How feasible would this be? I've been searching for about a day or so and I have yet to find a write - up or definitive parts list for this swap in a late - model cherokee. Has anyone done this swap in a 1997-2001 xj? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

you must not be searching hard cause there are a few on this forum and a few on naxja
but either way I did the swap...for starters be absolutely sure you want 5-speed yeah sounds like a cool idea but if you can find a way to drive a 5-speed offroad and on just to be sure i loved mine on the road but found it to be a pita offroad while rockcrawling...best possible way to do the swap is to have a donor vehicle because 1997+ xj 5-speeds aren't as common as 1996-down...where are you located cause at my local junkyard theres a whole 5-speed 1997 xj there....you can also read my build thread i went over it a little in there

parts list:
brake & clutch pedal assembly
ecm
clutch master & slave cylinder (parts store)
tranny 1997-1999 is ax15 2000-2001 nv3550 (2000-2001 very rare)
front and rear driveshaft (different depending on transmission)
tranny mount
4x4 linkage (from shifter to tcase)
upper shift boot
flywheel (parts store)
tranny to engine dust shield
clutch (parts store)
all associated nuts and bolts
theres also a little return spring that goes from throttle body to the bracket that holds throttle cable

down the road if you find all you need and want to do it pm me and i will explain the necessary wiring so you dont get cel's...also dont let anyone tell you you need a different t-case its false for 1997+

 

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/a...thread-258497/

Decent one

Never mine i think that was for an 89, shouldnt be too much different
?

 

I read somewhere about on late models with the OBDII you had to do something to fool the computer into thinking it still had an AW4

 

if you have a newer 5-speed ecm you only have to fool the wiring harness so it will start without cel...and did you read my post

 

Yeah I did best writeup I've seen thanks

 

Sorry didn't see it until now, I'm on the mobile app and we all know how that is. Thanks for the info

 

Any other tips or words of caution before I go out and buy a transmission?

 

make sure its an external slave ax15

 

I've almost gone with this but honestly it's a PITA to drive offroad with a manual transmission imho. I only like a 5/6 speed on the road

 

I agree, but since 90% of the time I'm on the road, I think it'll be worth it

 

hey I’m actually tackling this project right now. I rolled my 4wd 1997 Xj and bought a 2wd 2001 Xj. I’m swapping over the engine and trans/ everything from the 97 to the 2001. Any words of advice on the wiring to avoid the CEL on this build?