I've been looking into getting a '98-02 Camaro Z28, 6 speed, for awhile. For the last month or two I've been researching information on LS1tech.com. I really want to get a 6 speed, with the Tremec T56 transmission, since it will mainly be a street car. However, that site is chock full of people with lots of problems running the T56. They seem to be rebuilding their transmission often, and the whole thing has to be pulled if you need to change just a slave cylinder. Also alot of the guys have problems with the "mushy" clutch peddle syndrome, which even after bleeding, wrapping the lines, still doesn't help. Is this just not a viable option in an LS1 powered vehicle? If these issues are commonplace with these transmissions, I don't know if it's worth it to get a 6 speed. Some of you guys out there who have 6 speeds, and or who know about them, could you give me some insight on how they cope with the LS1's power levels, and the reliability of the transmission from an owners perspective. Thanks.

 

thats the only T56 they offer.

what problems are all of these people having?

how many times are they rebuilding a tranny in a given span, and what broke?

it has to be pulled because its an internal slave.

upgrade your hydraulics if your worried about mushy pedals.


personally, your the 1st person i've come across who doesnt think the T56 is good, or has questioned its durability.

 

There are many posts of people having to build the transmission at 30k-60k intervals, mainly due to the synchronizers going out, or from broken shift forks. One of the main problems is the mushy clutch pedal syndrome after hard runs. Even after installing 01-02 hydraulics, wrapping the clutch lines, and properly bleeding the lines, many owners still have the problem.

I read a post from a guy that is rebuilding at 30k miles on his '02 TransAm. Another from a guy with a '99 Camaro SS at 60k miles. It could be their driving, but I see an awful lot of posts of owners rebuilding after less than 60k miles.

Do i get a cookie? Sorry, I've never owned an LS1 powered vehicle, or do I have friends that own any. I want to have a decent understanding and knowledge of it's problems, defects, and troubleshooting areas before I jump into an expensive purchase.

 

those people are also beating the piss out of them more then likely. 60k miles is like 5 years of driving. but thats why you dont try to powershift the thing, and you put in the viper shift forks. as for the mushy pedal, i've never heard of it happening after they upgraded the hyrdaulics, but thats not to say it doesnt happen.

and no you dont get a cookie.

problem areas will be window motors, headlight motors, rear brakes. other problems will arise if you go and start modding.

 

I havn't had any problems yet knock's on wood. I don't have electric headlights so I dodged that I suppose. If a window motor goes it it's a cheap fix. I had to my brakes recently. Just regular maint. so far it seems.

I don't have a T56, but it's a good tranny. Just like anything else, it's not a full race tranny, if you/ previous owner beat the shit out of it constantly, it will fail. The tranny isn't the thing I'd worry about though, it's the rear end that will most likely take a dump first.

 

Oh my friend has a T56, and he does complain about the clutch pedal being mushy however.. The car's an 02 with about 40k on it, and he runs it fairly hard. He just recently started talking about the clutch pedal being "mushy" though. Not sure what the problem is

 

I was really hoping for a cookie man. I'm depressed. Thanks for the info, you always have informative posts, even if they are rather controversial.

 

Does he, and or when did he install aftermarket headers?

 

the car's mostly stock.. only mod is a lid

 

it really depends on how much abuse you give it my car is a 6 speed and the car has more then i cant count power shifts on the spray. it could use a little freshing up but it still shifts fine. i have upgraded salve and master so i have never had a mushy pedal since i did that.