surf gearbox difference's

[taxi]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a g52 and w56 surf gearbox and are they interchangable in a 86 surf

[hosehustler]

They are pretty similar, internals are near the same, they are exactly the same length overall and will do entirely the same job, here's a list of my experience's with both......
I have a 84 (beam axle) surf came out with a G52 in it, that goes bang (age) so I put a later w56 in....(bang) towing a landcruiser in reverse.....never tow in reverse , got given another G52 thats still in there (rattly beacuse of age) and i've got sitting on the shed floor...you guessed it a W56 to go back in
The main noticeable difference between the two s that the G52 transmission shifter is about 4 inches further forward than the W56, so if you change between the two boxes some slight floor pan chopping and hacking is equired (easy job), also the transfer case shifter comes directly outta the top of a W56 trans case, where as the G52 trans case is remotely shifted from the gearbox
Funnily enough my fathers 93 double cab has a factory G52 in it
Hope thats not too confusing, if you still need info my number is there
Tim

[Smurf]

straight swap, W56 is supposed to be stronger.
the G52 has the gear lever and transfer levers coming out of the gearbox whereas the W56 has the transfer lever coming out of the transfer case.
I swapped a G52 out of my surf in favour of a W56, all I had to do was trim the tunnel for the gear levers and use the rubber boot for the W56 as well.
there may be a difference in the plugs for 4wd lights, not sure as my 84 Surf didn't have the wiring in place for the gearbox.
Reverse plug and speedo cable are the same

[taxi]

Thanks for that