Ax15 question 🙋‍♂️

[UpstateMJ]

Have an 88 manche and I have the ba10 trans found a sub 100k miles ax15 out of a tj for 500 bucks. Is that a fair price? Also what do I do about the cross member mount? Is it the same as the ba10?

[DirtyComanche]

You need an AX-15 crossmember, mounting plate, and mount from an XJ.  The mount itself is a wear part, so just buy a new one.  You can butcher or make the other parts if you need to, but that's assuming some fabrication ability.

 

Also, the tailhousing on the TJ tranny is drilled to the wrong clock angle for your tcase, it may (probably) hit the floor.

[mjeff87]

All that, plus the shifter may not play nice with your interior.  You can swap in an MJ/XJ shifter, though.  I've got a spare one still if you pursue this route.

[UpstateMJ]

2 hours ago, DirtyComanche said:

You need an AX-15 crossmember, mounting plate, and mount from an XJ.  The mount itself is a wear part, so just buy a new one.  You can butcher or make the other parts if you need to, but that's assuming some fabrication ability.

 

Also, the tailhousing on the TJ tranny is drilled to the wrong clock angle for your tcase, it may (probably) hit the floor.

So a aw4 cross member from an xj won’t work?

[UpstateMJ]

2 hours ago, mjeff87 said:

All that, plus the shifter may not play nice with your interior.  You can swap in an MJ/XJ shifter, though.  I've got a spare one still if you pursue this route.

What do you mean?

[MiNi Beast]

You will need the mount for the crossmember to work. https://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/rear-mounts/rmax15-rear-mount

 

Also be aware of the input shaft being of a larger diameter then your 88 ba 10. 

Should also be a external setup as well vs your internal clutch setup now so ensure you collect all the parts before you dive in unless you have time and place to perform project. 

[jdog]

6 hours ago, UpstateMJ said:

What do you mean?

There shaped differently

[mjeff87]

The AX-15 crossmember is specific to itself.  The center of it (where the mount bolts) is "notched", not level straight across like the other crossmembers.  The other ones will physically fit, and the AX will bolt to it, but it causes the trans to sit too high in the tunnel.  If you are 4WD, your TC shifter linkage will not line up, and the rubber isolator for your exhaust hanger won't either.  Ask me how I know this.  On the shifter, the actual shift rod is shaped/bent differently, and may contact your lower dash when shifting to 1, 3 and 5 (I might be thinking of a YJ on this one, can't remember......maybe someone else can clarify).

 

Also, if you are 4WD, you'll need the TC shifter bits and pieces also.  Specifically, the bracket that bolts to the trans tunnel, the bracket that attaches to the trans, and the shift rod that connects the bottom of the TC shift lever to the mode bracket.  All three of those pieces are AX-15 specific as well.

[UpstateMJ]

2 hours ago, mjeff87 said:

The AX-15 crossmember is specific to itself.  The center of it (where the mount bolts) is "notched", not level straight across like the other crossmembers.  The other ones will physically fit, and the AX will bolt to it, but it causes the trans to sit too high in the tunnel.  If you are 4WD, your TC shifter linkage will not line up, and the rubber isolator for your exhaust hanger won't either.  Ask me how I know this.  On the shifter, the actual shift rod is shaped/bent differently, and may contact your lower dash when shifting to 1, 3 and 5 (I might be thinking of a YJ on this one, can't remember......maybe someone else can clarify).

 

Also, if you are 4WD, you'll need the TC shifter bits and pieces also.  Specifically, the bracket that bolts to the trans tunnel, the bracket that attaches to the trans, and the shift rod that connects the bottom of the TC shift lever to the mode bracket.  All three of those pieces are AX-15 specific as well.

What if I put a transfer case drop on the cross member would that work?

[87MJTIM]

Pictures of an AX15 cross member and mount 

 

[mjeff87]

You could use a drop kit, yes.  But you'd end up losing that amount of clearance under the crossmember (if that's important to you).

[UpstateMJ]

36 minutes ago, mjeff87 said:

You could use a drop kit, yes.  But you'd end up losing that amount of clearance under the crossmember (if that's important to you).

I plan to go long arms eventually too tho so won’t be too big of a deal