AW4 to AX15 swap ECU / TCU question

OH ok that's not the actual writeup I am trying to get posted, that's just my progress thread. Yeah, the drive shafts you'll get with the AX-15 will be CORRECT. I didn't see that you were getting them in the deal. What year is the ax-15 you are getting and what year is your jeep? you said it comes with a t-case though, but i guess yours already has the SYE? I swapped my sye into my new t-case prolly took me 30-45 min...and i forgot a snap ring and had to take it apart again after i had it all bolted up. Even if you do have to swap t-case stuff around it's not a big job. 231s are incredibly simple.
 
oh, one more thing. what will you be doing for a rear driveshaft with the SYE? Does the AX-15 driveline you are getting come with a dual cardan rear shaft? If not, you could get a ZJ V8 front shaft (if you have ~3+ in lift it will be perfect) or you could have the auto front DS lengthened some at a shop. Cost me about $150 when I had that done about 2 yrs ago.
 
Char-Broil said:
OH ok that's not the actual writeup I am trying to get posted, that's just my progress thread. Yeah, the drive shafts you'll get with the AX-15 will be CORRECT. I didn't see that you were getting them in the deal. What year is the ax-15 you are getting and what year is your jeep? you said it comes with a t-case though, but i guess yours already has the SYE? I swapped my sye into my new t-case prolly took me 30-45 min...and i forgot a snap ring and had to take it apart again after i had it all bolted up. Even if you do have to swap t-case stuff around it's not a big job. 231s are incredibly simple.
Click to expand...

Oh ok well thats where I read most of the stuff. The AX-15 is from a '94 and my Jeep is a '99. It does come with a t-case but it is still the slip yolk type. I put a SYE in mine about three months ago and I love it. Not to mention my t-case is in perfect condition (I checked it out when I installed the SYE). But also I was worried about the electronc speed sensor in the tail housing. I'm not sure if it is the same between the '94 and the '99. I want to keep it the way it is. And from what I read it will be easier to just swap the input gears in the t-cases. As far as the driveline goes, the one I'm getting is just the factory one and the one I have now for my SYE is the nice double cardan type. I was hoping I could reuse that. If not I might go with the ZJ one you mentioned or just try and trade someone for a rear with the double cardan that will work with the manual. Is the AX-15 shorter or longer than the auto? I though it was shorter..
 
Alright VERY similar swap to what I did. Donor Jeep was a 94, my new one is a 2000. That being said, the output gears are the same, i can guarantee you that. Your t-case will bolt right up to the AX-15 no problem with nothing swapped. You are correct, the AX-15 is shorter (3" i believe?) So you would need to have your rear DS lengthened or find a ZJ shaft. The front you are getting with it will work, no problems there.

here is the link to my PDF file of the writeup, while we are awaiting the acceptence of it into the writeups section.

http://www.wetpaintfilms.com/jons/naxja/AW-AXconversion.pdf
 
Oh ok thats good. I want to make this swap as seamless as possible as it is my daily driver and I can't have it out of commission for long. I think my current driveline MIGHT work because it has quite a bit of slip joint before it is too extended. But if not I'm sure getting ahold of the ZJ front won't be too difficult. I'll have to read the PDF writeup later. I'm supposed to be working right now HAHA.
 
Char-Broil said:
here is the link to my PDF file of the writeup, while we are awaiting the acceptence of it into the writeups section.

http://www.wetpaintfilms.com/jons/naxja/AW-AXconversion.pdf
Click to expand...

Ok I've got the writeup. Looks very good! :cheers: That will be a very useful tool during my swap. So now it looks like the biggest problems will be finding a 97-01 clutch pedal assembly and the t=case linkage bracket. Will the linkage arm on my auto t-case still work and all I need is that bracket? You may have mentioned something about it but it eludes me right now. Also, the tranny tunnel adapter with the hole cut into is should work from any year right? I don't need a 97-01?
 
