Swapping a AW4 tranny into my 98' ZJ (Grand Cherokee)

[Big Red]

My 98' zj auto tranny is blown and I found a good deal on a 98' AW4 tranny from an xj. How much work/fabrication is needed to get the AW4 tranny to work in my grand. I have a aw4 in my 91' trail xj with 205K original miles and it is still running strong. I really like this tranny and I want to put it in place of the crappy grand cherokee tranny. I think the 98' zj only used the 47re or whatever tranny it has only the 98' year making it hard to find a donor and it is expensive to get rebuilt. AAMCO quoted me $2,500 for a complete rebuild. Please advise.
thanks...Troy

 

[jkmhb]

I'm just speculating here, but I would think that mechanically it should fit fine, but your main challenge would be the TCM (trans computer). Between that, the main computer, and the inputs to the trans. and whether all 3 could be made to talk nice to each other at all.

Oh - and whether you are 2wd or 4wd, i-6 or v-8 might make a difference. Obviously i-6 2wd would be the easiset.

 

[Lawn Cher']

AFAIK, the AW4 came behind 4.0's in the ZJ in '93, so I bet with some creative part sourcing you could make it work. You never stated that your '98 ZJ has a 4.0, but I assume it does... I doubt the AW4 would bolt up to the 5.2 or 5.9 v-8's. You might check NAGCA for more information.

 

[Big Red]

AFAIK, the AW4 came behind 4.0's in the ZJ in '93, so I bet with some creative part sourcing you could make it work. You never stated that your '98 ZJ has a 4.0, but I assume it does... I doubt the AW4 would bolt up to the 5.2 or 5.9 v-8's. You might check NAGCA for more information.

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah, my 98' zj has a 4.0L/auto tranny???/242 t-case. I wanted the 242 so I settled on the 4.0L, I know this engine and the AW4 can go almost forever. I can get the AW4 from a 98' for $350 shipped with 28K miles, so I figure I will use it in my 98' zj, or in my 91' xj wheeler which has 205K miles on the original trans and engine but still running strong. I got little to no info at NAGCA, they aren't as close to as good as this site for info etc. You make a post and maybe get 1 response every month or so.

Does anyone know what the length diff is between the 98' zj auto tranny and the aw4?

 

[Bryan C.]

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah, my 98' zj has a 4.0L/auto tranny???/242 t-case. I wanted the 242 so I settled on the 4.0L, I know this engine and the AW4 can go almost forever. I can get the AW4 from a 98' for $350 shipped with 28K miles, so I figure I will use it in my 98' zj, or in my 91' xj wheeler which has 205K miles on the original trans and engine but still running strong. I got little to no info at NAGCA, they aren't as close to as good as this site for info etc. You make a post and maybe get 1 response every month or so.

Does anyone know what the length diff is between the 98' zj auto tranny and the aw4?

Why are you trying to make things difficult? Just go to the dealer and buy a reman trans and put it in yourself. Spend your time and money learning how to wrench for real before trying to make some bastardized ZJ/XJ disaster of a swap. And for what it is worth, the trans in your ZJ is a 42RE, the 47RE came in the V10 and diesel Dodge truck, and no they won't work in your ZJ.

Keep it simple, for our sake, not yours.

Bryan