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Okay I know this topic is lurking about but I wanted to get commanche approval before I go ahead and waste a lot of cash. 

 

My rig is 2 wheel drive it's driving me up a wall. I found a donor tonight for a great price. I have been searching forever.

 

The donor is a 98 XJ automatic with 3.55 gears. straight 6 4.0 liter. 

 

My rig is a two wheel drive Comanche 88 4 speed. 3.55 gears 2.5 liter.

 

ALL I would need for this swap is:

 

-front axle 
-transmission 
-t-case 

-shifter linkage 
-front driveshaft
-rear driveshaft

 

Should be a pretty straight forward swap? I shouldn't need anything else right? I am a newbie soooo I don't really know. Or am I looking at hell in a hand basket on this one. My skill level to give you a good idea is well... it took me 3 days to swap a rear end out and I almost pulled my all my hair out doing it. How much harder would this be? Would I be pulling my own teeth to try and accomplish it? Let me know thanks! 

 

 

-Clark  

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Could I use a AX15 if  the bell housing was swapped? Maybe it would bolt up? I say this because I've seen it discussed about using an AX15 on the 2.5 as a better choice of transmission when the AX5 craps out. The only issue being the output is different so that it is easiest to use the AX15 and it's mating transfer case to avoid the problem with the output shaft being different? Would this work? Or am I just talking silly?

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Okay so to make it a successful swap. For these two. I would need. 

 

From the XJ donor

-front axle 
-transmission 
-t-case 

-shifter linkage 
-front driveshaft
-rear driveshaft

From some dakota in a junkyard yet to be found. 

96-98,99 dakota bellhousing from a 2.5

an ax15 from a dakota 2.5.

 

If I have those parts I should be golden for the swap correct? 

 

OR I could 

From the XJ donor

-front axle 
-transmission 
-t-case 

-shifter linkage 
-front driveshaft
-rear driveshaft

Junkyard find an 

-Find an AX5

 

This would also work for a complete swap correct?

 

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Shelby - I thought the XJ front drive shaft will fit since the axle and the Tcase came from the same vehicle. True, the rear DS will need to be modified. Lowly - I thought you claimed to have an AX15 already. If so, you just need the BH from the Dakota. If the Dakota has the complete AX15/BH, get them and sell your other AX15.

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What about gear ratios in the axles? You've got an AX4 which should put 3.55s in the stock axle in your truck. If you're using the axles from a donor XJ with a 4.0/AX15 then it should have 3.07s which would be a terrible combo when paired with that 2.5 of yours. Or, if you're looking for a donor front axle to match the rear you already have in it, then going with an AX5 or AX15 still won't be very much fun with 3.55s. If going with any five speed trans while keeping your 2.5, you should really have 4.10s in the axles.

 

Geez... things are getting complicated now.  :papers:

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O shoot. So you don't think that donor has 3.55s? I have not seen it personally. I will ask him to send my a picture of the gear ratio. He told me that this 98 XJ 4.0 liter 6 cylinder auto had 3.55 it's not a manual it's an automatic so wouldn't it have 3.55 and not 3.07s? Regardless that makes me nervous I will have him send me a picture. 

 

This donor is an Automatic and not a manual. 

 

"Or, if you're looking for a donor front axle to match the rear you already have in it, then going with an AX5 or AX15 still won't be very much fun with 3.55s"

 

Why do you say that? I am just curious. Mine is currently a 4 speed 2.5L two wheel drive.  

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If the donor is a 4.0/AW4 then it should have 3.55s. If you keep the 3.55s and go with a five speed trans then fifth gear will be pretty much useless without the proper gearing to back it up with a 2.5.

 

Why not swap everything over from the donor and have a 4.0/4wd MJ?

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