Hey guys, I was just wondering what everyone's opinion on an aw4 to ax15 on a 98 would be. would all the time effort and money invested be worth the extra power, mileage, and fun-factor? Thanks.

 

Doubt you will see any noticeable power increase, milage will be a minimum at best also. For the fun factor - no fun for me, I have wheeled both, I choose a auto over a manual on the trail any day.

 

anyone else feel the same?

 

Agreed especially when you start to slip and slide or stop on an incline. Auto is so much easier

 

Depends on your wheeling style. As mentioned rocks pose a problem unless you gear super low.

Manual XJs get a few more MPG on average. It's a perk though, I wouldn't try and make that part of some ROI calculation.

I love my AX-15 and wouldn't drive anything else. Slushboxes are boring.

Tons of people have done an auto to manual swap and are very happy with it. Just do a search.

 

My feelings exactly.

And, the AW4 is likely the best automotive auto trans ever built.

 

see thats what I figured. I don't do any rock crawling so thats not a problem. I was just thinking it would be more for the fun factor of it. maybe I should just buy another xj somewhere down the line that already has an ax15.

 

I'm not sure I'd go that far lol.. although for it's relative size, it handles the 4.0 pretty well. I'd favor the 4L80E or an Allison 1000 automatic over the AW4 but that's not to say it's a bad transmission.

On the other hand, OP I know how you feel. I had an AX-15 in my old 93, then got rid of that for a 2000 with the AW4. Hated it. Yeah, wheeling was easier but I felt like I had less control of the drivetrain. Plus in my climate, I was constantly worried of overheating the trans. I got rid of it for another manual XJ that's on 35s, locked and geared and I get better mileage than the auto that was on 31s.

 

really?? What were the mpg differences? I think that would be one of the main things that would make me do the swap. Right now I'm getting out 17mpg or so in the warmer weather, was getting 15 in the winter, and im on stock 27's right now. will be moving to 31's though. I know it would be a lot of work but working on the jeep is my favorite thing to do and my brother has an xj i could drive in the mean time. Although this swap will probably be years later lol.

 

Well an auto on 31s probably still had stock gears lol.

I think an Allison 1000 is a little bit overboard for a 4.0L :P

 

Ok.. it might have had stock 3.55s. But still. I probably would have been content if it had a GM truck like shift selector where it has OD, 3, 2, and 1 so I could hold gears longer or make better use of second.

And idk... Everybody says those stroker engines make all that torque. Maybe an Allison isn't too overkill for some of the punishment these XJs are put thru lol

 

The mileage difference would be hard to justify the cost of doing the swap. Although if you happen to go with a 30" tire size, the stock 3.55 gears wouldn't be the worst for the ax-15.

 

If you just want more control over the shift, a radesign shifter would be way cheaper and easier mod. I have one to put in my XJuggy just haven't installed it yet.