let this be THE peguot to AX-15 swap thread

[5-90]

Hi, I have a 87 XJ originally with a BA/10. I am swapping that out for a AX15. Here are the questions I have:

1. I have the transmission mounted and it seems to be sitting fine. If this is so, could the pilot bearing size still be wrong? Is the concern that it is too big?

It either fits or it don't. The AX-15 pilot is either the same size as the BA-10 (early) or larger (late.) If it didn't fit, you'd have to replace the pilot bushing.

2. I am using the whole same clutch setup, is this ok?

Just fine. Internal slave?

3. I still have to find a NP231 with the 23 spline input, is the shaft also larger?

Slightly. You can also find an early (say, 1994 or earlier) 23-sp input set and swap that into your NP231. Same results.

4. How have you guys taken care of the shift linkage for the t-case?

Either pull it from the donor, or fab one, or get the Novak kit.

5. Can I use the same cross member mount, but just drill new holes or make a bracket?

Yes, no modification necessary.

6 Is there any other concerns?

I think this thread covers just about everything - between the history and what I've answered here (which is probably all covered through the thread anyhow...)

Oh - "Ed Gruberman, you must learn patience." It's bad form to bump your own answer to get information - most of us only check the board once or twice a day, some of us keep weird hours for various reasons, and the guy who knows the answer to your questions just may not have logged in yet. Give it 24 hours before you start to get panicky...

 

[t-frady]

listen to 5-90 he knows his stuff.All is right about what he said but read this article it should all be on here from what the bushing comes from, bolt holes and linkage help.

 

[casual]

Alright 5-90 lets see what you can do for me
..
I swapped in a AX-15 that was said to be from a 89 cherokee but we think its from a wrongler.. Its in and its all buttoned up, but my reverse plugs/sensors are completely different..So I took my peugeot one out to see if it would work in the AX-15. It won't they are completely different sizes!
Any help or advise here?

 

[monkeyhouse]

Alright 5-90 lets see what you can do for me
..
I swapped in a AX-15 that was said to be from a 89 cherokee but we think its from a wrongler.. Its in and its all buttoned up, but my reverse plugs/sensors are completely different..So I took my peugeot one out to see if it would work in the AX-15. It won't they are completely different sizes!
Any help or advise here?

I just cut my wires, used the sensor that was in the ax-15, soldered the wires and shrinktubed it.

 

[edgreeson65]

my BA-10 failed on me 2 times with rebuilds, had enough and put a NV4500 in it & never had a problem since

 

[casual]

I just cut my wires, used the sensor that was in the ax-15, soldered the wires and shrinktubed it.

Probably my best bet..only issue is the AX15 wires are both black and my peugeot is purple and white..gonna clean the wires and see if ones a different color or no..if not then I'll just have to guess lol..

 

[t-frady]

Shouldn't matter its just a switch in there "bacically"

 

[toates89]

i figured i would add to this thread rather than start a new one.

i just picked up an ax15 out of a 92 yj for my 89 xj that had the ba10.

i also picked up the xcase too.

so outside of needing a new pilot bearing i am not 100% sure what i need.

i plan on taking the yj's input shaft from the xcase and attaching it to my xcase so i maintain linkages for it.

do i need the ax15 crossmember from a xj?

i prob need the ax15 mount also right?

 

[souske]

You will need the body side shifter bracket from an AX-15 XJ, the pivot is in a different spot on a BA-10

 

[toates89]

If anyone has or is going to install a ax15 in a existing ba10 vechile here is some key pointers.

1)the ax15 crossmember has a 3/4 to 1inch dip in it. Try to pick it up with the transmission.

2) if you dont get the exhaust hanger plate from the donor vechile or if you do not want to move your crossmember back using the existing additional holes from factor a tj transmission mount will fit to the four holes on the bottom of the AX15 and is about 3/4 of an inch shorter than an xj mountyou will have to drill new holes in the crossmember easy though AS SHOWn in the picture below

an ax15 mount from a yj or xj will not bolt directly to the transmission and require an additional mounting bracket and will require you to move the xcrossmember back

3) when using a pilot bushing from a cj 304 v8 to remove the old pilot bushing i rented my 4th attempt tool from autozone. the puller from pepboys was too large, advance was unsuccesful, harbor freight too large.

this pilot bushing is a bronze soaked in oil bushing and when installed i found it difficult to slide the input shaft from the tranny in. i think because it compessed a bit. i used long 5/16 bolts to pull the transmission to the block after getting it mainly aligned

4) the tcase bracket located on the tunnel(body side) can be modified to replicate that of ax15 bracket by redilling the alignment holes. but just try to pull this from the donor along with the linkages. they are idfferent lengths.

5)this project is really a pain if your not using a lift.

 

[freegdr]

getting ready to do my swap over christmas holiday , one question whats pilot bearing number needed for 96 ax15 swap into 89 ba10 xj .?

