CaptainPatchy Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 1 hour ago, Pete M said: bellhousing is the hardest to find I think I can source that pretty easily from ebay or deadjeep, but we'll see! I was able to source another part of the puzzle earlier this week, a computer from a 91' XJ that came factory with a 4.0 and a manual. That should just swap in I believe and correct any issues as far as pcm/tcm go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torq_Shep Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 You shouldnt need to change your PCM at all to run manual. You just need to jump two pins on the NSS plug and rewire the reverse lights for the AX-15 detent ball switch thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaleless Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 I know on Renix the Auto computer has a higher idle and 96+ throws a CEL, but I think Torq is right and 91-95 there's no reason to swap computers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted June 13, 2021 Author Share Posted June 13, 2021 On 6/10/2021 at 8:58 AM, Torq_Shep said: You shouldnt need to change your PCM at all to run manual. You just need to jump two pins on the NSS plug and rewire the reverse lights for the AX-15 detent ball switch thing. On 6/10/2021 at 1:51 PM, scaleless said: I know on Renix the Auto computer has a higher idle and 96+ throws a CEL, but I think Torq is right and 91-95 there's no reason to swap computers. I had read (possibly incorrectly) that the computers for the obd1 systems would have either lower or higher idle issues and that a computer swap would correct this, but maybe it was just for the renix years. Either way, a guy had done a obd2 swap in his cherokee and gave me the computer for not much more than shipping costs so I'm not too worried about it. When i get to the point where I actually swap the trans, I'll do a test of both computers and see if there's any change for the community! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 Just putting this here for posterity: Found and ordered the external slave bellhousing and external slave bearing retainer. Still need to get a flywheel, clutch/pressure plate and throwout bearing along with master/slave combo and various small pieces for the trans like the shift fork and retainer clips. Might replace the little plastic ball piece for the fork as well while I'm getting in there. Not sure if the new bearing retainer comes with the seal or not, so might need that as well. Finally I haven't looked to be sure, but I think I'm going to need to source a 2wd manual MJ rear driveshaft as I doubt the AW4 one will fit. Need to verify the bolts mounting the trans to the engine are the same between the AW4 and AX15, as well as the bolts holding the bearing retainer on for internal vs. external slave. Then I need to figure out which electronics on my ax15 are for what so I know where I'll need to route them once I start the install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 where did you order the bellhousing from? junkyard or a company stocking them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 12 hours ago, Pete M said: where did you order the bellhousing from? junkyard or a company stocking them? I was able to find a reseller called "deadjeep.com" that had a few. I looked up the part number and it appears to be the same for any AX15 behind a 4.0L in most applications. Oem # was 53008157. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted April 27, 2022 Author Share Posted April 27, 2022 Been a long, cold winter here in the midwest. Spent some time framing and insulating my garage with some Rock-wool and it took the bite off the cold, but I'm going to need to get a heater of some kind for future prolonged work. With the nice weather this last weekend, I took a trip to the local junkyard with my dad to walk around and spend time together. I didn't intend to find anything I would need, but stumbled upon a 2001 XJ with a 2wd front axle! Figured I could use this to build for brakes and clearance for the oil pan without taking away my limited driving months. I swear, at some point the "parts accumulation" phase is going to transition into the "actually getting stuff done" phase but we'll see what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted May 4, 2022 Author Share Posted May 4, 2022 With spring finally coming, I spent some more time working on the truck. First an oil change for the new year... Then, after warming it up and a quick ride around town I got started on my next phase of garage reno. Hanging 1/2 plywood on my newly framed and insulated walls, which should be strong enough to hold up anything I'd really want to wall hang. As a not-carpenter, cutting for outlets is a major pain in the rear. Especially considering it'd be a nearly ~$50 mistake if I messed up a sheet. Made enough progress for the day and decided to put the rest off until this coming weekend. The truck drove great after its long winter slumber though, so that was awesome. I forgot how much attention it gets just driving around. Hopefully this rain works it way out soon so I can get back to driving it more regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 that's an expensive wall for sure, but sooooooooo worth it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WranglerMangler Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 What back spacing do your wheels have? I’m looking to replace my ugly stock wheels with some more modern factory take offs and don’t want them sticking out of the wheel wells with the adapter spacers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 20 hours ago, WranglerMangler said: What back spacing do your wheels have? I’m looking to replace my ugly stock wheels with some more modern factory take offs and don’t want them sticking out of the wheel wells with the adapter spacers. They came with the truck when I bought it, and I was told they are 03' Cobra rims. So far what I have found says that they are 17x9 square set with a +26mm offset. I do know that I added the spacers on the rear to bring them closer to the fenders in the rear. Edit: forgot to add, these are factory 5x4.5 bolt pattern so they fit without any adapters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WranglerMangler Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Thank you very much. I appreciate the response and love your truck. Keep up the great work and I hope mine can be as cool as yours some day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tactical Bacon Posted May 28, 2022 Share Posted May 28, 2022 @CaptainPatchy I just put the same style of wheels on my Eliminator in black with some 275/40R17s. What size of tire do you have on yours and what pressure do you run yours at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted May 28, 2022 Author Share Posted May 28, 2022 I also run a 275/40 ZR17 on mine that the truck came with when I bought it. I've been running them around 30ish psi as that always seemed to work well on my cherokee before and I didn't really have any other numbers to go off. I haven't noticed any weird wear patterns as of yet so we'll see how that turns out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted September 16, 2022 Author Share Posted September 16, 2022 Decided to have the transmission gone through by a local shop before I went through all the work of swapping it in this winter. Went to mount up the shifter and tower I was told were from an Ax15, and was surprised to find they didn't fit! I had a brief moment of panic considering if I'd been given the wrong tranny then decided to ask some folks in the cherokee forum group. One seemed convince it came from an AX5 After sealing the hole back up I brought it to the only local shop I could find that would take manual transmission work, and he thankfully knew immediately that it was in fact an ax15 and that he could get right into it. So now I'm waiting for that to come back and still slowly acquiring the last of the pieces I'll need to tear into the swap over this winter. (In my nice, now heated and insulated, garage!