Transmission question-first gen

[79toy20r]

Hey I have a 79 toyota with the 4speed tranny. i was curious, I have the chance to score the 5 speed tranny and transfer case out of an 89 v6. Would that be a good replacement for the 4 speed?  Thanks

[jimbo74]

the r150 is a good transmission

it wont bolt up to you engine though, i think you need to have a bellhousing from a w series tranny

[79coyotefrg]

NO,  it would take ALOT  of  fabbing to make that work, 

any of the L trannies will bolt right in,  same crossmember location, driveshafts everything is the same,

L43 L45 L50 or L52   all will bolt right up,  G52-54 ,W56,R151 will bolt to the engine but will need  new holes cut in the floor for the shifters,  will require the moveing of the crossmember  and  driveshaft work


R150  is  a good tranny  but WILL NOT WORK  in your truck

[wombat]

Why swap out the L43? I got one in my 79,and I was informed that they are not junk, the L52 5 speeds are the ones to stay away from...

[79toy20r]

Why swap out the L43? I got one in my 79,and I was informed that they are not junk, the L52 5 speeds are the ones to stay away from...

I just thought it would be nice to have 5th gear. I'm really revving the motor to go down the freeway with the 4speed

[79toy20r]

What about the transfer case though...Should I pick that up to do duals, or will it not work either? Thanks for the help guys

[79coyotefrg]

Why swap out the L43? I got one in my 79,and I was informed that they are not junk, the L52 5 speeds are the ones to stay away from...

not sure where you are getting your info buddy  but somebody is confused

L43 has a 3.64:1 1st gear has a side shifter that always leaks  and  linkage  thats  doomed to be sloppy

the L45,L50 ,L52 and Marlins L52HD all can be bolted  right into any 1st gen truck  with  no  mods  and all have a 3.93:1  1st gear  and are topshifted, so no linkage at all 

[79coyotefrg]

What about the transfer case though...Should I pick that up to do duals, or will it not work either? Thanks for the help guys

the v6  tcase??  no  its a chain driven tcase,  so  you really dont want it either

however  if you can get this tranny and tcase  for  like $100  then get it,  you can send it to Marlin for a core

[79coyotefrg]

I just thought it would be nice to have 5th gear. I'm really revving the motor to go down the freeway with the 4speed

dont worry about the revs,  i used my truck as a daily driver when i had a 80 mile one way commute  for a year,   i sped along  at 75 mph  and near 4000 rpm,  never looked back

these  engines  are fine up to 4000,  infact  i always got my best mpg   around 3400

[wombat]

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.

[79coyotefrg]

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

[artistic_gore]

Sorry for the hijack but I am right in the middle of an L-43 to L-52 swap and am curious if you have to carve out the top of the tunnel due to clearance issues getting the trans in. I am having a hell of a time getting the trans high enough to mate to the engine.

Thanks,

Bryce

[79coyotefrg]

Sorry for the hijack but I am right in the middle of an L-43 to L-52 swap and am curious if you have to carve out the top of the tunnel due to clearance issues getting the trans in. I am having a hell of a time getting the trans high enough to mate to the engine.

Thanks,

Bryce

yes,  you need to  use a floor jack or something  and "press"  the center of the trans tunnel up  on a 79 cab, 

i installed a 2 inch body lift  but Marlin told me  he  had  preferred  the  jack under the tunnel  for clearance

he said it  worked  well

[artistic_gore]

How far up does the floor need to go? 1-2"? Would a sledge hammer work? I can probably use a bottle jack up on blocks but I don't have access to a floor jack that goes that high. Also do you know of pics of it being done?

Thanks

[79coyotefrg]

sorry no pics,  but yes  a bottle jack on blocks will do fine
its just the center part that needs to go up,   yes  1 inch is all you need
what rubbed on my L52HD  was the center of the shifter housing that middle part that kinda sticks up

[artistic_gore]

Cool, I'll give it a shot and see how it goes.