Well I think one of the next bigger projects for my Jeep is going to be replacing my AW-4. There isn't anything wrong with it other than the facts its an automatic and I hate auto's, so I found a writeup on NAXJA about it and it doesn't look very difficult to me, just have to find the tranny I want to put in.

I've heard that the 3550 is a bit stronger than the AX-15 from some and others have said that they are almost exactly the same actual strength, just the 3550 is rated higher. Basically unless the 3550 is miles better I think i'm going to go with the AX-15 mostly for the ease of finding one and far reduced cost. I should be able to get a junkyard one out of a XJ or Wrangler and rebuild it for about half of the cost of a 3550 it looks like. There are a couple other non stock options as well.

The NSG370 6 Speed out of the 04+ wrangler bolts right in as well and is supposed to be the strongest of the bunch. So do a couple others as well, but those are all very comfortably outside my price range. Im not looking to spend more than maybe 600-700 dollars for all the parts (Tranny, Rebuild Kit, Slave Cyl, Pedals, Linkage, New Clutch)

What do you guys think, should I go with the AX-15 or is it worth the extra cost and effort to find a 3550?

 

I dont know anything about the 3550 but I know the ax-15 is a good tranny. If I was to swap i would do a AX-15. But let someone else who knows about the other one chime in. But I say go for it and do the swap and dont let anyone talk you out of it. lol

 

Well its definitely getting a standard of some sort before the end of the Summer, only thing that's up in the air is what kind.

 

http://advanceadapters.com/resources/986/Jeep-AX15.html Check out what AA has to say...Hope this helps

 

Thanks for the link. I think i'm going with the AX-15 then.

 

Bump. Just Looking for more opinions.

 

you will spend way more than ~700 to do that swap if you rebuild the tranny too. I bought my AX-15, did the swap (puguot crap to ax-15) when my old tranny gave up the ghost.

I bought the tranny rebuilt for $150, spent $250 on parts and another $250 or so using a friends lift to install it. $200 for gast trailer rental to get the rig off the side of the road, and a whole bunch of crap in one day (that was a horrible day in the rain loading it by myself, with a broken come-along....)

I rebuilt the NP231 while I was at it. $50 there.

Spend like $750-800 to do it all.

it sounds easy, but it is something else once you get started as I found out.

 

dont worry get a AX-15..make sure it is external slave.

 

Well I wont be needing to be towed or anything or pay for tools, so if I get the transmission, a new slave cyl, a new clutch and a few other odds and ends i cant see spending more than 700 bucks, not if I shop aroubd a little and dont get ripped off.

 

Can you post up the naxja link? I want to do an ax-15 swap too! Thanks man.

 

is there any way to tell what year they made the external slave.? which one's more common, internal or external. looking into the swap. and just out of curiosity does anyone know if you can swap an ax15 from a two wheel drive to a 4wd? thanks

 

97+ have the external slave for sure, some xj's have them 94-96 too. definitely go with the external slave. it will save you tons of headaches later.

The ax-15 is solid as a rock. I have it, I highly recommend it.

 

i hate automatics also. my torque converter gave up locking up...so its never good going over like 55mph cause the engine just works too hard. ive been looking into an ax15 swap. some people say its easy, some say a waste of time. im just wondering which is which.

 

Ive been looking and i just want to know like all the parts im going to need

 

From what i have seen you can but the main trany shaft and exit housing have to be changed out. It seems like alot of work for something you could find already in a JY.