W56 top shift to forward shift swap help?

[94toytruck]

Long story short I have a 94 w56 forward shift from my original truck in my buggy with a forward shift case. Reverse is knocking and it's basically a glitter factory and getting worst every ride. I bought a earlier w56 that's top shift but is a fresh rebuild. Did some research and it seems you just unbolt the back halfs, swap them and the main shift rail parts which sounds easy as hell. Took everything apart and the main rail for the newer W56 is 2mm narrower but outside that fits fine although they are slightly different shapes. Has anyone done this swap and run into this? I suppose I could take both transmissions completely apart and swap all the shift rails but that seems like a pile of extra work. My other option is to weld 2mm of material to the main rail and reshape it. I'm kind of leaning towards modding the rail at this point. The smaller shift rail on the left is the new style but needs to fit where the one on the right went. Obviously the trans with gear oil on it is the 94 w56 and the super clean one if the rebuilt unit.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Convert the tcase?

 

[94toytruck]

Convert the tcase?

Kinda creates some more issues in the process. I'd have to rebuild my tunnel and move my cutting brakes plus I don't have the parts for the case to convert it.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Kinda creates some more issues in the process. I'd have to rebuild my tunnel and move my cutting brakes plus I don't have the parts for the case to convert it.

Gotcha, I actually prefer the forward shift to top shift duals. Top shifts seem to be a paint to get everything to clear each other.

 

[94toytruck]

So I had a W56-C I knew nothing about in a pile of stuff I got awhile ago. I figured I'd pull the back and if it doesn't have what I need I'm halfway to checking it out to see if it looks OK, possibly use it and flip the reman trans. Drained the fluid out and it was nasty as hell with silver streaks and moisture in it. Popped the back end to find it has the correct rear shift rail and tail housing. The W56 B and C both have 10mmx13mm rails, my old W56-E had a 10mmx10mm. For reference the W56-b rail is on the left of the W56-C rail.