Dodge Viper Transmission revisions/differences, compatibility, and interchange guide - T56 and TR6060

The Dodge Viper used Tremec (formerly Borg-Warner) T-56 and TR-6060 6-speed manual transmissions throughout its five generations. The Ram SRT-10 pickup trucks also used a very similar T-56.

This is information I've collected in the process of breaking and replacing my Gen 2 Viper T-56 with an upgraded TR-6060 with 2010 Gen 4 gear ratios.

Viper generation reference:

Gen 1 (SR I) (1991-1995) Dodge Viper RT/10

Gen 2 (SR II) 1996-2002 Dodge Viper RT/10, GTS, ACR

Gen 3 (ZB I) 2003-2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10, ACR

Gen 4 (ZB II) 2008-2010 Dodge Viper SRT-10, ACR

Gen 5 (VX I) 2013-2017 Dodge or SRT Viper SRT-10, ACR, customs such as GTC

Transmissions

The T-56 was used in Gen 1, 2, and 3 Vipers. It is a a typical 6-speed manual H-pattern transmission with reverse, and fairly commonly used across American cars requiring high torque capacity and durability.

• The Viper input shaft, bell housing, tail shaft and housing, and some internals are different than typical T-56s in GM F-body cars (Camaro, Firebird, etc). Generally, it's probably most cost effective to source a Viper T56 than to try to cobble parts to adapt another T-56 to fit.
  
• 26-spline input shaft and bellhousing for Viper V10
• 30-spline output shaft and different tail housing
• Internal differences can vary by year: 3-4 shift forks may be aluminum or steel, Gen 2+ have carbon instead of paper synchronizer friction rings, single-piece instead of two-piece countershaft on 03+ transmissions

The Gen 4 and 5 used a TR-6060 (essentially an updated/revised T56)

Differences:

• The countershaft in Gen 3 T-56 and TR-6060 transmissions is 1-piece and stronger compared to Gen 1-2 T-56 two piece countershafts.
• Gear ratios changed in final year Gen 4 and Gen 5 transmissions. The Gen 5 came with a different differential/rear end ratio, so the transmission ratios are different. See below chart for details on gear ratios.
• The output shaft and driveshaft yoke are 31-spline and larger diameter on the Gen 4 & 5 TR-6060. You can swap a driveshaft yoke from a later model to an earlier model driveshaft, and attach it to an older driveshaft. Driveshaft lengths are different, but the transmission output location is close enough to use either transmission/yoke with your model year's driveshaft.
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• Speed sensor/tone ring: The output housings of later years do not have speed sensors, which can be a problem for earlier model cars retrofitting a later transmission.
  • On Gen 3-5 transmissions (T-56 and TR-6060) there is a blank/undrilled area where the speed sensor from earlier T56 cars would go. It is possible to drill out the hole for the sensor, and drill and tap the hole to mount the speed sensor.
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  • A tone ring (Mopar 04626566) on the output shaft must also be added for the sensor to read the rotation speed of the shaft, and its position and alignment is critical to the sensor function.
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• Some people have to cut/ground parts of the transmission casting to fit a TR-6060 in a Gen 2 or earlier car. The problem is clearance when raising the transmission into the tunnel for installation to the engine.
  

The SRT-10 Ram trucks used T-56s and had minor but useful differences such as stronger gear materials, different gear ratios, etc. 

• The SRT-10 truck used the Gen 4 TR-6060 driveshaft yoke/output shaft.
• Later model SRT-10 transmissions are missing the speed sensor, similar to later Viper transmissions.
• Shifter location is different, but the tailshaft housing is the same as the Viper (the forward covered shifter location is used for the truck).

Fitting a Viper TR-6060 to a Gen 2 that originally came with a Viper T-56 is possible by adding the speed sensor and tone ring, changing the output shaft driveshaft yoke, and possibly trimming some tabs/bosses. I believe a TR-6060 into a Gen 3 would be similar.

Note: Confusingly, the aftermarket T56 Magnum is more similar to a TR-6060 than a T56. These will not normally be "Viper-spec."

Transmission and differential gear ratios: