What about the W65 from the 85-88 model efi trucks? isn't that supposed to be the best bang for the buck to swap into a first gen? I am knew to all this and pretty much relaying info to help me find whats best for me.
i think you mean the w56, and its the second toughest tranny toyota made, second only to the R151, BUT
if you want to put it in your 79-83 truck you CAN but you'll have to move the cross member and do driveshaft work, just like if you were doing dual cases, the G54 and W56 are 6 inches longer than the L series trannies
now if you get a Marlin "L52HD" then you basically have a G54 in a L housing, thats what i have in my 79 and it bolted right in place of the L43,
the L52 is a good transmission, if you can find one thats rebuilt you can run it for years and years
