Grand Cherokee 4.0 ZJ Manual Transmission Swap
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2020
- This is my daily, a '96 4.0 ZJ with a 5-speed AX-15 swap. In this video I go over the parts needed to convert from an automatic to a standard, and then do some on-road and off-road driving to point out some of the differences you can expect with the conversion from an auto to a manual.
Interested in a ZJ manual conversion? I've got parts at StickShiftZJ.com - Авто та транспорт
![Jeep Cherokee: Manual Swap - Everything You Need to Know ['97-'01 XJ] AW4 to AX-15 or NV3550](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/h138NSGFI7o/mqdefault.jpg)
![Comparing Manual Transmission with Automatic & CVT [In Detail]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YFTtHRdM-iU/mqdefault.jpg)
Excellent Jeep ZJ - A/T to Manual Transmission tutorials. Thanks for your attention to the details, as your in depth explanations make all the difference! Also, the remanufactured bracket you developed and produce makes doing the swap, much more convienent.
Thanks, I'm glad to hear that!
You are an absolute legend buddy. Thank you for this video. It has graced the zj community
Thanks, I sure appreciate that!
this guy is amazing, reminds me of my old friends in El Paso
This was a really informative video. Thank you!
Thanks for the briefing LB. Good stuff.
Great and very informative video. Have future plans to do the very same along with the 4wd conversion as the drivetrain all comes out anyway. Shouldnt be too hard...............i hope....
This is cool!
I have 5 speed XJ but it's factory 5 speed with turbo diesel engine.
I actually just recently learned about TreadWright tires, and am thinking about trying them on my truck.
I've been happy with them, no problems so far and its been about 5 years.
Just what I needed to see. Got a 96 I wanna convert, REALL cookie cutter!
Excellent video/information. Thank you. Not anywhere near the same, but I have an E34 wagon with the crappiest GM 4sp auto (why???). Just came up with a ZF 5-speed and pedal pack to replace it. New Mexico has many serious benefits....fresh tortillas and green chili...;-)
This is awesome i have an 03 wj with the 4.0 that I'd like to have a manual in. rockin a 42re right now that i just had rebuilt 🙄😂i feel like I'd like a manual more
Nice set up
Thanks!
wow! incredible, I have the same truck even the color, I would like to make it manual is my dream, kind regards from Mexico n.l
Thanks! The 5-speed makes it a lot more fun to drive, I really like it.
I love it! I dont know if I should buy kit first, or find Jeep first? lol. I have never seen a 5 speed grand. I love it,
I am a car guy, I worked at a shop that did a lot of Cherokee work, but closed in 2012, rare to work on a Grand, my personal Cherokee never had the power, & recently was crushed by a tree, it was a 4 cylinder 5 speed, 2 door. I am presently fixing a co-worker a Grand up, she found a good deal, & I am fixing all the small issues, and I really started liking it, & missing my Jeep, so now I want a 5 speed Grand. lol. money is a little tight, after all I did at Christmas, for family, friends, & every resident in 2 nursing homes. but things will improve in short order since a new year is upon us. but this is awesome!
Thanks! I really like the 5-speed in these. With the 4.0 it is a very easy swap, and is a well-balanced all-around rig. The 5-speed behind the V-8 is an awful lot of fun, but I just can't keep my foot out of the throttle on those. That combo seems to encourage lead-foot driving...
@@LowBuckGarage lol. I do understand, I grew up with muscle cars, I have several parked & still have a 2004 Roush truck & a 2013 convertible Camaro for daily drivers. with a Chevy Aveo & Ford Festiva as beater cars. plus a dodge minivan and wife a PriusC, but I want a 4wd again. but I do love stick shift. actually I want to do a UTE conversion, to make a Grand Cherokee into a truck, not sure you have seen? Smyth jeep grand cherokee truck conversions. I am a body man, as well as mechanic, besides cost of parts I love it, so this year I will be buying all the parts to build 1. it reminds me of a friends K5 Blazer a friend converted into a truck in my youth. just a fun, practical 4wd. that can haul light stuff so yeah a 5 speed conversion will definitely be in my future
I'm sold, gonna have to manual swap my ZJ
Your Cherokee project is very interesting. I would like to do the same as well. I have seen your other videos but I would like you to make a list of parts and pieces and some sort of step by step manual so I can built my own. I know there would be lots of people interested as well. (Please, improve your shop lighting) Thank you!
Thanks! I'm actually planning on picking up another 4.0 ZJ and doing a one day complete conversion with all parts needed and listing the P/N's as I go. I've got a few other projects in front of that, though, so it will be a while before I get to that.
