Toyota Transmission Swap. Upgrade?

[hobiesbestfriend]

My W56 out of my 85 Runner is dying. Fair enough, it's had almost 400k of abuse and is still holding on except that it keeps popping out of 1st, and recently I lost 3rd. So need to throw in a new one. Options?

1. How hard is it to swap the Transfer Case over or is it easier to just buy a whole Tranny/TCase combo and bolt the whole thing in?

2. What are my options and likelyhood of finding an R151 to bolt right up to my 22RE. Seems to be a lot of mixed info as to what will fit directly on what and what might need bellhousings swapped or adapter plates made?

3. Is there a better or clear "best" tranny to find to swap in? Or is it just all a matter of driving type and opinion?

 

[KLF]

1. If you're going W56 to W56, then it's easy to swap over the t-cases, as long as they are the same suffix, ie: W56-A to W56-A. Marlin's website will show you the slight differences. But most people just get the whole thing, tranny & transfer as a unit.

2. R151F's ("turbo" trannys) are getting VERY hard to find. Remember that they were only offered for 2 years in the US ('86 and '87), so the age plus limited offerings make them tough to locate. You could always just buy a rebuilt one from Marlin, but when you factor in the core charge, it would be pretty expensive. The bellhousing will bolt right on to the 22RE, no adapter or special crossmember needed. But, the issue will be that the shifter in the R151F is about 3" further forward, so you'll have to cut the floor pan and do something about the shifter boots and console.

3. The "best" tranny (IMO) is the R151F. Lower 1st gear, slightly taller OD in 5th, stronger bearings, plus 23-spline (vs 21-spline) output to the t-case.

 

[hobiesbestfriend]

Kinda what I had figured, but hoped someone on here might have a glimmer of light for me. Up here there's a few of those imported turbo surfs so was figuring those had em and maybe I could find one at a wrecker or something.
I really have no problems with the w56 as it is, so I'm just gonna look for one that's in good shape. Possibly explore rebuild options, as I'm confident I could rebuild it, just don't know how much damage has been done in there and what might have to be replaced. CHeck out rebuild kits or better gears or something as well. Are there any tried and true upgrades to the W56 that are worth mentioning?

 

[KLF]

Check out the kits on the Marlin site, I just rebuilt an R151F and I used a kit from him, nice set. He sells a "heavy duty" kit for the W56.

It's really not hard to rebuild one, the most important things you need are a FSM and patience. A shop press and bearing splitter helps too...