5-90
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Hammerspace
Well,
Shortly after I got my first XJ (ca. 1995,) I found out it had a slushbox I wasn't familiar with. I went to a salvage outfit and got a core for $75 so I could tear it to bits and figure out how it worked. I ended up getting a rebuild kit, and putting it on the shelf as a spare for if and when.
ca. 1997, I started having trouble with that slushbox in my 87 - I found out it was because I'd lost three bellhousing screws, and the fourth one had backed out about a half inch. I replaced it with the one I had under the shelf, put in new bellhousing screws, and proceeded to tear apart the one that "failed." (not its fault.) The first planetary set had gotten off-centre in the case (due to the misalignment of the crankshaft centreline and input shaft centreline,) and I needed a Sawzall to get it out - most of it ended up in the scrap metal bin, since I had to cut up the case.
It was worth noting that, at ~220kmiles on the clock (and some serious abuse for the last 110kmiles or so...) the clutch friction was nearly new, and there was little to no accumulation of crud, varnish, and sludge in the case. I kept the valve body, solenoids, and some other parts for spares - still have them.
I think the AW4 was AMC's atonement for using that damn Peugeot 5-speed behind the 4.0 (I've been through about five of those in the last three years...) since it seems to be rather drastically overbuilt for the application. I'd have no trouble using it behind a stroker or some slight forced induction, with no mods but a decent external cooler. It's been compared favourably to the THM700R4 - and for good reason! I've been through a few 700's, and the AW4 is simpler and more robust just upon examining the parts!
I haven't checked Level Ten in a while, but I seem to recall them having some decent-looking parts for the AW4 (I haven't had need to try them just yet,) and I'm mildly amazed that there isn't more out there, since it's a fairly widely-used RWD/4WD slushbox. I'd still take an old Muncie top-loading "Rock Crusher" over any slushbox - but if I had to take a slushbox, the AW4 is on my short list (which reads something like CI PowerGlide, AL PowerGlide, THM400, A727, AW4, C6, THM350, ...)
All in all, the AW4 is pretty damn decent for a slushbox, and to do significantly better, you'd probably have to get one from Alison.
5-90
Shortly after I got my first XJ (ca. 1995,) I found out it had a slushbox I wasn't familiar with. I went to a salvage outfit and got a core for $75 so I could tear it to bits and figure out how it worked. I ended up getting a rebuild kit, and putting it on the shelf as a spare for if and when.
ca. 1997, I started having trouble with that slushbox in my 87 - I found out it was because I'd lost three bellhousing screws, and the fourth one had backed out about a half inch. I replaced it with the one I had under the shelf, put in new bellhousing screws, and proceeded to tear apart the one that "failed." (not its fault.) The first planetary set had gotten off-centre in the case (due to the misalignment of the crankshaft centreline and input shaft centreline,) and I needed a Sawzall to get it out - most of it ended up in the scrap metal bin, since I had to cut up the case.
It was worth noting that, at ~220kmiles on the clock (and some serious abuse for the last 110kmiles or so...) the clutch friction was nearly new, and there was little to no accumulation of crud, varnish, and sludge in the case. I kept the valve body, solenoids, and some other parts for spares - still have them.
I think the AW4 was AMC's atonement for using that damn Peugeot 5-speed behind the 4.0 (I've been through about five of those in the last three years...) since it seems to be rather drastically overbuilt for the application. I'd have no trouble using it behind a stroker or some slight forced induction, with no mods but a decent external cooler. It's been compared favourably to the THM700R4 - and for good reason! I've been through a few 700's, and the AW4 is simpler and more robust just upon examining the parts!
I haven't checked Level Ten in a while, but I seem to recall them having some decent-looking parts for the AW4 (I haven't had need to try them just yet,) and I'm mildly amazed that there isn't more out there, since it's a fairly widely-used RWD/4WD slushbox. I'd still take an old Muncie top-loading "Rock Crusher" over any slushbox - but if I had to take a slushbox, the AW4 is on my short list (which reads something like CI PowerGlide, AL PowerGlide, THM400, A727, AW4, C6, THM350, ...)
All in all, the AW4 is pretty damn decent for a slushbox, and to do significantly better, you'd probably have to get one from Alison.
5-90
