M90/M56 Part Sources?

Ok so this should almost be in "wanted", but since it's an option for a stronger trans, and info is hazy- I wanted to just see if anyone knows of a tranny shop that haapens to have parts for these collecting dust somewhere.

I seem to have nore-or-less cured my M90 except for the 4th gear sychro - I took quite a bit of material off of the ring after is seized because I didn't want it to sieze again - knowing there was a 50/50 chance it'd actually sychronize properly after that.


Well, it doesn't - so I need a 4th gear synchro ring...

I seem to rememeber Peter/Paul tracked down some parts from a place in Portland a few years ago- if anyone has any leads, it'd be much appreciated.

If I can't get one, I've been planning on buying an M56 for parts- but obviously a new sychro ring would be nicer and cheaper for the time being.

I will also be calling some local places to see if they can get parts and will post my progress.

so syncros from an m56 are interchangable wih the ones from the m90? hrmm....

Most likely. I can't confirm 100% though.

Maybe you need a "built" transmission. Everything I have heard is there are no sources for repair or rebuild parts for those trans

Either way it's in my best interests to get what I currently have working correctly.

I'm sure i'll get something else at some point, but to be honest I didn't ask about if I needed something different.

I know a fellow with an M56 that has a wasted diff or casing or something, good gear sets. If you decide you'd like it for parts I'll put you in touch with him He's in south FL though so the freight on the trans would be killer... Maybe he'd be willing to pull the gears though. (d'oh it's EricF)

shaved240 said:

so syncros from an m56 are interchangable wih the ones from the m90? hrmm....

Click to expand...

Yes, a shop did it to a M90 from a friend of mine.
M90's are nice stuff, have tried some different oils, but best results (quiet, smoothness) were with the volvo oil.

IIRC he should have another M90 for parts laying around.. I could check if you need anything mister bondo

The transmission shops around here in the netherlands can't supply NEW parts, syncro's, gearsets etc, they use good second hand (or NOS) to rebuild other gearboxes.
At least, thats what the 4 shops I asked told me..

J2_ said:

Yes, a shop did it to a M90 from a friend of mine.
M90's are nice stuff, have tried some different oils, but best results (quiet, smoothness) were with the volvo oil.

IIRC he should have another M90 for parts laying around.. I could check if you need anything mister bondo

The transmission shops around here in the netherlands can't supply NEW parts, syncro's, gearsets etc, they use good second hand (or NOS) to rebuild other gearboxes.
At least, thats what the 4 shops I asked told me..

Click to expand...

I get the feeling this is going to be the case- trans shops using used parts.

I definitely need a 4th gear sychro ring, so if anyone could source one, I would be eternally grateful!

FWIW, the 4th gear sychro ring is EXTREMELY easy to remove form the transmission.

You just pull the back of the housing off, and it's sitting right there. No actual disassembly of the transmission is required.

i did an m90 swap for a guy locally, there was a bearing in the case that needed replacement.. i told him to take it to the local transmission specialist and they were able to match something up. i'd imagine if the part isn't actually available for retail they can send their supply company some measurements and match something up.

J2_ said:

The transmission shops around here in the netherlands can't supply NEW parts, syncro's, gearsets etc, they use good second hand (or NOS) to rebuild other gearboxes.
At least, thats what the 4 shops I asked told me..

Click to expand...

I don't understand, Why does nobody have any new parts? Is this a M90 thing, any Volvo transmission, or what?

500dollar744ti said:

i did an m90 swap for a guy locally, there was a bearing in the case that needed replacement.. i told him to take it to the local transmission specialist and they were able to match something up. i'd imagine if the part isn't actually available for retail they can send their supply company some measurements and match something up.

Click to expand...

That is what we usually do here as well. The bearings and seals can always be bought at some special stores for the M90 if needed. I have had that made before.

Volvo Heretic said:

I don't understand, Why does nobody have any new parts? Is this a M90 thing, any Volvo transmission, or what?

Click to expand...

That goes for all the M90-style gearboxes (M90/M56 etc. etc.).

They are really made by Getrag for Volvo, and as far as I know you should be able to get synchros for it as long as you have the measurements and the quality (material) of the ring. The same goes for the stop rings as well.

From what I have heard Volvo does not sell spare parts for these, only rebuilt trannys on an exchange basis.

JE Jr said:

From what I have heard Volvo does not sell spare parts for these, only rebuilt trannys on an exchange basis.

Click to expand...

Yes. You give them your broken tranny, and get another one back.