 

[5-90]

getting ready to do my swap over christmas holiday , one question whats pilot bearing number needed for 96 ax15 swap into 89 ba10 xj .?

The number will vary by maker. However, as I've said, if you have the later "large pilot" (~7/8",) the pilot bushing for the early 1970's CJ w/V8-304 will work - that's how I got mine. Just have them look up the application, you'll be aright.

 

[shortxjdoug]

bringing up dead thread...im in the middle of this swap right now in an 89....rear hole on the factory crossmember has no matching frame nutcert? is this a typical issue in a crossover year? id like to avoid cutting access and thru bolting if someone has a solution

 

[souske]

You have to tap the existing hole

 

[caveman2912]

useful thread,

 

[caveman2912]

totally bringing up dead thread..... but its useful!
im wanting to swap out my ba10 with an ax15 (no surprise) on my 89 xj, i found an 89 ax15 also,... just wondering how "bolt on" the ax will be. i read the posts (most of em) and i understand the crossmember thing and spline t-case deal, but im more interested in if the pilot bearing will need to be replaced with some other vehicle bearing, or if the transmission will be an inch longer and other stuff. so if anyone has done a swap with matching years, pleease let me know!

 

[5-90]

totally bringing up dead thread..... but its useful!
im wanting to swap out my ba10 with an ax15 (no surprise) on my 89 xj, i found an 89 ax15 also,... just wondering how "bolt on" the ax will be. i read the posts (most of em) and i understand the crossmember thing and spline t-case deal, but im more interested in if the pilot bearing will need to be replaced with some other vehicle bearing, or if the transmission will be an inch longer and other stuff. so if anyone has done a swap with matching years, pleease let me know!

Don't forget you need to open up the shifter port in the tunnel to the rear a bit (2-3", I think.)

Also, note that there were TWO pilot sizes on the AX-15 - the AX-15i (early) seems to have a pilot about 5/8" (as in the BA-10/5,) while the AX-15e (later) has a pilot right about 7/8" - which requires finding the pilot bushing described previously.

So, break out your tape or caliper, and measure - the difference is 1/4", so it should be easy enough to read.

 

[John(XJ)Jeep]

Finally blew the trans somehow. Seemed to have torn itself to pieces overnight lol. Had it out the one day (mid January) it was fine then the next
day I go to move it to get my other car in close to the garage to work on it and it didn't want to go into gear easily. I was like WTF so I let it sit
and warm up first in the driveway. It was super cold that day like -28 that night before was around -32. After a while I go out and it shifted fine
for a couple of blocks then of course when I was good and far from my house 1st and 2nd started to feel rough then like dominoes I was losing gears
fast. I was stuck at an intersection with a transport behind me expected me to go and I'm fighting to get it into "a gear" which happens to be 5th lol.
I managed to get it going in 5th and had to drive to the other side of the intersection on the shoulder play with it for about 15 mins trying to get it
to move freely and finally got home. The end result was dodgy 1st and 2nd no 3rd, no 4th, 5th was ok and reverse that manages to get everything
stuck when I use it.

Now on Wednesday a guy from Jeepkings was nice enough to sell me his ax15-231 and drop it off at my house with everything to convert to external
out of a 92' YJ for $250, so a nice bonus for me there there. I'll be doing some other things while I'm at this. Hoping I can my axle flip done as well.
So new trans and rear suspension I hope. I'll be making a bracket for the T-case shifter so I can do away with the weird linkage that I have now.
My crossmember mod is going to make this swap interesting to say the least.

 

[Cherokee-at-16]

I need help and figure this is the thread to post in instead of starting a new one. I just finished, well so i thought, swapping a 96 ax15 into my 88 comanche. I used the ba flywheel and clutch and everything else came from the 96. Used a cj pilot bearing, had the drive shaft shortened an inch, bolted the old speedo into the new tcase, used the renix cps. blah blah helpfully youve read a little of this thread if youre reading this. Put the jeep back on the ground, smile because im done, and then try to back it out and frown.

With the jeep on, and clutch depressed, it wont shift into any of its gears and grinds lightly when trying to put it in reverse so i stop trying. Its like stepping on the clutch pedal isnt disengaging the clutch. The clutch is fairly new, 4 months ago i threw a new engine in and did the clutch then. I installed a new external slave with the ax15, bench bleeding it with the master and line that came out of the 96. It didnt look like it was leaking so i assume the hydraulics are good. i also put in a new throwout bearing. Im using the 88 pedals if that can be affecting the throw of the master cylinder. anyway its like the throwout bearing isnt pushing the fingers of the pressure plate and freeing the clutch. any thoughts?

 

[John(XJ)Jeep]

Did you check the clutch master? It could be bypassing. How does the clutch feel?
Is it hard or soft?