Convert Comanche To 4X4, Using 91 Jeep Cherokee In 10Hr's

[daking]

Good Day :)

 

My 87' Jeep is having Transmission issues, its a 5Speed. I'm being told its a "Puke" or something transmission.

 

So, I found a 91' Jeep Cherokee SUV 4X4. Both Trucks have a 4.0 Engine, However the jeep Cherokee has an Automatic.

 

Questions :

 

1. Can I take the Axles, Transmission, Transfer case & drive shafts, and put them in my 4X2 Comanche?

 

2. think I can do this in less then 10 hr's?

 

 

 

 

Are there any write up's on this type of project?

 

Thanks..

 

By the by, I know my 5Speed was going out, And I've been on the look out for a 4X4 Cherokee to gut. So, I got $400 cash, an drove around my neighborhood. Saw the jeep, knocked on the door, cash in hand. The guy was kinda shocked, but handed the the title and keys. :) I had spent weeks looking through crags list before....

[jimoshel]

Yes. Can you hustle? Use search, projects.

[Gjeep]

You will never get that done right in 10 hrs. I recently converted my truck to 4wd. Don't rush it. There will be some connector issues but there are work arounds. You're truck uses vacuum for the dash light trigger, newer is elec. The transfer case switch is vacuum vs elec. Handful of other things. Again, parts can be modified to work - it just takes time. Give yourself 2 days at a minimum and that would be considered rushing in my book.

[daking]

Thanks guys,

 

I was looking at the rear axle. On my jeep truck, its a "spring under", on the donor truck, its spring over. think that'll be an issue? If I use the donor axle, it'll net me ~3" lift on the rear, right?

 

What about the rear drive shaft, will the donor one fit?

 

thanks

[Eagle]

Thanks guys,

 

I was looking at the rear axle. On my jeep truck, its a "spring under", on the donor truck, its spring over. think that'll be an issue? If I use the donor axle, it'll net me ~3" lift on the rear, right?

 

What about the rear drive shaft, will the donor one fit?

 

thanks

 

If you use the Cheroke axle in the MJ, you will have to move the spring percehes whether you go spring under OR spring over, because the width between the perches is different. If you go spring over on the MJ, the resulting lift will be 5-1/2 to 6 inches, not 3. And with the change from 4x2 to 4x4 AND to an automatic, your driveshaft will almost certainly not be the right length. The Cherokee driveshaft will be much too short, so it's not even a consideration.

[mvusse]

Your current engine has a flywheel on it. For an automatic transmission you need a flex plate instead. The 91 being an HO and yours being a Renix means you can swap the flex plate from the donor, but will have to find an older one somewhere else. You may also need the transmission wiring harness and I'm assuming that again the HO one out of the 91 won't plug into your Renix engine bay harness. Supposedly a 91 transmission will work with a 90 or older TCU, but you will have to splice some wires, but the 91 TCU may not work with your 98 electronics.

 

And no. 10 hours is WAY out of the question. Starting Friday afternoon, count on at least an entire weekend to have it all done except the rear driveshaft. Then Monday measure for the rear driveshaft and take your current 2wd one to a shop to have it shortened and rebalanced.

[Dadinator]

Plan on the truck being down awhile.

You will find a lot of little stuff that has to be done as well.

You'll need some changes to the wiring harness to make sure the truck won't start unless in park. You'll need the AW4 tranny computer and harness moved over. Lot's of little details.

Pedal assemblies will have to be swapped and some wiring under the dash. I did the opposite. I changed mine from auto to manual. Check my build thread for a few pics.

[daking]

If you use the Cheroke axle in the MJ, you will have to move the spring percehes whether you go spring under OR spring over, because the width between the perches is different. If you go spring over on the MJ, the resulting lift will be 5-1/2 to 6 inches, not 3. And with the change from 4x2 to 4x4 AND to an automatic, your driveshaft will almost certainly not be the right length. The Cherokee driveshaft will be much too short, so it's not even a consideration.

 

so the rear springs will not line up? That sucks. So I'll need to grind off the mounts and re wield them.. Thanks for info.

[daking]

I don't really want to go Automatic, I'd rather stay with a 5-speed. So now I'm on the hunt for an AX15 (?) transmission and matching transfer case.

 

Am I right, the AX15 is the better 5-speed to have?

 

Thanks

[Minuit]

Yes, the AX-15 is the one you want. The puke-goat is horrible as you've already experienced. :thumbsup:

[adam518]

Plan on the truck being down awhile.

You will find a lot of little stuff that has to be done as well.

 

Amen.

 

Keeping it manual will make it easier and quicker, but you will need to find a 4wd AX15....and yes the AX15 is the best/easiest trans to do your conversion. Take your time & locate a good '94 up Cherokee bell housing to get the more reliable external slave cylinder setup. It is well worth the effort.

 

I did a 2wd to 4wd conversion on my own '91. Could it be done in a weekend...sure...now that I have done it, but on my first go around, no way! Even at the time I did my swap, I was completely familiar with the MJ/XJ suspension after having toyed with my own XJ for several years as well as helping lift several others. If you can, plan on it being down for a bit and try to do it right. As stated earlier, other stuff will always pop up. It is really not that big a deal to do the swap and I am sure you can do it, but I wouldn't tear into my truck on Friday night if I needed it to get me to work Monday morning.

[HOrnbrod]

Yes. Can you hustle? Use search, projects.

I echo this. You are just throwing out questions with zero research. ALL this stuff has been answered many many times and is readily available should you care to look. Search the forum, get smart first, then ask away.

[Rymanrph]

I wouldn't tear into my truck on Friday night if I needed it to get me to work Monday morning.

 

Ditto. There is always something that will pop up. Give yourself the time needed to make sure you do it right. If all you had to do was swap the transmission, transfer case and the front axle, then it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Its going to be a lot easier to stick with the 5 speed. You should be able to get an AX-15 from the junk yard for ~$300.

[mvusse]

I would suggest getting the transfer case from the same vehicle the transmission came from. That way you knwo the transfer case will bolt up to it because in addition to the 21 spline/23 spline difference, the transfer case could have 3 different length input shafts depending on transmission.

 

You also don't have to the the swap all at once.

 

Swap in the front axle one weekend.

 

Swap in the transmission and transfer case a different weekend. If you use one out of a newer Cherokee with the externally lubricated driveshaft you can use the truck in front wheel drive without a rear driveshaft installed. Do make sure you have the correct pilot bearing to fit an AX15 to an engine that had a Puegeot earlier. Oh yeah, when you get the transmission and transfer case, get the front driveshaft from the same vehicle as well. Again, these come in different lengths based on transmission.

 

Measure carefully and have your 2wd rear drive shaft cut down to the correct length and rebalanced whenever.