Ea81 4speed d/r VS ea82 5speed?

[Rnasty]

So the 3at in my 92 loyale is slowly going up the creak, engine has some valve and leaks some oil but is mostly still good. Now all I have access to for parts cars are an 91 loyale and an 84 GL. The 91 loyale was drivable a few months ago but the tranny seemed sloppy, the 84 GL while not ideal has dual range so I'm tempted to put its 4speed in my loyale.

 

I hear the 4speeds suck though so I'm wondering is it worth it for D/R or should I use the 91s 5speed? This car is already slow so I'm not worried about that, maybe an EJ swap in the future when my engine nukes. It's a daily/ATV and the trails around me are extremely crap due to the Florida like rain we got this year. This is why I'm really set on the D/R. Even if it's a harder swap and needs brackets built, not to much of a problem.

 

So anyone have a rightup on this type of swap? Found lots about putting a 5speed in an ea81 but nothing about a 4speed d/r into a ea82.

[bratsrus1]

Hi This is Jerry, the 4 speeds suck compare to the 5 speed trans find a 5 speed dual range trans bolts in. Want to know more call me 509-952-2855 Thanks Jerry

[84Suby]

I have an 84 GL. Had a 4 speed in it when I latched onto it, I agree with bratsrus, the 4 speed sucked, particularly the low range, it wasn't even really low range. So I did the 5 speed conversion. Definitely the way to go for me.

[Rnasty]

Hi This is Jerry, the 4 speeds suck compare to the 5 speed trans find a 5 speed dual range trans bolts in. Want to know more call me 509-952-2855 Thanks Jerry

Ideally I want to do just that but I haven't found a 5speed d/r yet. The cars I can take parts from are at the landfill and free. Should I go with the 91s single range 5speed? What exactly is so bad about the 4 speeds?

 

Also there's a EJ awd 90s legacy sedan that a tree or something fell on. Can't get a good look inside to see the tranny but is there anything I should try to salvage off of it?

Edited September 19, 2016 by Rnasty

[ihscout54]

 

What exactly is so bad about the 4 speeds?

Aside from the archaic lame drive-ability and lack of available service parts, they have some annoying reliability issues. The linkage design wears poorly and gets very sloppy, the synchros 2-3 are often worn (grind), input shaft bearing failures, sloppy front diffs, etc.

[bratman2]

My thoughts are if you do not have an EA82 5 speed dual range and you offroad go with the 4 speed dual range. I feel it has a very decent low range. Shifter slop is an easy fix, did my well over a decade ago and is still very tight. I have nearly 240k on my 4 speed dual range and except for a very minor rear seal leak it has been good. I have changed the oil a few times over the 19 years I have owned it!! Now just use MT90 and add about 8 oz a year.

[Rnasty]

Nevermind guys an 86 GL with a 5mt d/r got dumped about a mile from my house.