I appreciate the feedback on the lighting. I agree that it was too dark, but by the time I saw it (when I started editing) I had already started tearing into another project on the lift. It'd be weeks before I could re-shoot it, so I just went with it. I'll do better next time!
Great tutorial, I have a 94 4.0 limited and want to do the swap, I was wondering about the starter, did you relocated it?
Thanks! The starter stays on the same side with the 4.0 swap, so that's no problem. Its only on the 5.2 V-8 swap that you need to switch sides on the starter.
Correct me if I'm wrong - after swapping the transmission, the position of transfer case is moved backward/forward? Thats why you need different crossmember (pre lift model) and you need different lenght driveshafts front and rear? Factory ones from 96 4.0 won't fit?
Nice job!! Are you having any issues with Check Engine lights after the conversion? Thanks Rod
The light was on before I started the conversion, so that didn't change! I've heard from people that have done this swap in CA that it does throw a code. However, if you have a '96 or up with OBDII, the shops that can re-flash the PCM for a performance tune can also turn off the automatic transmission part of the programming. I haven't tried it myself, but supposedly then they are back to normal.
One day I’ll convert mines
One day is guna be sooner than later for me with how bad this mug slips
I bought treadwrights just like yours for my ZJ a few years back. I couldn't get any shop to balance them and when I finally could get them balanced they felt terrible above 55mph. Do they ride smooth at hwy speeds for you?
I had mine balanced at walmart, and they feel as good as any other tire at highway speeds. Sorry to hear that you're having problems, maybe jack up the car and spin the tire by hand to see if they're out of round? That wouldn't be solved by balancing...
Quick question just did this swap on my 97 what did you do about auto trans codes
I have a 2WD 4.0 WJ that I want to do this on. Do you get a check engine light or did you have to fool the transmission sensors?
I did get a CEL after a while, something about the lock up converter. There are places that can re-program the PCM if that's an issue for you. It doesn't matter to me, so I haven't done that yet.
I have an original, exhaust manifold that is cracked in two places. Could you tell me where you got the new stock header you mentioned in this video and what the cost was? I found many aftermarket cheap headers under $100 but original wkth the proper flange thickness, not so much? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
I bought mine off of ebay, it might help to search for a "4.0 jeep manifold", rather than a "header" They're still welded tube headers, but that gets more of the stock style. The newer design adds bellows on the tube connecting the #1 and #6 cylinders. This gives a little more flex during the heating and cooling cycles, and should reduce the tendency to crack. What I did was ask the vendor about the flange thickness before ordering, that way if it comes in too thin you can return it.
Jeep zj with a 2.5TD diesel engine was factory with a manual gearbox only for Europe so you don't need to change anything just buy a set
Ok, when do we get a video on that camper thing in the background?
Hopefully soon, but I've got to sort out some steering issues with the front drive axle first, though. That one will be fun with 6 37" mud tires driving! Right now I'm part way through project Frogger, once that one's done I'll start a new project. If I come up with a steering solution the camper may be it...
Does this work with a WJ model?
Thanks for the information!! Interesting video!!
I've never had a WJ, so I don't really know. It could be done, but I'm not sure if its as easy as a ZJ.
it takes some modding but is posible, there are several videos of manual convesrions for WJ
Have you ever done a swap using the nv3550? Most forums I have found say its a direct replacement for the Ax15, but I'm going to swap it into my 93 zj
I haven't done that particular one. I've put in the NV3500 behind V-8's, and there's plenty of room in the transmission tunnel, so I would expect that the NV3550 would fit fine. The only issue could be the shifter location, but I think they're about the same as the AX15, so that would probably be fine, too.
@@LowBuckGarage thanks, I'm gathering parts now. Just having trouble finding a bell housing on a budget
hi i just did my swap all im having trouble with is the speedo nv3500 out of 98 dakota 5.2
I'm driving the speedo off the output on the 231 transfer case. However, I've heard that the '98 and up Dakota eliminated the regular drive, and instead used wheel speed sensors for the speedo. That should be reasonably easy to solve.
If you're doing heavy off-roading, you might want a slip yoke eliminator kit anyway, so just get one that has the speedo drive. It looks like most of them have that option, and then you can really twist the suspension without worrying about the driveshaft falling out. For a cheaper solution, you should be able to put parts from an older 231 in to get the speedo output. Actually, take a look at your old Jeep transfer case. It may be possible to use pieces from that. I've had some success with mixing full time and 231 parts.
Good luck, and please let me know what your solution was!