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 In the process of trying to find an oem shifter the majority of people said that the Core short throw kit was the bee's knees. It's only money right? It certainly is a nice piece of kit anyways! Also was able to source the inspection cover, again from dead jeep. Really appreciate what they do for us old jeep lovers. Still need to decide on what master/slave combo to use. I did stumble upon a thread where a guy had used a wilwood clutch master and that was intriguing. If anyone sees this and knows of a quality master/slave combo I'm all ears! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchamakalit Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 I went from a tall TJ shifter to the core short throw on my ax15. You won't be disappointed. The only complaint is have is that I waited too long to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted October 22, 2022 Author Share Posted October 22, 2022 Been out of town/busy the last few weeks but when I got back into town, I was able to go pick up my newly refreshed trans from the shop. He said mostly everything looked good minus the nasty fluid, but went ahead and did a syncro and seal kit as well as added a newer 5th gear that had been an updated part. While they had it, I went ahead and had them throw on the external slave bearing retainer to seal it all back up. I've noticed even with the automatic, sharp throttle inputs produce some weird rear end shakes that I think is related to axle wrap. Going to the manual I believe will only make this worse, since you won't have the slushbox to absorb some of that power transfer. While I was looking for a way to keep the rear end lower, without using the blocks it had come with, I stumbled across a company in Colorado called Alcan Spring that advertised as being able to custom make any spring rate and arch height, so I reached out to them to inquire about custom 3" drop leaves. He seemed pretty confident that they'd be able to come up with something, and asked if I could get the truck weighed so he'd know F/R bias and if possible side to side. I was able to find a guy locally who let me borrow his corner scales for some beer money. 3236, with a half tank of gas and without me in it. Seems a little heavier than I thought it'd be. Kind of cool to see exactly what and where that weight is though. Finally, after a quick bath I again took the truck to the yearly all-jeep show. For a THIRD time, it is the now undisputed, welterweight champion of the "Unique Jeep" class! With the weather starting to change, I might only get to take it out a few more times this year before it gets parked for the last time as an auto! (finger's crossed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Still a very cool truck. Thanks for the update and all the best with the trans swap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 what can I say. nice MJs win awards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRappleguy Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Any word on those Lower leaf springs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainPatchy Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 8 hours ago, JRappleguy said: Any word on those Lower leaf springs? Got them in and they're pretty sweet, here's an update: Finished the year sort of late, since we had such unseasonably nice weather here in Ne. Started tearing into the rear suspension Still ever surprised at how completely rust free this truck is, a rarity for vehicles around here Leaves came out easily, didn't even have to use impact tools to get them unbolted which was shocking This is a rear leaf bolt, probably untouched in 31 years, and came apart with hand tools. I've never dealt with one of these where they didn't snap and fight the whole way out. New drop leaves compared to factory rate New leaves bolted up and the vehicle resting on the axles. Might be a bit TOO low but I can probably do some work in the front to get it down to match. Got the AW4 out pretty easily, again with no rust everything just sort of....unbolts. It's nuts Looks like it's had a rear main leak for a while, should probably replace that while I've got access Picked up an engine hoist bar to hold up the rear so I can drop the pan Cleaned up underneath, much better. I've since been working on getting my separated combustion shop heater installed in the garage since it's not super comfortable working in there right now, but I've been acquiring parts to change the rear main, oil pan and oil filter gaskets as well as all the little parts to swap the manual in. I've got many little projects at the moment but I've still got several months of cold weather so I'm not too worried. I went with 3" below factory for the rear springs and honestly they might be an inch or two lower than I intended but they are a custom rate between the factory normal and "HD" rate and they seem STIFF as hell so should be pretty nice. I've got that front axle to build that'll hopefully allow me to bring the front down another inch or so to hopefully match the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strictlyxjs Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 On 9/24/2022 at 7:51 PM, CaptainPatchy said: Also was able to source the inspection cover, again from dead jeep. Really appreciate what they do for us old jeep lovers. I'm glad you had a good experience, i work for dead jeep (13 years). Its a really small mom and pop type place but we ship hundreds of used parts every day. Its to bad because 1000 people will have a great experience with us and we hear crickets but we get one person whos order gets delayed or something out of our control and people go insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRappleguy Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 Well, I’m looking forward to seeing the truck on the ground. Is there a way to order the leafs like you did or just ask them for 3in lower MJ springs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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