Gearbox Part 2 - Delivery!

 I ended up ordering a complete installation package for the T56 Magnum transmission from Roadcraft UK.  This included the following items:

• T56 Magnum Transmission (obviously)
• McLeod 168 tooth Steel Billet Flywheel
• Aluminium Bellhousing
• Roller Spigot / Pilot Bearing
• Transmission Mount
• ARP Flywheel mounting bolts
• All bolts for attachment of bellhousing and transmission

I also opted for the following additional items / upgrades

• Gearbox yoke
• McLeod RST Twin Disc Clutch
• Hydraulic Clutch throwout Bearing

I went for the twin 10.5" disc clutch upgrade since it can handle 800hp with ease and still gives a relatively soft pedal engagement and remains streetable.  The soft pedal element was the key for me.  I still have the nightmare memories of trying to drive my Pontiac TransAm in traffic; the clutch was immensely heavy (although to be fair it was cable operated not hydraulic) and I used to frequently experience the shakes in my left leg trying to ride the clutch in stationary / slow moving traffic.  

After a short delay in delivery (due to the container with all the transmissions going temporarily AWOL) I got a message from Brian confirming my delivery date for end of April 2021.

On delivery day, I received a neatly wrapped pallet containing all the transmission components. 

One shiny new transmission!

Rear Yoke

A well wrapped Bellhousing

Next out of the box were the flywheel and twin-disc clutch.  There's a fair amount of rotating mass with these two components; the flywheel weighs 13.6kg (or 30lbs in old money) and the twin-disc clutch weighs 10.2kg (22.5lbs).  That's a hefty 23.8kg (52.5lbs) in total!

Steel Billet Flywheel

RST Twin-disc Clutch - looks too nice to hide!

Next off the pallet was the hydraulic throw-out bearing.  This is fixed on the end of the transmission over the input shaft and pushes directly on the release 'fingers" on the clutch.  It does away with the normal clutch lever and external slave cylinder arrangement.  This is a standard GM item and comes with the factory style bleed screw arrangement, which requires a special tool to be able to access through the bell housing when everything is bolted together.  First job will be to remove that and replace it with an extended hose and bleeder to make bleeding the clutch a tad easier!

Hydraulic Throw-out Bearing - factory fittings will need to be replaced

And last but not least were the transmission mount, the roller spigot / pilot bearing and a selection of bolts to secure everything together.

Miscellaneous items....and some lube!

Having checked everything out, I put all the components back in their box and put them in the corner of the garage until its time to install the engine.  I need to finish assembling the rear axle first.  Hopefully the presence of a large box of goodies in the corner will give me the motivation to pull my finger out!!!