swapped my AX-15 to the one I got off of Craigslist finally this weekend

Man this thing was a PAIN to get in there

So many problems

1: we had to change out the throwout bearing and bellhousing because the new trans was an external slave set up

2: those idiot chrysler engineers used regular bolts everywhere, EXCEPT the top 2 bolts on the bellhousing which were these tiny headed external torx bolts, one of which was stripped out

3: the throwout bearing wouldnt fit on the new trans, its then that I noticed the front bearing plate was different, so I pulled the one off the old one and swapped them.

4: finally put on the transfer case on the new transmission, guess what, the linkage bracket doesnt fit, the new transmission has these mounting ears on the side, so I bust out the cutoff wheel and hack them off, then the cutoff wheel shatters, and the retaining bolt is stuck, so we had to chisel the ears off

5: get everything nice and bolted up, and we notice one of the mounting bolts for the transmission to crossmember is broken off inside the transmission, crapola, we drill it out and it comes out pretty easy with the "easyout"

6: we get the transmission/transfercase assembly up under the car, and we start to get it aligned and it goes into the clutch, but it wont go into the pilot bearing, so we pull it out, and notice that the shaft diameters on the pilot are different, SSSSSHHHHHEEEEIT, I do some research and the later AX15s had a larger pilot shaft, luckily a pilot bushing from a 73 CJ6 works perfectly, unfortunately nobody has this part, Autozone ordered it and thankfully we got it the next day

7: the bolt that holds the shifter tower to the transmission falls inside the old transmission and my magnet pickup tool is too wide to fit, damn, so finally got a narrow one at harbor freight and get the bolt out

8: while taking out the pilot bearing, the slip yoke comes out of the transfercase and spills ATF ALL over the clutch disk, off to Autozone for brake cleaner

9: finally get everything in and the bolt size for the transmission mount from the old to the new transmission are different, off to Lowes for new bolts

10: started to screw in the new bolts to the transmission, and they arent penetrating enough and the bolt holes start to strip, off to get longer bolts

11: nobody here carries 75W-90 GL-3

12: the transfer case shift linkage bushing sheared and it wont hold it in place anymore, luckily the HELP section has a package with bushings that includes the exact one I need

13: the bolt on the starter only goes in crooked and doesnt fit well

So pretty much thats the whole story, Im just waiting on the gear lube

 

I have a story just like that! I went to put gas in my ZJ and bent a fingernail back when taking the gas cap off! And then I bumped my head getting back into the Jeep! Sounds like we both had bad days.

 

LOL

 

Can you tell me how you got the line undone that's on the drivers side of the trans right in front of the linkage any help would be sweet

 

the hydraulic line for the clutch?

if I remember correctly its just a flared fitting, and the small side was 1/4" and the bigger side was 9/16"