TheDirtyJeep401 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I currently have a 2.5 L and want to convert it to 4x4, from what i understand i would need a AX5 transmisson, Dana 30 front axle, front drive shaft and np231 transfer case if I'm correct. I was also wondering if i would have to change the rear drive shaft because of the AX5 being bigger. Also if the AX5 would have the same mounting brackets as my 4 speed would that is currently in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche1 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Regardless ull need a new drive shaft as the transfercase adds length to. don't know about mounting brackets. But make sure rear ring ratio is the same as front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 4 speed being a 4 speed manual? That's an AX-4, and physically the same size as an AX-5. They're identical except for the AX-5 having the 5th gear. The difference is between 2wd and 4wd versions. Yes, you'll need a new rear driveshaft, but it's most likely going to be easier to have your 2wd one cut down. Should run you around $75-$150 at a machine shop. I paid $102 and it came with two new spicer U-joints installed. The shorter driveshaft comes from the 4wd AX-5 and 231 being longer than the 2wd transmission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 AX4 and AX5 are identical on the outside. The AX4 is just missing the shift rail and gears for fifth gear. With the needed parts, an AX4 can actually be converted to an AX5 quite easily. You also don't necessarily need an AX5. You need a 4wd AX4 or AX5. To make sure the transfer case you're getting will bolt up to it (there are a number of different input shafts for different transmissions) you should try to get a transmission and transfer case together out of the same vehicle. Yes you will need a new rear driveshaft. The added length from the transfer case means your 2wd shaft is too long. Rather than trying to find a 4wd 4 cylinder Comanche in a junk yard, as they are difficult to find, the better way to go is to take your 2wd shaft to a drivetrain shop and have them have it shortened and rebalanced for you. You will also need a front driveshaft. This driveshaft will not be the same length as one off a 6 cylinder, which is the majority out there. So if you get a transmission and transfer case out of a Cherokee, you might as well get the front driveshaft from that same Cherokee as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyJeep401 Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 So basically find a parts cherokee that has an 4x4 ax4 or ax5 and just start swapping everything over? shortening it intersets me, Geonovast did u get that done at a shop in springfield? Since I'm not to far, i can get that possibly done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 A parts XJ is ideal, except for one thing. While the AX-4 and AX-5 are basically identical, different axle ratios were used with them. The AX-4 received 3.55 gears, while the AX-5 received 4.10 gears, giving it a close final drive (3.55 vs 3.485) So basically, if you get a parts XJ with an AX-5, you'll need to swap out the rear axles as well. And no, the shop I used was up in Madison, WI (I'm not from MO), and was several years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyJeep401 Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 Oh ok, ill see if i can find one here in my neck of the woods, thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Sure thing. Keep me updated, it's been forever since I've done some real wrenching, if you plan on getting all the parts together and knocking it out at once, I'd be glad to lend a hand if able. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyJeep401 Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 when i get the parts (probrably sometime this summer) ill try to hit you up if you are interested in helping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 And another thing... when you're looking for a trans and/or complete donor vehicle, try to shoot for a 94+ XJ with a 2.5. This will give you the external slave cylinder and the non-CAD Dana 30. 84-86 XJ will also give you an external slave, but a CAD axle, NP207 T-case, and a CV front driveshaft that's as thick as a twig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyJeep401 Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 ok thanks for the heads up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryMJ89 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If u have a 2wd tranny now in ur truck ur rear driveline won't work when u covert it to 4wd te tcase has more spline than the adaptor on the back the 2wd tranny I'm pretty sure I just put an sye kit straight in when I converted mine to 4wd and make sure u get all the mounting hardware that bolts to the undercarriage that all the shift linkages hook too front drivelines I think are all the same between as far as I know in 4wd cherokees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If u have a 2wd tranny now in ur truck ur rear driveline won't work when u covert it to 4wd te tcase has more spline than the adaptor