T56 rebuild

[SuperVM]

I have a 2004 Monaro CV8 which is grinding into reverse unless I'm extremely careful with it (going into fourth first helps, but sometimes it will still do it) and difficult to shift into sixth, though it does go into sixth smoothly when I can eventually engage the gear. Roger at Monkfish has been extremely helpful in answering my queries about the box, but they unfortunately no longer do rebuilds.

Does anyone know of anyone who might be able to rebuild the box for me? I thought Dynotorque might be able to, is there anyone else? I'm based near Winchester and would prefer something drive-in/drive-out as I don't have the space to remove the gearbox at the moment.

[SuperVM]

vxr2010 said:

what did Roger suggest in case i end up with the same issue , can mf not source a box for you or are you checking the market , there are second hand options too

In this case, Roger couldn't suggest much. It is a real shame they've stopped doing rebuilds, as dropping the car off with them would be ideal, particularly as I have some other things I'd like them to do at the same time. PWP are providing a quote for a brand new replacement box, which is apparently a different price to the T56 options listed on their website.

Second hand wise, what do the boxes normally go for and do any breakers have any in stock? One advantage for me of buying another box is that I can rebuild mine and sell it on to reduce the time the car is off the road and also recoup some of the cost.

[SuperVM]

ArnieVXR said:

http://www.gearboxman.co.uk/

Did a box for me. Prices aren't too bad. Took a while to get it back though and it depends on what's knackered.

Gary (raving) may have one. You'll be lucky to find a used one for sale. Make sure it's a Monaro one if you do (as opposed to a Camaro one, VXR8 one, Aston Martin, Dodge Ram, etc, etc)

Thanks, I've heard gearboxman mentioned a few times. The problem I have is that until April I'm unlikely to have the space to remove the gearbox and keep the car off the road, but I guess I could just wait until then.

Does anyone know why Monkfish stopped doing them?

[SuperVM]

rich24v said:

http://www.partsworldperformance.com/t56-transmiss...

I don't know about actual suitability.

They do a good delivery turn around though, I ordered a tr6060 and was delivered
within 24hours.....(have yet to confirm its suitability in my vxr8 !!)

Thanks, I've already been in touch with them and they're going to provide me with a quote. It will be 4 - 6 weeks for delivery in my case.

[SuperVM]

stevieturbo said:

Too much really.

Wayne has a GTO T56 advertised on the FB page and is asking around £1800 for it !! FOr a used box, that's a hefty sum.

But the T56's are old now, not so readily available and hence very expensive. TBH if replacing and new was an option a new "T56" Magnum would make a lot of sense vs any actual old T56. ( T56 Magnum as in a Magnum box modified for a T56 fitment for an easy swap )

http://www.ddperformance.com/specials/

That said, if it is just reverse giving problems, it really should be a very easy fix as it requires the least amount of box stripping to access it.

I do know of a never used eight year old box for sale, but I would have to collect and I can't at the moment. A shame, as it would solve my problems.

As far as the current box, it is reverse and sixth.

[SuperVM]

jameshsv said:

SuperVM said:

I do know of a never used eight year old box for sale, but I would have to collect and I can't at the moment. A shame, as it would solve my problems.

As far as the current box, it is reverse and sixth.

If that new box is still for sale i could be interested in it

I'm not sure why I'm doing this, as I could really use it myself, but as we're selling our house at the moment I don't have time to get it.

Item number 192080890008 on eBay. He is pretty desperate to get rid of it in the next day or two.

[SuperVM]

stevieturbo said:

First off it is not a Monaro fitment.

You'd need to know what the input/output spline arrangements are.

The shifter looks like one of the Ford T56 positions, not anything GM.

So buying that without lots of checking could be an expensive gamble.....at least if you wanted it for a Monaro. If it is a brand new box, it would still have good value though for the right buyer

Fair enough. He claimed Monaro fitment and he seemed so adamant in my communication with him I hadn't checked further. I'll ask him what it is actually meant to fit.

[SuperVM]

monkfish1 said:

SuperVM said:

Fair enough. He claimed Monaro fitment and he seemed so adamant in my communication with him I hadn't checked further. I'll ask him what it is actually meant to fit.

Defo NOT a monaro box as Stevie says.

Thanks for confirming! That's some hassle saved at least.

[SuperVM]

jameshsv said:

SuperVM said:

Thanks for confirming! That's some hassle saved at least.

Thats that sorted onwards and upwards

Indeed, considering just getting the reverse Syncro, reverse fork, 5-6 fork and a set of pads.

[SuperVM]

stevieturbo said:

Until it's apart, no sense buying any parts.

It could need none, or lots. The problem could even be clutch related, or as simple as a bad oil choice for the box.

Although crunching into 6th is more unusual.

I thought it may, though not definitely, decrease any waiting time for parts. It doesn't crunch into sixth, it is just difficult to shift into sixth, there is no noise as such.

Wouldn't a bad clutch or bad oil tend to affect all gears, rather than just reverse and sixth?

[SuperVM]

Phillphill said:

sorry to hear your having issues!

The ac worked fine, and had loads replaced by the last owner, new condenser iirc and was gassed the month before you buying it

Never had much of an issue with the reverse, if I rushed it would crunch so always made sure i was stationary.
I remember test driving it and I couldnt get it to crunch into reverse, I found when you put it into reverse as you brought the clutch up (holding the shifter) you would feel it almost move a little further and engage reverse

6th from 5th would take technique, i never liked the shifter and planned to remove it. Taking the shifter out and cleaning it made a big differance as it was covered in so much st before

Hey Phil, no problem at all mate. If I'd been upset about it, I wouldn't have texted you asking for your cam recommendations, etc. If it has come across that way on this thread, I apologise, tough week with impending house sale is my excuse.

I remember you saying you never liked the shifter and felt it could be causing the issues. I've since heard it is unlikely to be the case, but it is probably worth giving it a try anyway when I have a moment, especially as cleaning it made such a difference for you. Your description of reverse is about what I've found, it took me ages to find the technique, including going into 4th first, but literally the last time I drove the car I tried going very slowly into reverse while lifting the clutch and it was as you described, i.e. there was a tiny little bit of extra movement just as the clutch came up.

The air conditioning is most definitely dead and has never worked in the time I've had the car. The compressor sounds like a bag of marbles in a washing machine, but I consider it pretty much par for the course on the cars I buy these days and am usually surprised when it does work first time! As an example, I've yet to buy a BMW M-car (2 x E36 M3 Evo and 2 x E39 M5) in which the air conditioning worked before I replaced bits. Actually, that's not true, my first E39 M5 smoked from the cooling fan when I tested the air conditioning, so we knocked off the price of a new fan. One day about six months later, before I'd gotten around to fitting the new fan I'd already purchased, I gave the air conditioning a try and everything was fine including the fan, which worked for the rest of the time I had the car.

Just so you don't think I'm a grouch, I am very impressed with how the car drives bar the gearshift issues, you did some very good work with the suspension! I haven't had anything that feels so tight straight away in a while, I'm used to having to replace all sorts of arms and bushes when I get a new car.

[SuperVM]

So, the car is with Monkfish at the moment. Some other issues have come up and I don't feel it is probably going to be worth repairing. I'm having a think of it over this weekend, but if anyone is interested in it, feel free to send me a message.

[SuperVM]

MyM8V8 said:

SuperVM said:

So, the car is with Monkfish at the moment. Some other issues have come up and I don't feel it is probably going to be worth repairing. I'm having a think of it over this weekend, but if anyone is interested in it, feel free to send me a message.

Your account does not have a messaging facility?

You can click "email me", no?