Rockhead

My question is for anyone who has installed an Atlas II in their Cherokee. About two years ago I installed an Atlas II transfer case in my 2000 Cherokee Sport which has the AX15 manual trans. I couldn't reinstall the "not stock" cross member in the stock location, the Atlas would not clear the cross member. Has anyone else had this fitment issue, and what was the fix?

831xj

Notch and patch the x member... or fab a new one. If you have the funds for an atlas building or fixing a cross member shouldn't be a big task honestly.

Most people cut out and add another skid and tcase mount since its so damn big n heavy

Photojared

You just need to fab up a new crossmember...

Rockhead

What I was hoping for was an off the shelf, bolt in, solution for the stock mounting location. My solution at the time was to bolt the cross member onto the frame at a forward mounting position which lines it up with the transmission to plate mounting holes. This worked fine, but now I'm switching to a long arm setup and would like to move the cross member back to the stock location. Yes, I can design a custom cross member and have someone fabricate it for me; I'm not a welder (I'd like to learn that art some day though). Again, I was hoping for a bolt in solution.

Photojared

How far forward is the mounting on the atlas 2?

Wait, if you didn't remove the transmission mount then how is it not working? Atlas hang down too low? Is it the size of the transfer case that doesn't work, or how it's clocked? Because of the size of the transfer case there won't be anything that will be off the shelf.

I'd take it to a capable off road shop and have them fab you a crossmember. Shouldn't take too long.

Rockhead

Answering your questions in turn. As you'll see in the thread if you go through it, I moved the cross member forward until the next set of mounting holes lined up which corresponds with the cross member lining up with the AX15's mounting holes.
I did remove the transmission mount plate. Now the rubber mount bolts directly to the trans and cross member.
Yes, the Atlas is clocked so it would be half way into the cross member.
Not the size, how it's clocked.
Here's the link to my Atlas installation thread.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/at...lation-190099/