4wd help

[Jeepcomanche87]

If I want to change my 87 2.5 4 cyl comanche to 4wd, what am I looking for? I want to keep it manual also.... so am I look for an mj or xj with manual transmission, and then I can just swap all the necassary parts over?

[Pete M]

pretty much, yes. :thumbsup: any year XJ/MJ will work for ya. the only hiccup is the rear driveshaft and most of us get our 2wd shortened to length.

 

try to get only 2.5L/5spd rigs, as they should have 4.10 gears in the axles. and verify those gears before buying a whole jeep.

[dasbulliwagen]

To expand on what Pete said, youll need a trans from an XJ or MJ with a 2.5 in it. Ones from a 4.0 will not bolt up without a rare and difficult to find 2.5 Dakota bellhousing or an expensive adapter kit. 2.5 XJ/MJ's with a 2.5 and a 5 speed usually came with 4:10 geared axles and would be perfect for a 4wd swap.

[Jeepcomanche87]

Mine is a 4 speed manual right now. But I can still use a 5 speed manual and it will bolt up the same right?

Thanks

[Pete M]

yup. the AX-4 and AX-5 (the ones found behind the 2.5L) are identical on the outside. :thumbsup:

[Jeepcomanche87]

Ok thanks I hope I can afford it and I hope I can find the parts!

[mvusse]

You can also use one out of a YJ or TJ, but will have to modify your floor a bit (I cut a 2" by 3" hole and used fiberglass matting and 2 part epoxy filler to make a bubble) to clear the double cardan joint on the front driveshaft as these transmission clock the transfer case up higher. Other than that they are a bolt in. I like the YJ transfer case shifter linkage better also, but it moves the shifter forward a few inches, so you will have to modify your center console if you have one.

 

4.10 gears with the 5 speed give the same final ratio in 5th as the 4 speed with 3.55 gears does in 4th. On stock tires I found that too low (19mpg at 75mph), so I swapped in a 5 speed but kept the 3.55 gears. Gutless, but now I get 24mpg at 75mph (or 27mpg at 60, same as I did with the 4 speed).

 

If I want power I use my daughter's XJ. 4.0 HO, 4,10 gears and a custom tuned ECM :brows:

[Jeepcomanche87]

Ok thanks a lot!

[Geonovast]

You also don't have to restrict yourself to the 2.5. The 2.8 also used the AX-4/5 with the same bellhousing as the 2.5. It might actually be beneficial to look for an 84-86, as it will be an external slave. 94ish + will also be external.