Picked up the gearbox for the Focus today. It is a Tremec T56 (close ratio) from an LS1 F-body. This was an interesting purchase as I was expecting a rebuilt trans from a street car. It turns out this is one of 3 spares to Micheal Baughmans C5 Corvette race car in the Gran Am series. Turns out it is built to Corvette specs (uprated shift forks and carbon fiber synchros) by Rockland Std. Gear in NY. Had a hell of a time chatting with this guy. He also ran a Porsche GT3 cup car successfully and had a Daytona Prototype car built before a sponsorship fell thru and he had to sell. Awesome guy and a hell of a deal on this trans, $1300!! These go for $2200-2400 new from an aftermarket supplier.

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It has the larger 26 spline input shaft but the standard 27 spline output needed to mate with the BW 4472 transfer box. I've found one locally I need to go look at so I should have that soon. I got a Corvette hydraulic TOB with the trans and am undecided with the clutch for the moment (need an engine). It doesn't have the .8 5th gear or .63 6th like the Cobra's but, the rev drop is only a difference of ~400RPM with the .74 5th and the car should be a bit lighter. The cruising speeds are better with these ratios anyway. This trans is rated at 450ft-lbs with a 3400lb GVW without the Corvette parts. Should be the last trans I'll have to buy.

Only thing was that it didn't come with a bell housing so I need to source one. Not sure as to whether it will be the Cobra or LS1 bell but I need to pick up a 3.5L engine before I'll know!

This post has been edited by rac74: Feb 23 2008, 02:06 PM

thats a hell of a car your building.

much respect for the determination to turn something into something completely different than it was to start with.

somebody should do a swap of the X-type underpinnings to a contour and power it with a twin turbo 3l. that would be a contour to be proud of

When did you decide to use a 3.5L?

Just recently, might as well I thought. It's not like it is going to be much more work than if I used a 3L. I can get decent power easier and more reliably out of this for less than turbocharging a 3L. I'm sure I can get ~300BHP relatively easily and the extra TQ is welcomed. I'm just looking at getting a no frills port injected engine for now to get it driving. I can get a GTDI with TiVCT later when they come out.

An idea of what needs to be done to adapt the transfer box to the T56...> http://home.comcast.net/~xr4x4ti/DSC00360.JPG I need to find the Al tail housing you see then make the extension except I'm going to try and use Al rather than steel. I think I'm going to get an engine before I start so I know how to clock the transfer case for proper front drive shaft angle.