on the back the 2wd tranny I'm pretty sure I just put an sye kit straight in when I converted mine to 4wd and make sure u get all the mounting hardware that bolts to the undercarriage that all the shift linkages hook too front drivelines I think are all the same between as far as I know in 4wd cherokees Huh? Can anybody translate this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I'll give it a shot. If u have a 2wd tranny now in ur truck ur rear driveline won't work when u covert it to 4wd "If you have a 2wd transmission in your truck, your rear driveshaft won't work when you convert it to 4wd" Has already been covered twice in this thread. te tcase has more spline than the adaptor on the back the 2wd tranny I'm pretty sure I just put an sye kit straight in when I converted mine to 4wd "The T-case has more splines than the output shaft of the 2wd transmission, I'm pretty sure. I just put an SYE kit straight in when I converted mine to 4wd." This is something I'm glad he brought up, as I constantly forget about it, despite having this issue myself. The 2wd AX-4/5 has a 21 spline output shaft. Our transfercases have a 27 spline output. OP will need a 4wd yoke. and make sure u get all the mounting hardware that bolts to the undercarriage that all the shift linkages hook too front drivelines I think are all the same between as far as I know in 4wd cherokees "And make sure you get all the mounting hardware for the shift linkages that bolts to the undercarriage. I think the front driveshafts are all the same between 4wd Comanches and Cherokees." Also been covered. Driveshafts are the same between XJs and MJs, but not the same between engine/trans/t-case combinations. OP needs a 4 cylinder manual from driveshaft for whichever T-case he gets. NP207 has a flange for a normal CV joint, NP231s have a yoke for a double cardan joint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for the translation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDirtyJeep401 Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 One more question, will i need mounting brackets for the t case?Or will it mount right up with the AX5 with no brackets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Sarcasm/sar-ka-zem/ n 1: A cutting or contemptous remark 2: Ironic criticism or reproach. -- sar-cas-tic/ adv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 One more question, will i need mounting brackets for the t case?Or will it mount right up with the AX5 with no brackets? 2wd ax4/ax5 and 4wd ax4/ax5 should mount the same, using the same bracket. Only difference is the 4wd one will have a transfer case hanging off the back of it. The transfer case is bolted to the transmission using 5 bolts. The transmission bolts to the crossmember using a transmission mount. 4 bolts from the mount to the crossmember, 3 bolts from the mount to the transmission. The transfer case flange and transmission actually have 6 holes to bolt them together, but for some reason I have not yet discovered, one of them always seems to have a plastic plug in it instead of a sixth bolt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 The transfer case flange and transmission actually have 6 holes to bolt them together, but for some reason I have not yet discovered, one of them always seems to have a plastic plug in it instead of a sixth bolt. I've dealt with a few 4wd AX-4/5s, but have never seen this. Have a pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 You will also need the shifter and linkages for the transfer case. These are also specific to the different cases. Your trans tunnel will already have the cutout for it, just with a cover plate over it that will need to be removed, and a hole cut in your carpet. Your shifter console should also have a spot in it already with a little change holder that can be removed so the shifter can come through and have its shifter bezel in the same spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 The transfer case flange and transmission actually have 6 holes to bolt them together, but for some reason I have not yet discovered, one of them always seems to have a plastic plug in it instead of a sixth bolt. I've dealt with a few 4wd AX-4/5s, but have never seen this. Have a pic? I only have one AX5 left, and it is currently under my truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFAComanche6 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 2wd ax4/ax5 and 4wd ax4/ax5 should mount the same, using the same bracket. Only difference is the 4wd one will have a transfer case hanging off the back of it. The transfer case is bolted to the transmission using 5 bolts. The transmission bolts to the crossmember using a transmission mount. 4 bolts from the mount to the crossmember, 3 bolts from the mount to the transmission. The transfer case flange and transmission actually have 6 holes to bolt them together, but for some reason I have not yet discovered, one of them always seems to have a plastic plug in it instead of a sixth bolt. I thought that was a broken bolt, whew... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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