12 year

Wiring info, AAW part numbers for reverse lights and reverse lock out:

500952 T56 Backup Light Switch Pigtail Wires
500950 T56 Reverse Lockout Module Pigtail Wires

Below are the pics of the 6023PB and how it did not fit on the trans out of the box.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps5dc11405.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...psd1b2e37c.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...pse2836d0c.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...psde9c715c.jpg

I contacted Lakewood, where the tech was very nice but couldn't help too much, so he sent me to Quicktime's rep, who was also nice but couldn't help, and lo and behold a few days later I am contacted by the CEO/head of development at Quicktime to discuss my woes.

I will say that I got great service and support from them, and the CEO took a lot of time to explain to me the ins and outs of how everything goes, from spec'ing a bellhousing for production all the way to installation.

At the end of the day, I was "kind of" right with my post above. This bellhousing fits a Mag very well. However, it should also fit MOST of the LS1 T56's out there with no issue. Mine is an exception- there are 25+ different configurations of front plates out there, and I drew the short straw.

So for those of you at home, you will probably be fine, but in the off chance you are not, be aware that you may need to do what I did. Have no reservations about grinding though- that area is more than strong enough.

I will also be forwarding my trans tags to Quicktime so they can get a hold of one like it to test.


Made some strides over the last week:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps87d453bb.jpg

Here it is ready to go in. It's been said a lot, but it's a big sucker.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...pscfda8e81.jpg

Bellhousing and block saver bolted up perfectly. No issues at all there. Plenty of room around the bellhousing.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps5da5bdf5.jpg

Was like this all around, even though the engine was hanging at this point.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps355b63c4.jpg

Underneath, with the trans as high as it would go in the tunnel

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps2a23954c.jpg

The biggie. The transmission is as high as it would go in the tunnel and you can see how much further it has to go based on how much the trans mount sticks out underneath the crossmember. It had to go up pretty significantly.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...psa5b20e2f.jpg

Cut lines. Note that I had to cut the seat brace out to fit my shifter. If you buy a T56 Magnum I am fairly certain you do not have to go that far.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...pscdc7ff38.jpg

Great time to fix that radio I guess.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps14549c5b.jpg

After cutting, plenty of room.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps2d1be4e2.jpg

From the top down.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps54892c2f.jpg

I made some contour curves with some wire and used them to make a 'frame' of sorts to make the new transmission tunnel. I am doing the tunnel in two pieces- an 18" front part and an 8" shifter section so I can mount a shifter boot flat and maybe have more options for making a console later.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps858badba.jpg

Section of seat crossmember I had to remove; seperated from the floor itself. Came out nice and clean. This will have to be reinstalled to restore the structural integrity of the seat brace.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps92ffa79f.jpg

Tunnel in progress. Yes, I am fully aware that I am using an oxy rosebud with a wooden frame, and I exercised extreme caution in doing so. We only needed the wooden frame for 15 minutes of metal work. I used 16ga steel.



At this point the tunnel is all done, the mechanicals are in, and I need to get the trans seated in the bellhousing. Then bolt it all up, wire the reverse stuff, measure the DS, and send it out.

Looks great bill. How did that crossmember work out for you?

Crossmember is fan freaking tastic. Really a nice piece, and I dig that it uses threaded plates vs. nuts in the subframe.

One other note, I used all allen bolts to attach the bellhousing to the block. I don't know why I didn't start doing that years ago. WAY easier to remove.

That's awesome, my crossmember lined up perfect too! I'm going to run to the store and pick up some of them, and probably use them for my header bolts as well!

It's crazy how much different the size is. I just needed to cut the shifter base hole. And after the crossmember was bolted in I still could have went up another inch maybe inch and 3/4.

also another question, did you need to cut your drive shaft? i still need to buy a drive shaft because the car didn't come with one and i was unsure of the length lol

Big time. T56 is like 3.5" longer or so.

I am going to re-measure and send my Denny's DS back to Denny since he will cut it down for free.

Is this guy local? Can you send me his contact info, I need a driveshaft made for my car.

http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/

Outside of Buffalo NY.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps51cedca9.jpg

Clutch and bellhousing in

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps615fd22f.jpg

Had an interference issue. There was an "ear" on the transmission near the middle of the 3 bolts on the left of this picture. It forced the trans out of alignment so I could not get the trans mount bolts in. Cut it off flush with a sawzall and I could pop the bolts right in afterward.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ps15520e1f.jpg

X-Factor crossmember fit great. Nice work American Powertrain. For reference, the threaded plates go above the crossmember, which sits on the subframe, and you bolt up through the bottom. Some seem to think the plates sit IN the subframe- they do not.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...pse3aa1134.jpg

As it sits.


All that's left to do now:

Measure and send out the driveshaft
Make the electrical connections
Reinstall the interior, add a boot
Reinstall exhaust and e-brake

Well, that and eventually get a speedometer :o

Looking good! I assume you are looking to get this ready for the nice weather?

Yep! I want to get the trans done, then get a new set of tires since these are pretty sketchy, and an alignment. Maybe a tune, too.

Well I hope its ready so I can see it. Definitely by the Duke Island meet for the cruise.

Well, I actually set a cutoff date to "stop effing with it" so it will be ready for Duke, and I put the Duke date on the family calendar so that's all set.

Which means it will rain that day. :nick:

You really took your time with the trans tunnel, looks nice.

indeed. unlike mine which is far more haxor lol

Looks great Bill, go man go!!!

"One other note, I used all allen bolts to attach the bellhousing to the block. I don't know why I didn't start doing that years ago. WAY easier to remove. "

Brilliant

Looks great, Your beating me!! Thanks for the link

Jim, The Axle Exchange did mine for my TH400 last year, they cut down and welded up a aluminum DS the same day, EXCELLENT work

Nice clean install.

Is that crossmember solid like it looks, or hollow? Must weigh a ton if it's solid.

Aluminum. Weighs less than the stocker, and is torsion tested to 1000lb-ft.

Thanks don, I'm going to check out a few places, the one you and bill mentioned and on 46 in Clifton there is a good one.

Bill, when will she be driveabl

Ah, Ok. Aluminum does make more sense.

WildBillyT, i sent you a couple messages. I'm not sure if you got them? My message box says zero messages sent? Thanks for the help!--Lou

sweet ride