What transfercases mix?! And whats the deal about top shifting?

[Stone]

  I was wondering if anyone knew if a transfer case gearbox of an 81 pickup would mesh with a 84 4 Runner.  And I don't understand the significance of a top shifting, how does one identify this?  Enlighten me, I must learn!

[blackdiamond]

From the web site: http://www.marlincrawler.com/tcaseinfo.html

I attached picture from the web page that shows the difference.  You will notice on the fwd shift case the shifter is actually in the transition piece between the transmission and transfer case, this is why you can't use a fwd shift in the rear application.  Marlin sells conversion kits to convert fwd to top.

I think that most all gear drive transfer cases are compatible.

[Volcom]

I've got an 85 PU with a 22R.  It's got a G52 and a forward shift case.  I've got a W56 tranny and a topshift case in the garage ready for duals.  I want to run the W56 tranny.  I'll use the forward shift as the reduction box.  Here's the deal though, I don't know the condition of the tranny.  If I swap the trannies and find out that it's bad or shifts crappy, and need to swap the G52 back in the truck, is it possible to run the duals with the topshift case first on the back of the G52?

Did I confuse anybody 

[89 toy]

it should work if you put the g52 back in you will have to cover the hole where the shifter would be be cause you will have to convert the forward shift tcase to top shift to put behind the w56

[Volcom]

it should work if you put the g52 back in you will have to cover the hole where the shifter would be be cause you will have to convert the forward shift tcase to top shift to put behind the w56

Covering the shifter hole, I can handle that.  I don't have to mess with the shift forks and all that mess?  The topshift case should handle all of that.  If covering the hole is what it takes, then I'll have a spare tranny sitting the garage, just in case something happens.  Thanks for the reply and sorry to get off-topic 

[blackdiamond]

I've got an 85 PU with a 22R.  It's got a G52 and a forward shift case.  I've got a W56 tranny and a topshift case in the garage ready for duals.  I want to run the W56 tranny.  I'll use the forward shift as the reduction box.  Here's the deal though, I don't know the condition of the tranny.  If I swap the trannies and find out that it's bad or shifts crappy, and need to swap the G52 back in the truck, is it possible to run the duals with the topshift case first on the back of the G52?

Did I confuse anybody 

It is possible to run the G52 transmission with either both transfer cases top shift of the forward one can be a fwd shift configuration.  The main thing that I would consider is the holes through the floor board.  If the stock setup is G52 with fwd shift then you would have to drill two additional holes if you used a double top shift configuration.  Also, I'm not sure if the holes you will need for dual topshift behind a W56 will be the same as for a G52, maybe someone else knows?

[Stone]

  hey blackdiamond, Thanks for the info and the pics.  That totally answered my question.  Now I get to go do some wrench turning!!!