My, What Strong Teeth You Have...
What you're looking at below are variously known as synchronizer inserts, dogs, or shoes. Stock stamped ones, like the three on the right, are found in T56 Third/Fourth synchronizer assemblies, and while these are adequately strong for average enthusiast driving conditions, those of you seeking the absolute ultimate in abuse resistance (you know who you are) may want to consider D&D's billet-steel replacements, the three on the left. Unique in having milled pockets to retain the stock springs, and developed in conjunction with a major auto manufacturer's road-race program, these billet replacements are not exactly inexpensive, at $99 for the required set of three (as opposed to about $3 for a stock set), but they are, in the words of Don Sr., "absolutely unbreakable." Why should you care? Because if a stock one should break, at the very least your car will immediately be stuck solidly in gear or, worse yet, the broken pieces can circulate through and destroy any or all of those expensive meshing parts in the tranny. As Don Sr. says, "It can cost you a thousand dollars in broken parts in an instant."Again, not everyone is aggressive enough to merit these bulletproof inserts, but if ordering a D&D T56, you might want to think of the cost to upgrade to them as $99 insurance. That's pretty cheap insurance these days.
Here, before the T56 is raised...
Here, before the T56 is raised into position with its new crossmember, you can see the Pontiac GTO shifter base assembly lines up perfectly with the reinstalled noise/weather seal in the tunnel. So much for that wacky factory shifter setup.
D&D's beefy new steel crossmember...
D&D's beefy new steel crossmember measures about 3/8 inch thick, which is probably overkill as it was engineered for a racing environment, but too strong is always better than limp-wristed. Notice the slip yoke stuck in the tranny to prevent fluid leakage until the driveshaft goes in.
This included adapter acts...
This included adapter acts as an intermediary between the new driveshaft and the rearend. Six socket-head bolts secure the adapter to the rearend's odd companion flange, and then the driveshaft's four bolts secure it to the adapter. Up front, the new shaft's slip yoke just slides in.
Here's a finished shot with...
Here's a finished shot with the exhaust all buttoned up. There's actually more working room around the T56 than the 3650, believe it or not. Note there are no exhaust hangers on the new crossmember, but the H-pipe is so rigidly mounted fore and aft that it's a non-issue.
D&D was still mulling over...
D&D was still mulling over various shifter/knob/boot options as we wrote this. One under consideration was reusing stock knobs with a correct six-speed pattern, kind of like this one. Call D&D for more details.