Yeah you need the bracket and the linkage. The ax linkage is shorter. And yeah any year trans tunnel plate will work. If you can't find one you can probably cut yours
 
Ok cool. Hopefully I can find the 97-01 clutch pedal assembly. Any ideas? I've looked everywhere I can think of and can't find anything. I would like to use that so I don't have to do any of that cutting and extending..
 
Char-Broil said:
Alright VERY similar swap to what I did. Donor Jeep was a 94, my new one is a 2000. That being said, the output gears are the same, i can guarantee you that. Your t-case will bolt right up to the AX-15 no problem with nothing swapped. You are correct, the AX-15 is shorter (3" i believe?) So you would need to have your rear DS lengthened or find a ZJ shaft. The front you are getting with it will work, no problems there.

here is the link to my PDF file of the writeup, while we are awaiting the acceptence of it into the writeups section.

http://www.wetpaintfilms.com/jons/naxja/AW-AXconversion.pdf
Click to expand...


Nice write up :)
What type of transfercase did you merge to the AX 15?....can you tell if the input shaft on the TC was the long 23 spline version?
 
I used the stock transfer case out of the 2000 XJ. It was a 23 spline, it would have to be to mate with any AX-15. I swapped in the SYE out of my 94 as well, but everything else on the case is from the 2000.
 
I've been considering this for a while, and I wanted to thank you for the writeup...very well done. Couple of questions: Obviously the gearing is different, but what are your impressions of acceleration vs. the auto? Also, have you checked gas mileage yet? The AW4 seems to be awfully inefficient.

Thanks.
 
Skits said:
I've been considering this for a while, and I wanted to thank you for the writeup...very well done. Couple of questions: Obviously the gearing is different, but what are your impressions of acceleration vs. the auto? Also, have you checked gas mileage yet? The AW4 seems to be awfully inefficient.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have now run both 235/75 R15 (~28") tires and (worn) 245/75 R16 (~29.5 i think) tires. Acceleration is awesome, though the larger tires seemed to be a better match for the gearing. Accel was still good, though I found I would not shift as soon, and didn't need to. It is not doggy at all, and easily cruises at 55-75 mph in the 2000- RPM range (+/- 500 rpm). Mileage I have been averaging about 18 around town (that'll never happen with an AW4. I will be taking it on a 400 mile trip this weekend and another one again soon and I hope to see 20-22 MPG on the 235/75 R15 tires, though that may be a little lower as they are a tad small. I will be keeping my speed around 70MPH cruise though to try and keep it efficient. I'll let you know how it does.

Oseberg said:
Witch Transfer case?(231 or 242)
Click to expand...

231, sorry!
 
OK, thanx. I'm close to hook up an 242 TC to my AX15(have the same set up as you today with the 231).

Have heard that the 242 would be some more "loose" when married to an manual tranny than the 231. Was told that this is the reason why Jeep never sold this combination ?

What do you think, go for it or not ?




97 Sport - 4,0L -AX15/NP231
 
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I say go for it! I have never tried it but have been currious myself. You're right it was never sold that way, though my guess would be that it wouldn't be as easy to control an AWD jeep with the manual in sloppy conditons (for most people). I have changed out transfer cases so many times, it takes me about 30 min now, so I would think nothing of trying this and then changing it back if I didn't like it, provided you have the 242 already and/or aren't spending a lot of money on it. Let us know how it does!
 
I've got 31x10.50R15s on my Jeep with 3.55 gears. Hopefully when I get the manual swapped in I will see better mileage and more power. I'm tired of 13mpg around town and maybe 18mpg highway :flamemad:
 
31's on 3.55's will be great. I ran my 94 that way for a few years, best mileage I ever got was 22. Averaged about 17-19 (even still got around 18 with 33's and taurus fan, and some other basic intake/exhaust mods)
 
Ref taurus fans. I did this.....

759fa9ba-582f-484c-a07a-40139fa48339.jpg

09a3ffd3-11b4-4a07-affb-cfd3ab7e7c1b.jpg


Works great :)
 
what kind of fans are those? Judging by those pictures, it looks like it won't do much of anything without coolant flowing through the rad...haha. there certainly is a lot more space there than there is with the taurus fan!
 
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