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MoFinWiley1
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2004
21:34:31

Subject: T56 install finished
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I finished my Viper T-56 install this weekend. It was very hard work because i had to re-engineer a very large portion of the "kit". The end result though is spectacular. I have 4.7 RC with quite a few bolt-ons, and the trans has made a world of differnece in the way the truck drives. The shifting action is amazing, with none of the problems that plague the nv3500. Problems like having to "force" the trans to go to the correct gear on an upshift, hang-ups getting it into gear, and the way the gears are spaced. I never realized how bad the gear spacing is on the NV3500. With the gear spacing on the t-56 i got, the truck never falls out of power the way the old trans did. This may not be such a big deal for the 5.2/5.9/408 guys, but with the high rpm power of the 4.7 the truck feels significantly faster with the new trans and driveshaft(which is considerably lighter). I cant say enough about how the truck drives now.

For those that can handle a project like this (money, time, dealing with poor-arse kits) then i HIGHLY recommend get a t-56 in your truck. With a hotchkis setup, good tires, and this trans, you will literally feel like your are driving a sports car, because thats how it will perform.

oh yeah i can get 26 mpg EASILY on the freeway now, the t-56 i have has an .5:1 6th which puts me at 1900rpms at 85mhp



WipLash
R/T
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3/16/2004
22:24:22

RE: T56 install finished
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Cool! That's what I want for my R/T!



wuba
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2004
22:32:30

RE: T56 install finished
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How much have you spent on trans swap?



janesy
Dodge Dakota
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3/16/2004
23:47:07

RE: T56 install finished
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Was it a keisler kit??



capone
Dodge Dakota
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3/17/2004
17:41:02

RE: T56 install finished
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What parts of it did you have trouble with?



MoFinWiley1
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2004
16:18:50

RE: T56 install finished
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The total with a new driveshaft, tools and misc stuff was around $5500. It "was" a keisler kit, until i tried to install it. It ended up turning into a MoFinWiley kit. You name it, and it was wrong. If they ever sort the kit out so that it works then i say buy from them, but dont until they assure you 150% that the kit is complete.



janesy
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2004
17:58:20

RE: T56 install finished
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I'm planning a keisler 5speed swap in the future, i have heard only good about them until now. what type of problems did you have , fitment, lack of product?



MoFinWiley1
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2004
21:12:52

RE: T56 install finished
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From what i have heard from others, their kits are usually good, thats why i decided it was worth the risk of shelling out so much money. The difference seems to be the 4.7. I dont think they had one on hand to actually set up the kit with, leaving me with proto type kit. There is quite a long list of things either were entirely wrong or had to be modified or fabbed by me

Bellhousing not drilled
Sent wrong slave bearing assembly,had to make mine work
Sent wrong hydraulic line, had to buy my own
Sent wrong clutch had to PAY for right one from keisler
Shifter handle is not the right shape, asked multiple times, was told "well thats the one we use" even thought it makes my hand hit the dash.
Had to modify my trans crossmember when i specifically asked if there was any cutting or welding and was told no
Had to fab my own bracket for the trans to fit the modded crossmember. they asked me to send the measurements of the bracket to them when i found them out, so they would know how to make it.

Oh did i mention there were no instructions. I had to piece it together from different manuals they sent from other vehicles, that might pertain to my truck.

I am not entireky pleased with the experience but the final outcome of MY hardwork is great. I did learn alot though, considering when i started the project i was a complete trans newb. I had never doen any type of trans work ever.




Tiago A. Guim
Dodge Dakota
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3/19/2004
22:18:05

RE: T56 install finished
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Nice mod Dude.
I plan on changing my auto for keisler 6-speed when I get money enought in a couple of months...
Sure I wonīt be spanked by my friendīs moded manual Mustang GT anymore!!

Tiago/Brazil
1998 Black CC R/T with a bunch of mods



Duner
Dodge Dakota
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3/19/2004
23:32:46

You got me thinking now...
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It sounds like it turned out great!

It also sounds like you made the kit.

So.....

If I were to find a T-56 at a decent price, would Keisler even be able to supply anything that I needed? I'd be putting a whole new clutch and throwout bearing in regardless. I wouldn't have any problems getting a driveshaft made or fabbing up another crossmember. If the shifter doesn't fit anyway.... what else would I need? Just a bell housing? What kind of bellhousing did it take?



MoFinWiley1
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2004
01:47:47

RE: T56 install finished
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Duner, heres a link to my pics, i havent put all of them up yet, but will eventually

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mofinwiley@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=/T-56+6speed+install



DeepDak
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
03:02:25

RE: T56 install finished
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Hey Mo,

By chance do you live in Simi?

Eli



Duner
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
11:32:52

RE: T56 install finished
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Mo - could you explain what happened with the original mount on the transmission?

And yes.....I'd like to see some more pics on the install. I can see that the bellhousing was fabricated to mount the T56. Was there anything special wrong with it?

Need more into!



MoFinWiley1
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
20:01:12

RE: T56 install finished
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DeepDak, i do live in Simi, you from around here?

Duner: The orginal trans mount was snapped in quite a few pieces. It was rusty when i took it off, leading me to believe that it was like for a while. I am sure it was letting the trans move around everywhere, and may have been a major factor in my REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP ON THE FREEWAY. My insurance company will be very interested in it, along with the trans. They are going to try and get their body damage repair cost back from dodge.

For the new bellhousing I had to drill my own holes for the hydraulic lines. One for the feed line to the slave bearing, and one for the bleeder line. When i talked to keisler about it they said the holes "should" have been drilled already.

I recently spoke with Sheffi regarding the problems with installation of the kit. We are going to work something out. He seems fairly willing to make thing right. He agrees with my complaints with his kit, so we are going from there.



DeepDak
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
03:20:29

RE: T56 install finished
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Mo,

I'm from Oxnard. I'm not too familiar with Simi but I pass by it quite often to get to school (Northridge). I also have a few racing buds that live in Simi. When you get the truck running we'll have to meet up and head on over to Irvindale. That T-56 swap is SWEET; I'd like to check it out someday! Good luck with getting the problems solved.

Eli



bigtrq
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
19:26:19

RE: T56 install finished
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.5 to 1 OD , WOW !



turbo shelby
Dodge Dakota
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6/21/2004
04:00:02

RE: T56 install finished
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hey there guys,i own a 89 shelby dak,with a 360 magnum,76mm turbo and dfi.im very interested in this coversation,seeing as how i just bought a t56 speed,now trying to put all the peices together.i tried to view the photos,but couldnt.please,if you find time,would you email me any pics or info you have,or discover?thanks for any help you can give.kelly,email is kl7883@msn.com



turbo shelby
Dodge Dakota
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6/21/2004
04:15:48

RE: T56 install finished
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ok,just saw them,duner,is that a stock bellhousing welded to an adapter?kinda looks like it,due to the tig welding.the clutch is it a 26 spline?ive heard the viper bellhousing will work,any of you heard that?btw mofinwiley1,awsome looking truck man!really looks clean!



turbo shelby
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2004
00:55:14

RE: T56 install finished
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duner,or anyone else interested,ive found a company that offers this swap,less complete though,for about 3000.00. ive also aquired part numbers for the bellhousing needed etc...let me know if i can help,thanks,kelly,my email is kl7883@msn.com



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