Topic: l52 to w56 swap question

[hotrod]

My l52 lost first gear so I'm swapping in a w56 in its place. I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible but also as simple as possible. I'm going to use a budbuilt crossmember with ubolts so I don't have to weld anything and get a better skid as well. 
My question is about the rear driveshaft.  I would like to keep the stock driveshaft I have and get it shortened.  Would you redrill the output flange on the tcase to match the smaller 83 ujoint flange?  Or would you swap the output flange from the 83 tcase onto the new tcase?

Cliff note version:
Redrill tcase flange or swap flange?

[-Jake-]

I did the same thing.  I just used the drive shaft from the 87 toyota that my transmission came out of to put it in my 81.  That way no flange swapping and no driveshaft shortening    But if you don't have one of those I'd swap flanges instead of trying to drill it 

[gtoyonrocks]

That should work out just fine. You could relocate the factory mounts for the cross member or get a frontrange style cross member. There would be a little welding involed but nothing major. Good luck.

[SFD4x4]

I have an L52 for sale if you want.

[hotrod [OP]]

Ive already got a w56 but thanks anyways.  Looks like I'll try and swap the flanges before breaking out the drill.  Just never replaced a flange before but it can't be that hard.

EDIT:
Looks like Ill be looking for another driveshaft, just talked with the driveline shop and because toyota has these tapered ends they'd have to retube the whole thing which is probably going to cost more than I want to spend on this shaft.  Ill be going to the pull a part this weekend to try and find a shaft from another truck that will work. I can't find anything online about lengths between the years.  I'm hoping a 85-88 longbed shaft will work.

[gtoyonrocks]

I would just retube it yourself. I'm sure there are a lot of other people on here that would say they don't recommend it but I definately do. I always builld my own drive shafts and then just take them in and have them ballanced. I use a piece of c channel to set the drive shaft in so it's held nice and strait, I bevel the edge slightly and weld it up. I have never had a problem and it will definately save you a lot of coin, plus this way you can go to a heavier tube. If you run a factory one it's only a matter of time before you shred it on a rock. I hope that helps.

[santa cruz crawler]

Nice i was wondering these same questions
any pictures of the completed swap would be usefull.

[GreenYoterKrawler]

So if you cut&weld ur driveshaft to shorten it, will shops balance it still? i think ive heard that shops wont balance it because its unsafe??? whats your take on it