Yes, you need a sleeve there. Do not just remove the manual pilot bearing and leave the crank empty.
The part is called the crankshaft pilot sleeve, torque-converter pilot sleeve, or crankshaft adapter sleeve. It centers the nose/pilot of the 42RLE torque converter in the rear of the crankshaft. The 42RLE service procedure specifically relies on the converter hub being seated in the crank, and Chrysler documentation warns that missing the sleeve can cause powertrain vibration.
For your 2002 4.0 manual engine to 2006 TJ 4.0 with 42RLE, the numbers to know are:
- Original 2003–2006 TJ Mopar number: 4736204AA — listed specifically for the 2003–2006 4.0 Wrangler, but discontinued.
- Replacement/alternate: 4736483AA / 04736483AA — this is the one I'd look for. It is a 42RLE crankshaft pilot sleeve, and it has been physically verified as fitting the 4.0/42RLE manual-engine-to-automatic conversion.
Pull the entire manual-transmission pilot bearing/pilot sleeve assembly out of the rear of the 2002 crank.
Then install:
Mopar 4736483AA / 04736483AA
Crankshaft Pilot Sleeve (42RLE)
The 42RLE torque-converter pilot then fits inside that sleeve.
Don't put the 42RLE against the bare crank bore. The converter pilot is substantially smaller than the bare crank register, so without the sleeve it can move off-center. Transmission-industry documentation gives approximately a 1.324" converter pilot and 1.334" sleeve ID, illustrating how closely the sleeve locates it.
Before buying one
Since you still have the 2006 engine, check the back of its crank first. The original 4736204AA sleeve should be in there. Also inspect the torque-converter pilot because occasionally the sleeve comes out of the crank and stays stuck on the converter nose. If you can save that original sleeve, that's your best solution.
If you need to buy one, search for 4736483AA rather than the discontinued 4736204AA.
If you can't find one reasonably priced, don't pay $300+ yet. A machine shop can make one, or you can recover the sleeve from the old 2006 engine. The original 4736204AA is the piece I'd try hardest to save.