Well, I guess I'm having a conversation with myself here, but what the heck.
More reading has revealed that the shift forks are different lengths in some years, that's what the 4" or 4.5" offset for the shifter refers to in Marlin's T-case bible, so I guess I'm kind of stuck in that regard, or could I swap in my parts to make it work? There lots of questions that I can't find answers to though regarding interchangeability so here's a list of questions and maybe someone out there knows an answer or two....? I figure any knowledge gathered in this thread might be useful to someone down the road at least...
1) Can a top-shift be converted to forward shift with the parts from my T-case?
2) Can the 4.5" shift forks from my T-case be swapped into a later model T-case with 4" forks?
3) Does the bearing retainer clip difference in these two T-cases affect their interchangeability? Mine should be the Type 2-B.
Type 2-A Carb 4Cyl
Installed 8/1983 to 4/1984
Forward Shift, 4.5" Offset
Shifter Block Off Plate
Tall Style Case
10mm Flange Bolts
Quiet Run Gears
No Bearing Retainer Clip
21 Spline Input
27 Spline Outputs
Type 2-B Carb 4Cyl
Installed 4/1984 - 8/1988
Forward Shift, 4.5" offset
Shifter Block Off Plate
Tall Style Case
10mm Flange Bolts
Quiet Run Gears
With Bearing Retainer Clip
21 Spline Input
27 Spline Outputs
This all might be a moot point though. Found a guy in Monroe selling a complete W56-C and T-case. Can't find any info on dimensional differences for the shifter locations, but they look real close in pictures and both my G52 and this W56-C are forward shift.
