88 trans/ transfer & drivelines swap into 1st gen?

[dusty husky]

Rookie question. The tranny in my 1st gen shortbed is really loud, L50. There is a guy on craigslist parting out an 88 shortbed 22re. Just wondering if i flipped my x-member and used the trans, transfer drivelines from the 88. Would it fit, the wheel bases are real close?

 

[Combat Chuck]

It'll fit, but you'll be doomed to a life of bucket seats, because the 88 likely has a W56, which is 6" longer, and will move your shifters back.
That said, a W56 is much much better than an L50.
However, if you want a more bolt-in swap, get an L52, and put fresh bearings in it. Quieter than the L50, and fairly stout.

It's also worth saying than an L50 is pretty much a bomb waiting to happen under your truck.

 

[dusty husky]

Thanks for the reply C.C. I'm not positive if it's a 50 or 52, but it sounds bad! The short trannies seem to be in short supply around here, but the later ones are all over Craigs list. I already have bucket seats and worked through some shifter interference issues, solved buy installing both levers from a 94 and now it all clears. Was a factory 4speed. I'll have to check it out, not sure if that would be a top shift case or not, from Marlin's web site I think there was some overlap on those years.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Sounds good.
If you're running buckets now, you're in the clear. I'm more of a banch seat guy, and put a Ranger bench in my truck. When I talked to my mechanic about possibly upgrading to a W56, he told me straight out the shifter would be about where my t-case shifter is, and the t-case shifter would come out square under my bench. Couldn't happen, but, if you have what it takes to make this work, "if can, can, if no-can, no-can."

The L trannies are noisy, but noisiest before they die. They will scream up and down the shifting range and howl at highway speeds and then the bearing explodes.
Been there, done that.
I ended up having an L52 built with G52 bearings, and it's the best this truck's ever driven. L52's have a solid cast-iron housing and straight-cut gears, couple that with a decent bearing set, and they're bombproof. It costs more to make this happen as opposed to swapping in a running transmission, but it was my best option, which is what it all comes down to: make what works best for you, work for you.

 

[dusty husky]

Thanks for the help. Just picked up an l52 an tc case for 200$ , also came with a starter, alternator and power steering pump. To bad it wasn't an ifs box too. O well amassing some spares, and an extra tc for duals down the road>

 

[Combat Chuck]

Thanks for the help. Just picked up an l52 an tc case for 200$ , also came with a starter, alternator and power steering pump. To bad it wasn't an ifs box too. O well amassing some spares, and an extra tc for duals down the road>

What a steal!
That's a great buy.

Press new bearings and seals into that new L52, and you're golden!