Pete M

switching to a 4.0 will require changing just about EVERYTHING. the 2.5 with a 4speed was paired with 3.55 gears and that's what's really holding you back. swapping in 4.10 geared axles will liven it up a bunch. add in a 5spd if you plan on lots of freeway travel. don't bother with the 5spdif you intend on big fat tires as 5th gear then becomes useless. and the oil is likely just a bad valve cover gasket. very common.

it sounds like your rattle is different, but I figured there's no harm in throwing it out there that my last rattle was a bad exhaust mount near the trans and the exhaust pipe was touching the trans only under certain circumstances (I think it was at idle, but not when driving).

'merica

have you seen car-part.com yet?

that's pretty epic right there. :bowdown: post that up in the main pub forum so more guys will see it. :thumbsup:

that's what I used. :D

any jeep 84-02 (I think, can't remember what the last year was for the 2.5) can donate it's head. I would post up some wanted ads in the big cherokee/wrangler jeep forums. :thumbsup: Heck, i think some years of dakota can even work. :D

how close are you to Columbia MO? car-part.com shows a couple there outta 94/95 wranglers that are listed at 130.

:bowdown:

I did this:

just because it's free, doesn't mean it automatically a good idea. the 2.8 may share its transmission pattern, but shares little else with the 2.5. is it complete with exhaust, accessories, carb, wiring, etc? try the classifieds here or try car-part.com for junkyard searches. the 2.5 has remained pretty much the same for 20 years so there's gotta be a decent head out there for ya. out of curiosity, what precisely has gone wrong with the 2.5?

why are you looking at that particular engine?

so by "bad tranny", you simply mean it's a peugeot? then it makes more sense. they certainly aren't a good transmission. :yes:

nah. hooked them up to a separate switch/relay so I had more control over them. but if I was to wire anything to the trans switch, I'd still use a relay.

ever since I added aftermarket lights as backup lights, I will not go back. never underestimate the awesomeness that is being able to see where you're going. :D

Pueblo, Colorado

spoken like a true non-rustbeltian. :D

yes, several. :D

that's about as bad as I've ever seen :( how good are you with a welder? tube bender? I mean, it's a frame, not rocket science. if you can build one, you're golden. :D having said that, you can get a rust free one from Jim (who lives in CO) shipped to your door for less than 1500.

"widening the tunnel"? :hmm: never heard that one before. :???: items on the list (off the top of my head): t-case input (peugeot has a 21 spline output, AX-15 has a 23) pilot bearing (which one you get depends on the year of the new trans) crossmember (ax-15 one is different) stickshift is different trans mount is different

just went out to the barn and I can confirm that is the one that worked for me. :thumbsup:

that is not likely to succeed. :( the HF one is $23 http://www.harborfreight.com/3-jaw-pilot-bearing-puller-4876.htmland they will send it to your door. :thumbsup:

harbor freight has one. might even be the one I used.

try a different one. :thumbsup: the first one I tried didn't work, but I got a 3 jaw one that did the trick. don't ask me where I got it from, it was a decade ago. :( I'd guess autozone, but that might be where I got the one that didn't work.

in what way is your puller failing? what's happening? 2 jaw or 3 jaw?