Topic: Short 5 spd trans

[Willy Mammoth]

How long is the shortest 5 spd trans with the aluminum bell housing? Or are there any custom tail shafts to shorten the trans?

here is a picture of my trans and transfer case. If you could get the spline on the tail shaft up against the fith gear and use a short coller you could loose 4" or so.

[kyle_22r]

all the 5 speeds with a removable bellhousing are about the same length.  the only shorter toyota 4x4 tranny with a removable bellhousing is the L43 that was used in '79 and '80 trucks, it's 4" shorter alltogether than an aluminum 5 speed.  i believe the case itself is only about 8" long or so, but it has a long tailhousing adapter since it's originally a light duty 2wd tranny

here's some more info: http://www.marlincrawler.com/l43_trans.html

[Willy Mammoth [OP]]

Thanks, but I already saw that. I was going to use the early cast iron 5spd, but I have to be able to weld on the bell housing. Long story, starter is on the wrong side for my needs.

I wounder if there is a shop that can make up a new tail shaft that has the spline next to the 5th gear?

[BigMike]

Hey that's a good idea, but it might cost a bit. You would need a shaft and a new tail housing. Can't do billet that size because it would cost a fortune, and for cast it will require a new mold to be created which is a steep begining cost. Profits wouldnt be seen until at least the first hundred or so were sold..

[Willy Mammoth [OP]]

If you could do the shaft, I could do the tail housing. I have done some casting, its not too hard. You just need to make a styrofoam mold and pack it in sand, then heat the aluminum and pour. Now who can make a new shaft that won't be soft and break?

[Willy Mammoth [OP]]

I have an old cast iron 5spd I will take apart to night to see how close the shafts are. I will post back after finding out what I come up with.

[Willy Mammoth [OP]]

            

Ok, now that's said. Whooo Hooo, I found the tail shaft in the old cast iron 5spd will interchange with the aluminum 5spd.
All that is needed now is a short tail housing.

Well back to work, time to bring out the sawsall again.

            

[Willy Mammoth [OP]]

I just put the trans back together and it is 33 1/2" from the bell housing to the output flange on the transfer case. Thats 5" shorter than before. It looks like the shifter shaft may be a tight fit, but I will work on that later.

[Marlin]

Great job 

This is a very interesting project.

Since the G 52/54 is a lengthen L52 type transmission, this is all but a factory conversion.
Getting it to shift is another issue.
The rear housing will need to be cut and rewelded. I have many housings in stock. Please let me know if you need any extra parts.

I have been putting the improved G54 gear set in the shorter cast iron housing but have never considered putting the shorter L output shaft in the longer G52/54 trans.
As soon as I can find some time, I will look at the linkage issuse.
Marlin

[Willy Mammoth [OP]]

Thank you Marlin for your response on this idea.
 I was sweating having a 12" rear drive shaft and had to do somthing. If it wasn't for using a diesel engine with the starter on the wrong side I would have just used the cast iron trans.

 I am looking at cutting the tail shaft housing down and welding it back together. There will be only about 1" for the shifter shaft to slide back, but I am thinking of drilling a hole in the transfercase to allow the shaft to move back enough to work properly without comming in contact with the gear set.

More pictures to come as I progress.

Mark