You should do a parts list/write up
Yeah, I should. Right now I've got a playlist of short videos on the 4.0/AX15 swap, so that might help: ua-cam.com/play/PLfyVixelWstCOiN4wFl-1Dr4ADOTKzqA8.html
@@LowBuckGarage thanks. I have a 96 4.0 with 42re, plan on ax15 swapping (inspired by your vids). Will the stock driveshafts work, so long as they are cut to proper length?
@@brendan25 Yes, the AX15 moves the transfer case about 3". so one will have to be shortened and the other one lengthened in a straight transmission swap. If you are planning on changing transfer cases or adding a SYE, might as well do that along with the transmission swap and then figure out the driveshafts you need.
96 ZJ 4.0L AX-15
After the conversion do you have a check engine light?
I had a check engine light before the conversion, so that's nothing new! I've heard that you can get the computer re-flashed on the '96-'98 ones to ignore all the transmission signals, but I haven't tried it myself.
hello, I have just installed an ax15 on my zj from 1994, I installed a zj cps manual gearbox from 1993 from walker product, and it does not start.. could I have the reference of your cps because I am desperate , THANKS
I've found that different sensors have different strength magnets. The only ones that are really strong (and work well) are actual Mopar ones. If you can't find a Mopar 2 bolt style, I make an adapter to use the 1 bolt style (pics on stickshiftzj.com)
I really want to swap my 4.0 trans out but I can’t due to emissions i live in California so having a check engine will fail me and i cant find anything about a fix to the check engine light :(
Is your ZJ a 96-98 with OBDII? Apparently those PCM's can be re-flashed with a tune that eliminates the transmission stuff. I haven't tried it myself, but I've had a few different people say that they have done it and the CEL is gone.
Yea mines a 96 I wouldn’t know who to go to.
I have a 97 zj limited 4.0 l it has all time 4x4 so all time, netural, and 4 low how would I make it a manual . @ low-buck garage
If you just want 2wd but keeping the automatic trans, you'll want to swap transfer cases to a 231 or 242 model case. There's lots of write-ups on that one, just do a search for it. If you want a 5-speed and part time, look for both the AX-15 and 231 from a '94 and up XJ Cherokee. Those have an external slave cylinder and the right transfer case clocking to bolt into your ZJ.
What flywheel and clutch set up u use?
Stock replacement ones, they still make the parts for this. Just look for parts for a '93 or '94 ZJ 4.0 with a manual transmission, and pretty much any parts store should have them. They use the same clutch and flywheel as other 4.0 Jeep stuff, so you can get whatever performance level you want.
Is there any way I can get in contact with you, I have some questions about doing a manual swap on my zj
The best way is to email me at james@stickshiftzj.com
@@LowBuckGarage I’ve tried emailing you...but it keeps saying it can’t send to that email...
@@alexparis2885 I'm sorry, I changed to a different domain service, and apparently it didn't go smoothly. You can also use james@low-buck-garage.com, as far as I know that one is working fine.
Are you using early or late ax15?
This one has a '94 AX15, which has the external slave cylinder. The replacement clutch hydraulics for the ZJ use an external slave, so those are easiest. The internal slave AX15 should be able to be used, but you'd have to adapt the hydraulics.
@Jos Lewis Wood Carpenter Sure, my drag racing ZJ uses a 2wd transmission. Its actually easier than the 4x4 version. I'm not sure what driveshaft would fit, but you can always have one modified to length.
@Jos Lewis Wood Carpenter Yes, and they go bad frequently. Sometimes you can just re-solder the connections inside the switch rather than just replacing it.
@Jos Lewis Wood Carpenter The headlight switch has the dash light dimmer built into the same unit. The vertical slide to the right of the headlight switch is supposed to control the dash lights.
What check engine should one expect from this swap?
There is a lock up converter code or something like that. I've heard that in '96 and up OBDII models the computer can be reprogrammed to eliminate that, but I haven't tried it myself.
This is a great video! I have a 96, 4.0 that has the 42re and it might be on the way out (it slips and hangs on revs too long) , but I’d like to take on this project of a manual swap in maybe a years time. I’m doing all the research so I can gather all the parts. Do you have any write ups, books, or advice for this project since you’ve done it a few times.
@@Juss-pivot That's the same problem that started me down the path to the manual swap. Not only is it cheaper, but its way more fun to drive! The 4.0 swap is pretty straightforward. I do have some tech tips on ua-cam.com/play/PLfyVixelWstCOiN4wFl-1Dr4ADOTKzqA8.html , and let me know if you need any other info!
@@LowBuckGarage Thanks for your help! Really appreciate it.
How much does it cost?
It all depends on where you find the parts. The transmission is the biggest expense, new they're close to $2K. If you can find a wrecked XJ with the 5-speed, it can be pretty cheap.
So they are cheaper than a automatic replacement anyway.