XJ Cherokee AX15 trans dimensions

[MarcInBKK]

I'm in Thailand, looking at buying an XJ Cherokee that someone has already swapped in a 2JZ NA engine. As far as I know so far, it was simply bolted up to the AX4 and runs that way - I still need to go see it in person to see what it's like.
The swap was done a couple of years ago, so it's supposedly "sorted out".
I'd like to make it a "performance" vehicle since I can't really buy much of anything here that isn't stupidly expensive (like 80 grand or more for a 6 cylinder Mustang) and thee is no way to import anything good from the US.
The idea would be to remove the 4WD and convert it to 2WD, lower it, probably do C5 Corvette wheels, and manual swap it.

SO, that gets me to my actual question - what is the bell housing face to the gearstick center measurement on an AX15? Apparently on the Supra Trans it's 30.12" and from what I can find on the AX15 it's around 24".

 

[Anak]

The one I have sitting on the floor of my shop measures about 19".

That is hooking the tape on the front of the bellhousing, pulling it straight back over the shifter (keeping it relatively level) and eye-balling it for centerline over the shifter. Safe tolerance on that would probably +/- 1/2". Certainly not 24".

That is a 4wd trans. I wouldn't think a 2wd would differ like that, but if there are two standards (19" & 24") that might be the reason.

 

[N8N_99xj]

AFAIK the "easy" way to do the 2JZ swap is to use the AW4 automatic. The trans was likely built with mix and match parts from both a Supra and XJ Cherokee. Supra to bolt up to the 2JZ engine, and Cherokee to allow the NP231 or NP242 transfer case to bolt to it.

I don't know that there is a bellhousing for a manual transmission that works the same way. If you're going to try to manual swap it and don't care about keeping the 4WD likely the easiest way to do it is to just use a Supra transmission and have a custom driveshaft made. However, the thought of being able to do four wheel burnouts at will makes my ears wiggle.

 

[Anak]

However, the thought of being able to do four wheel burnouts at will makes my ears wiggle.

You should meet Skruffy!