Volvo have them rebuilt if they are not too beaten up.

500dollar744ti said:

i did an m90 swap for a guy locally, there was a bearing in the case that needed replacement.. i told him to take it to the local transmission specialist and they were able to match something up. i'd imagine if the part isn't actually available for retail they can send their supply company some measurements and match something up.

Click to expand...

Yeah - bearings and seals you can get it seems. The seals were available from volvo and are available aftermarket, and the bearings are timken and can be ordered pretty much anywhere.

Synchro's are anther story. Just sucks because they are also really a maintenance/wear item.

M56/M90 info

Having been in contact with Koping/Getrag, Volvo's gearbox division, they do not offer a manual or parts for the common internalled M56/58 and M90 series gearboxes. I have the contact info for the M56 and M66 engineering leads. Volvo only offers complete gearbox exchanges. It's an ecomonics decision to swap the box vs. rebuild. Less time, better quality, etc.

There are 2 potential sources for M56/58/65/66/90 internals. That is Rockland Standard Gear (list an M56 rebuild kit w/ syncros) or Tractive AB (manufacture zero pre-load Salisbury LSD's as used in the S60 Challenge cars and M56 dog-box internals).

I was working with VCNA directly and even their technical folks in Rockleigh couldn't get the gearbox manuals or parts.

Let me know if you need more help.

Also, run 5W-30 synthetic engine oil in these gearboxes. That is all the "trick" Volvo oil is. It's Castrol synthetic (not Syntec) 5W-30 engine oil.

These are very good gearbox designs as they are compact and utilize double-syncros with ground gears (gears are fully heat treated and the tooth profile is ground vs. hobbed and then heat treated --> tooth profile shifts).

Oh, some Renaults used the M56. So if you can find the correct P/N's you may be able to source the parts through a Renault dealer or parts house.

Finally, the H/L/L2 suffix is the gear ratios. So the only strength difference lies in the gear size, which fits in the same space. Otherwise they are the same.

David

Great info, David. Many thanks for sharing it especially the oil info.
Does the Castrol oil meet Volvo's GL-4 requirement for these boxes?

Fredrik and others have mentioned there are 2 types of Volvo oil availalble and I wonder if both are Castrol Synthetic engine oil. Pic from Fred's M90 article:

David, that is wonderful information and confirms what I have heard, thank you

First off thanks David- you're a gentleman and a saint, and at least a part-time baller.

itb242 said:

There are 2 potential sources for M56/58/65/66/90 internals. That is Rockland Standard Gear (list an M56 rebuild kit w/ syncros) or Tractive AB (manufacture zero pre-load Salisbury LSD's as used in the S60 Challenge cars and M56 dog-box internals).

Click to expand...

Sweet, so in theory a trans shop that deals with Rockland might be able to get it... I assume one can't really buy "direct" from them...

Also, run 5W-30 synthetic engine oil in these gearboxes. That is all the "trick" Volvo oil is. It's Castrol synthetic (not Syntec) 5W-30 engine oil.

Click to expand...

EricF here on the board mentioned that, too. I am being stubborn with continuing my long term test of Redline Heavy Shockproof, just because I want to see if there are potential gains in durability to be had. I have some friends what build skylines that say they consistently see stock gearboxes hold another 100ft/lb consistenly when using shickproof heavy, so I want to try it since my setup will be/already is pushing the M90.

These are very good gearbox designs as they are compact and utilize double-syncros with ground gears (gears are fully heat treated and the tooth profile is ground vs. hobbed and then heat treated --> tooth profile shifts).

Click to expand...

Neat, they are definitely very cool, and once you get a handle on what order to disassemble/assemble things in, they're easy to work on, too.

itb242 said:

These are very good gearbox designs as they are compact and utilize double-syncros with ground gears (gears are fully heat treated and the tooth profile is ground vs. hobbed and then heat treated --> tooth profile shifts).

Click to expand...

nice to hear. M90's seem to last very very long (they either break quite fast (only some of them) or they run forever it seems). When i had my M90 opened up i was impressed by how nice it was made, etc, made a good impression vs some other gearboxes that i have seen open.

itb242 said:

Oh, some Renaults used the M56. So if you can find the correct P/N's you may be able to source the parts through a Renault dealer or parts house.

Click to expand...

The Renault Safrane uses the M56 i assume, since it uses the B5254 (170 hp). I'll ask at a Renault dealer when i have time.

If anyone needs more information shoot me a PM.

David