Topic: L52 veteran opinion - swap for w56 or repair

[jmac]

I recently got a '81 with a 5-speed L52 in it.  The shifter has tons of slop in and pops out of gear, occasionally will come out of first during idle and always comes out of third during coasting or decelleration (stays in good when foots on the gas).  I bought this truck to replace my '90 which suffered quite a jar when someone ploughed into the front of me while they were running a turn arrow without headlights on (gotta love Memphis drivers).

Anyway I've still got my '90 and I just put new bearing and replaced 5th gear in it last winter....hate to throw away the time and money.  Lovin' the solid front axle on the '81 though.

Here's the question:  I read a post in which someone talked about similar issues that was addressed through simple replacing the plastic nipple on the bottom of the shifter.  Will this really help keep it in gear (it seems to me like this would be a problem with the synchros on the inside and not the shifter).  If this really does work how do you get these pins out of the side of the shifter housing.  I tried to knock these out through the inside with a punch, but I hit them so hard that the tip of my punch has a huge V in it now, the pins didn't move, and I think the aluminum housing will crack if keep laying into it.  It's also a pain to get around the spring thats in there so that I can hit the pins.  Am I missing something here?  Debating on whether or not to just pull the w56 and xcase out of the wreck and switch it over.  I think someone already switched a newer model xcase on the back of my L52.

Please advise.

[79coyotefrg]

NO  dont try to drive those pins out 

push down on the  sleeve  that holds  the shifter in place,  push down  and  turn counter clockwise

it will pop right out

[79coyotefrg]

http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/transmission/trans_parts.htm

[79coyotefrg]

installating pics http://www.marlincrawler.com/docs/shifter_seat/index.html



HOWEVER,  i'm willing to bet  the input bearing is  getting worn out  since it falls  out of 1st and 3rd

Marlin  has  the best L52 HD  trannies  there is,   and  you could  call  and makea deal  on getting your l52  rebuilt  with the  core of  your w56  and  the  L52


btw  from Arkansas

[jmac [OP]]

Looks like I'm missing a piece.  I only got the part that fits on the bottom of the shifter at the dealership.  Probably need to pick up that ring that goes around the inside of the housing before I get back into it.  So no chance in that helping it stay in gear.....didn't really think so just looking for an easy out.

I've seen everyone talk about the crossmember modification required to put the w56 in these earlier models due to the extra length, will the shifters be sitting back an extra 2" in the cab also?

[79coyotefrg]

yes  they will be  a couple inches back,  ijust  parted out a  80 model  that  had a w56B  swapped in it   you could use some old  u bolts  to  move the crossmember back,  just slip the ubolts over the frame  and then  you can move it where ya need it

[jmac [OP]]

Will it be easier to pull the driveshafts off the '90 while I'm getting the trans and xcase out, or is there enough slack in the ones on the '81.

Anybody got a nice underside pick of this conversion?

[79coyotefrg]

if  the 90  is a shortbed  get the shafts   BUT  they might not be "just right"  but  the 81  shafts will be  too long in the back and too short in the front

84-88  shafts  will be perfect