So I got in a fender bender this winter and while fixing body panels decided to rebuild my shot suspension. So new shocks, leaf springs, coils, control arm bushings, and trac bar went in. I noticed while working on everything that a previous owner had beat the crossmember to hell.

So looking into it, and because I lifted my jeep a little bit, I decided to get the rustys 1" drop crossmember. I have a 98 xj so I ordered the one for that without thinking.

However... I forgot that I have a newer transmission. Its an Aisin 3043LE model, I believe its from a 2000 or 2001 XJ. I assume the transfer case is also from a 2000/01, but I don't think that matters?

Anyway, called Rusty and it sounds like the only thing I need to do is get a transmission mount from an older model year.

I didn't do the swap, and I don't know if the transmission mounts were swapped, or if they even needed to be. Anybody have a suggestion? How do I find out which mounts I have/need?

Thanks for any and all help.

FYI, my jeep is sitting about +2.5 in the front and +2 in the back.

EDIT: after reading into it a bit more, and with the help of md21722, I think my issue is a non issue. My current trans mount has offset bolt pattern, and it seems to line up with the new crossmember holes. So I guess now my question is: What is different about the system between the two model years? Assuming the transmissions are in the exact same spot, is the only difference the bracket bolt pattern and where it attaches to the crossmember? or is the transmission location itself different?

 

There is only one real difference between the mounts.

<2000 the studs that go into the crossmember are offset

2000-2001 the studs that go into the crossmember are centered

The transmission side should be the same.

Look what you have and buy the appropriate one. Its probably offset which is great news, because the 2000-2001 mounts can be harder to find and more expensive. It is possible to swap the cross members and exhaust hanger plate and without knowing what was done, we can't really say for sure. Best to just check it out.

 

If the 2000-2001 transmission bracket has centered studs, does that mean the 2000-2001 crossmember holes are in a different location? Or do they use different holes? Holding my crossmember under my jeep to compare it looks like it lines up fine with the existing bolt placement. The trans mount I have appears to be offset, so it looks like I already have the old one, which makes sense I guess?

 

edited my original question.

 

Yes, in 2000 there were parts changes for the crossmember, mount, and exhaust hanger. The crossmember has holes in different locations. In 2000+ the mount was centered, and at least in 2001, the exhaust hanger uses a long round bushing for the exhaust hanger instead of the older square one.

 

Alright, well I got it on there, didn't have to buy anything so it must have been the old bracket. New problem though... one of the frame nuts for the crossmember stripped. Its an M10 coarse thread, can I just tap it with a 7/16th?

Also, what the f*** do you think happened here?