g52 or w56 transmission?

[yotasoldier]

I have a 1987 4x4 that I want to make into a daily driver and mud truck. I want swap the 22r for the 22re and have someone that will do that for me. I wanted to know wether the w56 would be a better transmission for the truck and would it make things better for me? I plan to put 33's on my truck. I have heard that the g52 lower model of transmission that they used, so thought by using a w56 I would improve the truck, would this be a waste of time? YOU all rock, thanks for the help you guys have been giving me.:lol:

[Oatmeal]

The W-56 is supposed to be a little stronger (bigger bearings....etc.) however, if you're going to swap transmissions you'll have to use the matching t-case. The G-52, behind the carburated motors, used a forward shifting t-case, where as the W-56, was top shifting. You'll also have to modify the tunnel a little because, the shifters come out in a slightly different location....no big deal though, just grab the shift boots for the W-56. Also, the G-52 has a slightly (very slight:rolleyes:) taller first: 3.93 to the W-56's 3.95 (I believe).-------------Hans

[yotasoldier]

thanks, so would it be advised to stay or switch?

[bbagwell]

Wouldn't an 87 have a G54? I was just checking on www.marlincrawler.com . Personally I don't think it would be worth the trouble. If I toasted a tranny then I would probably upgrade to the W56.

[subliminaltrips]

i swapped a w56 fwd shift into an 84 that came with a g52 fwd shift and then later to a w56 top shift with zero cutting of the tunnel. the case from the g52 will swap to the w56 if they are both the same shift type. if you have a block off plate in the top of your case its a fwd shift.

[Oatmeal]

i swapped a w56 fwd shift into an 84 that came with a g52 fwd shift and then later to a w56 top shift with zero cutting of the tunnel. the case from the g52 will swap to the w56 if they are both the same shift type. if you have a block off plate in the top of your case its a fwd shift.Some of the later W-56s went to a forward shift configuration. My Buddy had a '85 with a 22R and forward shifting G-52 with a doubler set up by a company called Trick Performance (not the V8 guys) before Marlin came out with his current line of doublers. It was set up so a single shifter (in the stock location) shifted both cases into low (there was no stock low range). When his truck got wrecked, we swapped the trans/doubler (G-52/forward shift) into the '85 SR5 he bought and had to modify (cut) the trans tunnel to accommodate the shifters. So.....I dunno---------Hans

[Oatmeal]

i swapped a w56 fwd shift into an 84 that came with a g52 fwd shift and then later to a w56 top shift with zero cutting of the tunnel. the case from the g52 will swap to the w56 if they are both the same shift type. if you have a block off plate in the top of your case its a fwd shift.

Now I remember, the G-52s shifter need a little more room around the EFI trucks tunnel but, there was no problem with where the t-case shifter came out. Maybe since both of your transmissions were forward shift configured, there was no need for alterations?----------Hans

[yotasoldier]

thanks

[subliminaltrips]

Now I remember, the G-52s shifter need a little more room around the EFI trucks tunnel but, there was no problem with where the t-case shifter came out. Maybe since both of your transmissions were forward shift configured, there was no need for alterations?----------Hans


yea the fwd shift tranny's i had werent a problem. im about to swap in a dual top shifter setup so im sure i will be cutting.

[fourwd1]

W56A & B behind early 22RE's, top shift t-case.
W56C & D behind later 22RE's, forward shift t-case.
G58 behind 22RE's with ADD front axle and chain t-case.

[subliminaltrips]

not all trucks with ADD are a g58 with chain driven 5 bolt rear cover cases. the tranny is only a g58 if you have both ADD and a chain drive case. my runner is a w56 top shift gear driven 7 bolt rear cover case and it had ADD factory.

not that you were wrong just wanted to clarify

[fourwd1]

Since this has gotten slightly off track, to answer the original question, yes, the W56 is a beefier trans than the G52. To swap a W56 for a G52 (forward shift) you need a W56-C or D (forward shift). The shift rods in the t-case that mates to the G52 are longer than the rods in the case that mates to the W56, so you need to put shorter W56 rods in your original G52 case or swap cases too.

Ask me how I know.

[yotasoldier]

SO if I get a complete w-56-c or d will work (trans and tranfer)?

[fourwd1]

If you get the trans and case it's a direct bolt-in.

In that case it won't matter what model W56/t-case combo, top shift or forward shift, because they're already matched.

[subliminaltrips]

i bolted my g52 case up to the w56 tranny (both fwd shift) and it has worked fine for almost a year. i never knew that there were different length rails. it was an 84 g52 and an 89 w56 , i wonder why yours didnt work and mine did? must be another variable or something were missing.