im looking to swap out the cheezy 4spd auto in my 96 xj for 5spd manual. i was wondering if anyone has done this before or if im kinda on my own. i know ill be looking at installing a flywheel in place of my flexplate but will my stock t-case bolt up to a manual out of lets say early to late 90's wrangler or will i need to grab the wrangler t-case also. i forsee a custom driveshaft and trans crossmember in the future

 

Find a parts vehicle to swap everything from. You will also need pedals and the master/slave clutch cylinders

 

x2 on getting a donor truck for your manual swap. I've done this to a couple hondas before and it is a HUGE headache unless you get a donor car. With a donor you can just pull all of the needed part right from it, with a guarantee that everything you need will be there, no need for anything custom...

 

Also if you get a donor rig you may be able to swap your parts onto it and re-sell it to get your money back. I put a manual motor into my auto rig with no mods but the bearing on the end of the crank. It bolted right up to the stock auto if that helps.

 

ok was a manual available for the xj? i didnt think there was but im probally wrong. fabrication of mounts and other such parts is not a problem but i was more worried about if i have to change out my t-case or that sort of thing. would the manual be any shorter than the aw4 thats in it now?

 

Dude!!!! What a PITA you are getting yourself into. Why oh why did you not just buy an XJ with a manual tranny?????????

 

Mauals were available in XJs every year (1984-2001)

 

yeah, try selling your xj, then buying the one that you want? I know that doesn't sound the greatest or doesnt make for a cool story, but it would be worth it

 

I got a question. Why do you want a manual? I have personally drove both off road and on. I prefer the auto off road for the most part as well as street. But the power from a manual is far superior to an auto. Off road its a bit more difficult to drive but you can feel the power/traction better. Just trying to figure out why you want to go through the pain of a swap?