Cruisingram

I have a parts V8 ZJ with good trans, and my friend wants to buy the trans off me, for his good ZJ with bad trans. They are of the same "generation" but a couple years apart. They both have the 5.2 V8.
Should the trans between the jeeps be straight swap?

dave1123

The ZJs used 2 different transmissions, the AW4 and the 46re. Any ZJs built after 93 had the 46re, the AW4 being discontinued with the 93 models.

The problem comes in the transfer case. There were 3 different cases used in ZJs, the 231, the 242, and the 249. IDK if the 242 came with the V8s or not, but you may need the driveshafts as well for the swap. And maybe the t/case shift linkage and TCM.

Of course, you can probably just unbolt and use the original t/case. I just gave you that info if you had the opportunity to change from the 249.

blackjack12982

Stop spreading bad information. V8 ZJ's used three different transmissions, 93-95 V8's had 46RH's, 96-98 5.2's had the 44RE, and the 98 5.9 had the 46RE.


To do a transfer case swap you don't need a TCM.

Transfer cases in V8's were only offered with NP249, it was never even an option for V8's to come in 231 or 242.

Cruisingram

Blackjack- I am a bit confused over your post- please forgive- if the trans is on a V8, it will bolt up, right? If it is electronic shift, then you just need to swap the trans case

blackjack12982

Well, it's kind of hard to tell, you don't bother to list the years of either one of the ZJ's...

You don't have to swap the transfer case for a trans swap.

Cruisingram

I am pretty sure the parts jeep is a 94. Can you tell year by VIN? This thing has the door stuff removed.

blackjack12982

In the engine bay, on the top of the radiator is a sticker with usually the serpentine belt routing picture, spark plug gap, EPA exhaust statement, and the year of the vehicle. It says something about being compliant with all rules/regs for a stated year. Check both of them, or the door stickers. You could check the VIN, I'm sure Google has the info somewhere, but I don't know a site offhand.

dave1123

Okay, blackjack. You seem to know a lot more than I do about ZJs. Run with it. I gave him all the info I gathered from the website and I only have owned 1 ZJ, a '97 with a 4.0.

And the TCM wasn't for the t/case swap, it was for the trans swap, fool!

Cruisingram

Thanks- it is shaping up that they are both 94s, and in that case, should be easy-peasy, right?

blackjack12982

It would be much more labor intensive for a 44/46RE swap in an early 5.2 ZJ, it would require the whole vehicle to be swapped from OBD I to OBD II. It's been done most recently on Speedfreaks, considering stock transmission wise, the 46RH is generally considered to be superior, unless you spend alot of money fully building the 46RE with 48RE components. Supposedly they just swap right in with some machining, building pretty bulletproof transmissions.

Yeah, it will be a plug and play swap.

Cruisingram

Are those trans based on a 904 or 727 torqueflight?

blackjack12982

The early 5.2's, and the 1998 5.9 are an adaptation of the 727, the I6's and later model (96-98) 5.2's are a 904.

*edit* That's generally why if you swap a 5.9 in a ZJ, it's usually done with greater success on a 93-95. These trans seem to hold up better than the later model 44RE's.

Cruisingram

I am an old mopar racer, so that makes sense LOL

Cruisingram

Okay- both trans cases are 242s. One Jeep is a 94, the other a 96. They look visually identical on the outside and inside- same trim package!

Bustedback

A 94 t-case and a 96 t-case may look the same, but the spline count my be different.