So I have an 82 shorted 4x4 pickup with i believe the stock L45 4 Speed. I just picked up a junkyard 5 speed out of an 85 2wd truck. I believe its a W55 tranny. I want to rebuild it and do the 5 speed swap into my 82 but I'm not sure about the compatibility as this transmission looks quite different when you get back 10 inches or so from the bell housing and first half piece of the tranny. Also how does it fit in the truck. Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

For direct bolt up you want a L50 or L52 trans.
All the other 5 speeds are longer than stock 79-83 trans and will require moving the crossmember and likely driveline work.
I don't know if/how hard it is to convert 2wd trans to 4wd.

 

Not sure you can convert a 2wd transmission to adapt to the 4wd t-case, may be possible but I've never seen it.

 

You will need a 4x4 tranny. The next generation 5 speeds work but you have to shorten/lengthen the drive shafts and possibly elongate the shifter hole.

 

Yeah the 2wd transmissions just taper down to the output shaft. 4wd transmissions end abruptly at their full, behind-the-bellhousing size, for the t-case to mount.