I'm looking to do an AX-15 swap on my '94 Xj 4.0. I have a possible trans already lined up but I need to get all of the swap parts first. I'm unable to find any 4.0 5spd Xj's in the junkyard but I have found a '96 2.5 5spd which I believe has an AX-5 in it. What parts can I take off of this Jeep to use for the swap? I'm on a budget and trying to buy used as much as possible. Thanks

 

Is you Jeep a 2 WD or 4 WD ?

 

Oops, should have mentioned that. Both are 4wd NP231. My t-case is out of a '99 with the shortened tail cone if that matters.

 

Generally, one would use the transfer case( if there is a difference in length) and both drive shafts from the donor vehicle. I am not too sure about the transmission from the 4 cyl. though.

 

Here's the thing, the transmission and t-case at the junkyard are no good. The Jeep was in a bad wreck which pushed the driveline back shattering the t-case and cracking the trans about half way through. I didn't get into it too much, but it looks like most of the parts I would need for the swap are uneffected. The slave cylinder is unharmed, the pedal assembly will require some BFH loving to the floor to be able to see it, and the crossmember appears to be ok aswell as the rear driveshaft. I wanted to get some info before I wasted more time inspecting it or removing parts.

 

Just found an '87 4.0L 5spd in another yard. Everything is there except the trans. Any parts I can use off of this one?


Appreciate it guys, I really want to do this swap and my autobox is on its way out.

Edit: the '87 also has an NP231

 

The bellhousing pattern for the 4-150 (which you found your AX-5 behind) and the 6-242 (uses the BA-10/5, AX-15, or NV3550) are wholly different - you'd need an adapter plate.

Also, there is some doubt as to whether an AX-5 would live long behind the 6-242 - it's a light-duty box.

However, the 4-150 should use the same bellhousing pattern as the GM "Metric" V6 (2.8/3.1/3.4L), which gives you other options. Peruse your salvage yards for a 4WD S10 Pickup/Blazer or S15 Pickup/Jimmy, and yank the drivetrain out of that. The transmission will fall somewhere in between the AX-5 and AX-15 in terms of strength, should bolt right up, and will probably come with the NP231C transfer case (which nets you a 1.25" wide chain, over the 1.00" wide in the NP231J.)

If you're putting it behind the 6-242, you'll have to pillage around - since the 6-242 uses the AMC I6/V8 bellhousing pattern (late 6-232, 6-258, 6-242; V8-290/304/360/1971 390/401) fitting anything else up to it will require an adapter plate - you may want to check with Novak Adapters for that.

Options for the 6-242:
- Secure a "like-to-like" donor - the XJ and MJ used the same configuration, and I believe the very early ZJ did as well (AX-15 w/6-242 1993-mid 1994.)
- The YJ and TJ boxen may be used, but note that the transfer case is clocked differently - you'll either have to do some clearance work on the floor pan or find a proper tcase adapter housing (the bellhousing will be the same.)
- The AX-15 was also used in the V6 Dakota for a few years, but you will need to secure a bellhousing or adapter plate to convert the pattern (the 238ci V6 uses the LA-block V8 pattern, common to the later Dodge V8 and V10 engines as well.)

I covered this both ways in detail for future readers as well - "Conversion" tends to bring up an awful lot of results, and I try to make my replies as potentially useful as possible.

 

I have no intentions of using an ax-5, I wanted to know if any of the parts from an ax-5 equipped Xj will work for an aw4 to ax-15 conversion. The main event that caused this whole thing to come about is that I just put $1200 into performance goodies for my engine, which chewed up the torque converter the first time I tried to launch it. I DD my rig more than wheel it, I prefer manual transmissions, I want more usable power from my rig, I drive windy mountain roads almost every day which sucks with an autobox and oversized tires, and I've always wanted a 5 spd xj. Trying to turn something negative into something positive.

 

im also planning this exact swap although i already have a donner xj with np231 t-case... the donner jeep isnt a high out put but the one im putting it into is, does this complicate it? if not will it be bolt in, anything else i should know?

 

Hate to rehash an older thread, but this information is rock solid golden. Thank you for posting it.