When I install my 85 2x4 engine (recently rebuilt) in my new 87 4x4, is there any chance I can use the transmission out of my much lower mileage 1985 22R 2x4 truck (only 180,000 miles total on old truck) in my new 1987 22R 4x4 (dead engine 300,000 miles). Both vehicles are 5 speed manual transmissions.

Looking at my 85 factory service manual it looks like I can pull the transfer case adapter off the 1987 4x4 transmission and put in on my 1985 transmission making it compatible with the transfer case. Is this correct? Am I reading this right?

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No...

 

I have been doing some further digging and both my trucks supposedly have G52 transmissions. The 85 is a 5 speed 2x4 and the 87 is a 5 speed 4x4. Where does the difference in these transmissions occur if they are both supposed to be G52s?

Not trying to argue, just trying to understand. I mean both trucks have 22R engines in them except they have different oil pans to allow for the axles and differential in the 4x4. I get the engines are the same but difference...

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Ones a 2wd trans and ones a 4wd trans… not sure what part your getting hung up on.

 

Mind you the transmissions are still sitting in the trucks, so all I have to go by is books. the exploded view of the transmission show one transmission, then the picture is split in to two transmissions at the transfer adapter and the extensions adapter. Prior to these two parts both transmission are the same on paper. On the 2x4 the shift lever retainer sits on the extension adapter and on the 4x4 the shift lever adapter sits on the transfer adapter. Prior to this the two transmissions look the same.

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Really hard to tell without both gear boxes in front of you.

I am sure you can make it work

What is interesting is that it seems both 2wd and 4x4`s of that vintage take the same clutch .

I would have to think you are correct based on what you have said

 

Look at the PDF document page 12 or MT3. It shows exploded view split as I described, transfer adapter 4x4 and extension housing 2x4.


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Okay, okay It can be done, but the output shaft would need to swapped also. The 2x4 one is too long.

 

Just curious with the exception of the rear drive shaft if everything just swapped out easily enough for you?

 

I am just doing research at this time. I have a house I am fixing up to rent out that I have to finish before I can start on my truck, unless I come in to a bunch of money first.

It has been decades since I have rebuilt a transmission, but looking at the manual, it looks like it would be fairly easy for a mechanically minded person. I think I could do it in a day or two if the transmissions were sitting out of the trucks ready to go. I'd have to buy a gasket kit or a rebuild kit too, because to do it the Intermediate plate has to be removed from the transmission case and then the Input shaft removed from the output shaft and then the output shaft removed from the intermediate plate.

I've decided to run the truck with the existing tranny for now and if I have problems or don't like it swap out and install the tranny from my 85 2x4. The whole reason for this endeavor was because my 2x4 tranny has 100,000 fewer miles on it.

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Honestly my biggest concern is needle bearings. Anybody know if the needle bearings in the the G52 transmissions are retained by a race cage or are they loose? Looking at the manual it looks as though they are are retained bearings except the needle bearings between the input shaft and the output shaft.

Anybody know for sure?

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Has anybody here ever overhauled their own transmission? Turns out the tranny sounds like it has a bad bearing in it. Sounds like bearing in the intermediate plate for the output shaft is going. It makes noise in 3rd and 4th and when I shift into 5th the noise is much louder. Third and forth gear are in front of the intermediate plate and fifth gear is behind the intermediate plate which would change the load on the bearing and the noise it makes.

Any help would be great!

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My trannys are not compatible, different models, so...