G52 gearbox variations

[bob ward]

I'm fitting a HiAce 5 speed box into an old car (35 Hudson straight 8), and because its a very short box it just fits nicely into the available space.

The one down side of this box is that it is a side shift, and while its not impossible to organise a floor gear lever that connects to the side shift, a proper straight into the box floor shift is preferable. I'm thinking of a floor shift where the 4 mounting bolts are, which is about the same position as the gear lever on some of the 4WD varieties of the G52.

Is there/was there a floor shift variety of this gear box that is still the same length as the side shift box? (The HiLux box would be lovely but it is just too long)

If I mix and match internals from other types of G52 and machine the casing am I likely to end up with a very short box with a floor shift? (The engine and gearbox are supported at the bell housing)

Thanks guys, hopefully there are a few others out there that have been down this route.

[stidnam]

You'll find that all w5x and G5x boxes are generally the same dimensions (2wd) so if you swap tail housings you wont get a shorter box overall but the shifter position changes. I gather that is what is important for you. The 4wd setup has the closest to what you are after but you'll have to do mods to the housing as it is not setup for a 2wd rwd output.

Closest setup in shifter position may be a w56 from a RZ motor as below

4WD


G52


W56

[bob ward]

I reckon I can make this work. In general terms it involves cutting the shifter hole out of a 4WD casing and welding it into the HiAce casing. There is a bit more to it than that of course, but I'll get there.

Next thing to think about is a bell housing. I've measured the bolt and spigot placings and I think I've got it right but its always good to get 'official' confirmation. Reverse engineering isn't so simple with this modern computer designed stuff. Older components were a lot easier to figure out, major details were always laid out to whole millimetres or to 1/16"

Does anyone have the bolt and spigot layout dimensions for the front end of a G52 box?