Ive been looking for a while now, but I've had very little luck. I'm trying to do a auto to manual conversion in my 1998 xj. Ive been looking as Craigslist and junkyards, looking at donor cars and straight parts. I don't want to spend the money it's gonna take for a new ax15, but I can't find anything. Is there a secret place I can give the special handshake and get in? I read stories about you guys doing these swaps for under $500, am I just unlucky? When I moved to the North West I was told that there's a ton of xj parts up here, but I'm not finding them.

I have found one donor I could have made work for $1k, but first gear was finnicky, so I would have had to rebuild it, which would have driven up my cost, and it was a 1993, so some stuff wouldn't have fit just right into my 1998.

 

There is a junkyard in Erin, TN that has dozens of Cherokees on the lot. Give them a call and see what they may have, 931-721-6006.

 

As far as searching, there's a massive database of salvage yards from around the country— they don't have freight services, so you'd have to contact the parts yard, but it might be a decent resource for you:

http://car-part.com/

As far as which transmissions are direct-plug-n-play, and what compatibilities exist, there's a thread from NAXJA which covers the bases pretty dang well:

https://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1053970


IMO, if you think the donor is dubious, don't go with it. I'd be patient and find another option— that's the route I took (with the engine) with my recent build. There weren't very many, and a couple relatively close (4 hr drive each way) ones didn't specify enough detail for me on last running, running condition, etc. So I waited, but still had to drive about 6 hours each way. (It was too good to pass up: a mostly intact and running, but sandwiched XJ for $450)


sample shot of the parts site:

 

It's much harder to find the manuals than the automatics (since folks in the U.S. generally prefer autos).

Are you only looking at Cherokees or directly for the transmission itself?? The transmission doesn't have to be out of an XJ if it's just the transmission you're after - an AX15 or a NV3550 (I don't feel the NV3550 is very good quality, but lots of people like them) can be found in XJ's, Wranglers and various other vehicles. The AX15 or NV3550 should be an easy swap since the 98 XJ used the AX15 ( 00+ TJ's and XJ's used the NV3550 and it's the same size/bellhousing/etc).

 

Ok, so to follow up on that, I've never seen AT and MT be an option for the xj, what does that mean? Is the the two door vs 4 door model?

 

AT - Automatic Transmission
MT - Manual Transmission

 

I'm dumb... Thanks

 

Don't worry, I am too— hence my not reading your post correctly and giving unnecessary info

 

Nope - this stuff happens to everybody. No worries.

 

If you want, you could look for an ax15 out of a Wrangler. There were a lot more of them made. They also clock the transfer case up higher. Thats the route I went with mine. I got mine new/rebuilt and it was not cheap. Not the route I wanted to go but I couldnt find a good used one.