Am I wasting my time?

 

It has been done. There was a thread not long ago on this subject. Do a search and if you can't find it then we can go from thee. Basically you will need a donor rig for it or a real good junk yard.

 

It seems like a tremendous amount of work to me. Why not just go find an XJ with a standard shift and buy that one? I can see doing it maybe just to demonstrate that you are a really serious mechanic, but otherwise? Nah.

 

Ignore the troll above. There are a few threads on this indeed, I'll see if I can find my favorite and post back.

 

i did it! just make sure you have a complete donor cause there are a lotta small parts that make it look factory!

 

I just did the swap this summer its not as bad as everyone says if you know your stuff its pulling the auto bolting up a clutch flywheel putting the manual tranny in changing the pedal assembly to manual a manual pcm its fairly easy just time consuming do a lot of research before doing it and buy a donor truck PM me if you have any questions

 

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to do this? Auto is sooo much better for wheeling.

 

Auto isnt always better for wheeling manual you have more control over the truck no tranny lines to break you can engine break and its more fu

 

Hm not the one I was thinking of but good info in here, though there's a lot of Renix-specific stuff:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/aw4-ax15-swap-115539/
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/a...thread-258497/

 

More fun yes, more control I don't know... trying to place tires on steep uphills is a pain in the *** in a manual. Way easier to control in an auto. And 4low 1st gear in an auto works pretty well for engine braking.

But anyway to the OP...good luck with your swap.

 

Autos arent any better than manuals. Some people can drive better with manuals while some drive better with autos. Also, an offroad performance clutch will allow you to feather the clutch for much longer periods giving much more control over the manual transmission.

 

To each his own. Competition rigs are all auto for a reason though. One foot brake, one foot gas. Even with a hand throttle you won't have the same control in a manual.

 

Competition rigs are NOT all auto. Theres a good many that are, but there are still some who use manual transmissions. Also, you dont need to hit the brake as much when hill climbing with an auto.. Its called feathering the clutch. Those who know what they're doing driving a manual can hold a vehicle on a hill still without ever touching the brake pedal. Once again, its all preference.

 

Sell your auto xj and buy an stick. Save yourself the time and trouble and this way you might make some money

 

Can also burn it out that way too. And I agree, not all competition rigs are auto, 20-30% of them round' these parts run Sticks.