Contemporary Cobra, installing T-56 6 speed trans.

[1985 CCX]

By Don Parnell: (48 IDA)

Original link:
Contemporary Cobra, installing T-56 6 speed trans.

HI to Club Cobra Owners,
Just wanted to share some of the information I have for installing the T 56 into a Contemporary Cobra.
I purchased a used 2003 Mustang Cobra T-56 transmission,
and needed the parts to mate with my 351-Cleveland. ( all small blocks 351-C & 302/351 -W) transmission, and bell housing bolt
patterns are the same.
My car has a Lakewood scatter shield, with Ram's long style pressure plate and disc. The hydrulic clutch problems already solved, I didn't want the change any of these items.
McLeod's offers all the adaptors for this conversion. The swap uses a Chevy clutch disc, with a different pilot bearing, and
input shaft with adaptor plate. Mr Red Roberts with the tech hot line was very helpful with all the information, and parts for the conversion. (tech # 714-630-3668. The parts order # 714-630-2764)
All I needed to do was install the different input shaft, cut the old t/o bearing collar from the stock front plate of the T-56 trans. Then mount the adaptor plate to the front plate of the transmission. This allows the trans to then bolt up the the scatter shield. The drive shaft had to be shortened from 10 1/2" to 5 3/4"
I used the Mustang Cobra trans front yoke. This required the use of a special U joint. Presision # 348, it has two different size
cups. This allowed the shortened Jaguar shaft to mount to the Mustang Cobra front yoke.
The only problem with the swap is the removal of the
transmission crossmember. The T-56 trans mount is around 5" futher back then the top loader. I cut the original rossmenber. Welded 3" exhaust header flanges to old crossmember, and to the original mounting for the crossmember. This allows me to remove the crossmember to performe maintance.
Then using 1/4 " thick flat steel 13" long. I drilled the holes to match the bolt holes for the exhaust header flanges. The crossmember is now just a bolt in. My top loader trans mount
bolts up to the T-56, using the top loader bolts.
All OEM transmissions have speed sensors for the speedometer. All aftermarket purchased transmissions have previsions for gears to work the speedometer. If you use an OEM
trans, there is a convertor to make your cable speedo work.
www.atrol.com cable x convertors. I hope this will help anyone who wants a T-56 6 speed trans.

Thanks for the information Don!