AoA

My buddy is getting a 98' sport that is auto, and he wants to swap and convert it to the AX-15 or what ever 5-speed tranny that will fit and do well for jeepspeed/trail riding.

whats a general price range for a whole swap?

how difficult wud it be to do our selves?

any write ups?

im an amateur mechanic and he is a novice but pretty mechanically inclined

hal93

If it is a 4x4 u will need o do a tail shaft output shaft conversion or swap.

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Johndoe

Thats a good enquiry I have a 90 with the auto and hate auto I want a 5spd is there any write ups or anything? Mine is 4x4 it's the limited i dunno if that makes a difference

MonacaYankee

You would be better off just buying the 5 speed and keeping the auto or selling it.

XxXJ99xX

Agreed. You also need to find a Computer for a Manual transmission jeep as well as the mechanical components involved. You also have to figure out a way to bypass the NSS, Its a lot more work then its worth. Just find a 5-speed Cherokee, I did and Am In love with it. Definitely easier to just buy it with it from the factory.

TheJerm

The computer is your left foot and right hand

Its pretty easy to do. NSS can be tricked by leaving it in N so it will always start. You will need the AX15 and DS's that will work cause its shorter than the aw4. I 'had' to find a manual front DS but i got a rear DS from an auto with 231 and d35, I have a c8.25 so it fits at 4" of lift.

The crossmember is also different, you can make the auto one work or get a manual one with the "adapter" plate. AX15 has a metal plate that bolts to the trans and then bolts to the trans mount on the crossmember. Ive seen people just redill the crossmember to move it farther forward but the auto xmember is thicker than the manual so it pushed the rear trans.

TheJerm

You can see the 'adapter' plate with the 4 bolts on the trans



You can see difference with how the aw4 mounts. I also guess the crossmembers are different too

hal93

Ok guys. I have a 5 speed but it is 2wd. Do have any idea how hard it is to find a 4x4 with a 5 speed. It's been kicking my ..... Censored. Haha. No but for realizes it's harder that you think that t is.

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TheJerm

Yea 5sp 4x4 XJ's are pretty rare, That why i bought a cheap 2wd and converted it

If i had to do it again I would totally convert another one. Its just so easy

Gee oh Dee

I got mine in a two door version with a D44 rear and it was 900$.

I can't find an auto around me for the life of me. Its annoying.

But I have no real need for any more vehicles.

hal93

Oh u poor thing. I wish that mine was a 4x4 so badly.

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XxXJ99xX

A 4x4 swap would be easier then swapping the transmission. All you need is the axle drive shaft and tail shaft as well as transference and shift lever for the floor.

XxXJ99xX

I was told by another member that you would need a Manual transmission Computer. I'm only going off of what they said, If you made it work then good. If you really have to do the swap then do it, I was just saying buying one with the manual from the factory is easier then doing a transmission swap.

AoA

ok, my buddy read all these comments and decided that he'll either buy a 5-speed xj or just stick it out with an auto and drive my 5speed xj to get his fill or stick every now n agian.

Thanks for all the input guys!

TheJerm

Swapping the transmission would be easier than to swap out the output shaft of the transmission. 2wd to 4x4 trans have different length output shafts which would involve tearing it apart to replace, not just the tail housing.

To the OP, If you can find the parts easily its not too bad. I think the hardest part would be finding the parts. You can use a wrangler ax15 but have to get a clocking rig as YJ/TJ have their tcase flat, whereas XJ are clocked down alittle.