I have a project in the planning stages, Its a 71 Chevelle cruiser project. I have the engine a 94 5.9. I know a lot of you are going to say that a t56 will never survive behind a 5.9, But there are some t56 builds capable of 750 ft lbs. Right now I just have a stock one good for 450 ft. lbs., Now I don't intend on doing any clutch dumps with this setup, the purpose of this build is create a cruiser with a high mpg I'm hoping in the mid 30s. now the stock Cummins is rated at 180 hp 400 ft. lbs. the motor will fit I've seen the Monte Carlo on youtube which is the same A-Body as the chevelle it will be tight.
Here is where I need some assistance. Mating the T56 to the Cummins. I have a flywheel and a adapter plate for a gm manual and the bell housing. but I still need to add a t56 to gm manual adapter behind the bellhousing. doing that I may need the longer input shaft on the T56. or is there a better approch.
The reason I need the Cummins bell housing is for the starter mount. Also I planning on using a T56 clutch and pressure plate but it looks like I may have to have the Cummins flywheel drilled for the pressure plate pattern

 

well first of all welcome to db and sounds like a start good luck

 

shouldn't be to hard to adapt the bell to the trans, worst case is make an adapter plate and mill the thickness off the back of the bellhousing? good luck

 

welcome to diesel bombers sounds like you jumped in with both feet

 

I think a call to Advance adapters or Destroked is in order. You don't need to keep the Cummins adapter just to keep the starter. Most of the adapters that destroked sells use a powerstroke starter anyway, at least for the Cummins/GM swaps

 

the p-30 breadvan bellhousing adapter should work, dont know about the flywheel/clutch though. fwiw i broke the t56 in my 400 hp lt1 camaro. probobly due to the fact the trans has 150k on it, and i drive it like an a**.