tranny

[groundhawg]

will a '87 5 speed bolt 2 a '81 with a 4 speed?

[fourwd1]

Both the G54 and W56 from an 87 will bolt up to 81 22R.

Both are about 4" longer than the L45, so you 'll have to move the x-member.

Also, the G54 uses a forward shift t-case, so you'll need the t-case too if that's the tranny you have. The L45 and the W56 use a top shift case.

[groundhawg]

im not sure if i have the G54 or the W56 how do i tell?also im not sure what you mean about the forward shift and top shift i have never come across that term before.i do know on both t-cases i have 2 pull back,shift 2 the side and push forward if that is what you mean.if the tranny is 4" longer does that mean i have 2 use the drive shafts out of the 87?the 81 is a short bed and the 87 is a long bed extended cab.

[speedy]

You could take the driveshafts to the local driveshaft shop and have them resize them. Or spend the $ on custom jobs. The factory driveshaft for your 81 is probably similar to my 83(although shorter since mine is a longbed). If you have a lift or are planning on one, do the tranny and lift at the same time. The splines on my shafts were too short to work well with my longtravel lift and had to be replaced to prevent a driveshaft coming apart when I wheel.

[fourwd1]

Oct 8, 2008 9:29:20 GMT -5 groundhawg said:

im not sure if i have the G54 or the W56 how do i tell?also im not sure what you mean about the forward shift and top shift i have never come across that term before.i do know on both t-cases i have 2 pull back,shift 2 the side and push forward if that is what you mean.if the tranny is 4" longer does that mean i have 2 use the drive shafts out of the 87?the 81 is a short bed and the 87 is a long bed extended cab.

The G54 came on trucks with the 22R (carbed) engine, and the W56 came with the 22RE (EFI) engine.

On a top shift t-case the shifter mounts directly on the top of the t-case.

With a forward shift t-case the shifter actually mounts on the rear of the transmission (right behind the tranny shifter) instead of on the t-case. The t-case shift rails stick thru the front of the case into the trans.

As for the Drive Shafts, you're going to have to make some mearurements and figure that out. The 87 front DS would probably be long enough, but the bolt patterns are different between the 81 and 87. You could swap t-case and diff flanges so everything matches.

[groundhawg]

thanks 4 the info. yall it sounds like a job 4 after hunting season!

[estwing30]

have an 82 short bed and can not get 5th gear

[fourwd1]

Maybe you have a 4 speed transmision.


























;D



If you mean you can't get it into 5th gear anymore, 5th usually goes out first. You could have it rebuilt or replace it with a newer model.