Hey guys. I have been trying to research this for the past couple of days and have not found much info. I have a 1980 with an L43 4 speed that I am taking out in favor of a W56 5 speed. I realize that the W56 is roughly 5 inches longer than the L43 from what I have read. What I cant find is the answer to these questions:

Can the factory crossmember be modded to fit the extra length?
Do any of you have pics of the tranny with addapted crossmember installed?
Will the stock rear drive shaft out of a vehicle with a W56 stock be short enough to work for the rear shaft on my 80 so I dont have to make one?

Thanks for the help.

 

Any body know specifics about this??

 

X2 im getting ready to do the same swap with a G52

 

X3. im curious as well. i would guess that five inches wont require a new drive shaft, but i could be wrong. could you just pull the crossmember off the donor vehicle and weld that up to the frame? what about an aftermarket crossmember like the high clearance ones from budbuilt. They allow for adjustability when mounting, although it might need some modification to mount to your truck.

http://www.marlincrawler.com/armor/c...dbuilt-budlite

 

Q #1: I did it but then I just ended up making my own crossmember and mounts.

Q#2: Here is my post with pics of my crossmember https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...w-yota-196902/

Q#3: Dont know I shortened my driveline myself. Gotta remember the front drivshaft will now have to be longer. Im working on that now.

 

I have drive shafts out of a 85 4runner and they are perfect length for the swap in my 81

and id like to do a crossmember like that but will eventually go duals and would have to redo it so Im working on moding my stock one to work was told you can just turn it around and it will work as a temp til I can make a cross member or give in and buy the bud built crosmember

also crazy eye how does the tranny and cross member clear everything (horse collarect) and did you do a drivetrain lift?

 

1st gen truck crossmembers mount to the outside of the frame, 2nd gen crossmembers mount to the inside of the frame.
I found this out when I bought a budbuilt crossmember off of ebay (listed for 79-83) for $31 but turned out to be for 84-95

stock crossmember is shown on for

Budbuilt has done some of these that allow for a either an L series or W-56 in a 1st gen truck...


I looked to see pictures of stock crossmembers modified (cut and welded) with some plate as an extension for use with a W56, no luck...ibut I know that they are out there.

Driveshafts: I am pretty sure you will need to redo both front and rear shafts, Looking at my spare shaft from an '87 4runner it does not have enough compression in the splines to get 5" out of it.

 

Everything clears perfect, I do however have a 3 ich body lift that im sure helps with the crossmember I built. I actually gained quite a few inches of clearance as well probebly about 6-7 inches. It is a real PITA to remove and install the crossmember but other than that I like it. Nope no drivetrain lift.

 

I too will be doing this swap (eventually) i picked up both shafts from the donor truck (87 22re). i was told but have not confirmed for myself that these driveshafts will not bolt up to the flanges currently on my stock 80 axles. I planned on getting some of the triple drilled flanges and installing them.


Mike

 

1st gen trucks use 8mm bolts, 2nd gen trucks use 10mm bolts. you can put the 2nd gen DS on your existing flange, just drill out the holes to match with a bigger drill