fustkarr

This may be popping up in another forum..i lost the 1st one i posted...My '82 Longbed 5Speed 4X4 has a l52 which ain't long for this world so i've been doing some research and it appears the W-56 5 speed is a good choice for a replacement.. I built the L52 thats in it now {150K ago} but had problems assembling as the factory has a "special" tool for bearing pressing and ended up going to a rebuilder and having it pressed together {he had the factory tool}.. My questions are: Does the W-56 require any special tools like the L-52 required{I'm not talking regular hydralic presses or mikes/verniers pullers etc}? Forward control shifters means there are no shifters locater directly on the transfer case? Is there any particular year for the W-56 thats more desirable than another? I'm not going off road but i would like to start w/the best transfer case i can so is there any difference between gear or chain drive? I'm guessing the L-52 transfer case will not mate w/the W-56 trans? Can i use the L-52 slave cylinder on the w-56 trans successfully? And yes i'm aware that a crossmember swap is in order and i'm hoping the forward control shifters will fall in the neighborhood of the L-52 shifter holes already in the floorboards. AND: besides 4X4 PUs, what else does a W-56 come in?...can i use a 5 Speed out a car by tossing the tailhousing?
Any/all imput appreciated, Randy

evilappendix

I'm in the slow process of putting one into my 79 right now. The one I yanked came out of an 85 sr5. I'm pretty certain you'll want one out of a mid to late 80s pickup due to the positioning of the transfer case shifter. I think all the t-cases on these are gear driven which is considered stronger. The one on your l52 is the same type though if I'm not mistaken? Not sure if they came off anything other than the trucks.