It’s not too terrible right now. It runs and drives and has all gears currently but had a shop look at it and they said it needed rebuilt.
AX15 from Dakota in 97 TJ
- Thread starter fnx14
- Start date
Wait, a shop told you it needed work? What are the odds?!
This is my shocked face:
Hahaha yeah it’s a wolf guarding the hen house thing…
It is shifting a little funny so it probably does need a rebuild.
Got the 94 Dakota AX15 out and have some good info on how to adapt it to a TJ, XJ or maybe even a ZJ with the 4.0 (with Dakota bellhousing it might bolt up to a ZJ magnum engine). This is going to be a long post.
First off, all the clutch side parts are the same as a wrangler according to extensive Rockauto comparison which includes clutch fork, clutch disk, pressure plate, pilot bearing, input and output seal and throw out bearing.
I believe but haven’t swapped a tj shifter in yet but it looks like the tj shifter should bolt right up to the top of the Dakota unit (I’ll update when I check this)
The transfer case mounting works perfect but is like an XJ and needs the 10 degree clocking to work in a TJ as can be seen in my photo (there’s good YouTube videos on how to do this). The output shaft seems the exact same but I haven’t put a micrometer on it to verify. The input and main/output shaft seal are the same between the two.
The major differences are obviously the bellhousing like mentioned before in the thread and the transmission mount on the bottom of the extension housing. I will post more pictures of this later. An adapter plate from 1/4 steel might need to be fabbed up for this.
One unknown is the slave cylinder. I don’t have a Jeep external slave ax15/nv3550 bellhousing to verify this but I think with the Jeep bellhousing the TJ master/slave combo will bolt up and interface properly with the clutch fork since it’s the same fork from Dakota to TJ. If you’re swapping this into an XJ or ZJ with 4.0 get the appropriate master/slave combo, a magnum ZJ might need the Dakota slave and 4.0 ZJ master)
To summarize the parts needed to make this work:
Jeep junkyard or other donor parts (eBay/marketplace) from a TJ, XJ, ZJ Ax-15 equipped vehicle are the AX15 or NV3550 dust shield from 4.0, external slave bellhousing, TJ shifter (can be from AX5 or AX15), TJ brake/ clutch pedal (can be from AX5 or AX15), TJ manual transmission mount bracket (XJ bracket may work-haven’t confirmed), shift knob (paint in the butt to get off without destroying), and flywheel with bolts. These are all the used Jeep parts I can think of.
New parts should be complete TJ clutch kit, TJ pilot bearing, TJ interior shifter boots (small round one on shifter tower and larger round one with metal trim that screws to tub- might as well get new because they are 31$ for both on rockauto and every original one I’ve seen are torn), interior trim rectangular bezel and shift boot(this might be able to come from the XJ donor-haven’t confirmed and they are cheap on Amazon), transmission rubber mount (if old probably needs replaced anyways -same part for auto and manual), replace input and output seals with new.
Total cost is going to vary based on where you’re able to source parts, I’ve been lucky and will probably be all in for $600. If I can sell the Dakota bellhousing that would be extra savings and make it cheaper in the long run.
I wrote this out on my phone so if you see any edits or flow issues that need cleaned up let me know. The following posts will have some pictures.
First off, all the clutch side parts are the same as a wrangler according to extensive Rockauto comparison which includes clutch fork, clutch disk, pressure plate, pilot bearing, input and output seal and throw out bearing.
I believe but haven’t swapped a tj shifter in yet but it looks like the tj shifter should bolt right up to the top of the Dakota unit (I’ll update when I check this)
The transfer case mounting works perfect but is like an XJ and needs the 10 degree clocking to work in a TJ as can be seen in my photo (there’s good YouTube videos on how to do this). The output shaft seems the exact same but I haven’t put a micrometer on it to verify. The input and main/output shaft seal are the same between the two.
The major differences are obviously the bellhousing like mentioned before in the thread and the transmission mount on the bottom of the extension housing. I will post more pictures of this later. An adapter plate from 1/4 steel might need to be fabbed up for this.
One unknown is the slave cylinder. I don’t have a Jeep external slave ax15/nv3550 bellhousing to verify this but I think with the Jeep bellhousing the TJ master/slave combo will bolt up and interface properly with the clutch fork since it’s the same fork from Dakota to TJ. If you’re swapping this into an XJ or ZJ with 4.0 get the appropriate master/slave combo, a magnum ZJ might need the Dakota slave and 4.0 ZJ master)
To summarize the parts needed to make this work:
Jeep junkyard or other donor parts (eBay/marketplace) from a TJ, XJ, ZJ Ax-15 equipped vehicle are the AX15 or NV3550 dust shield from 4.0, external slave bellhousing, TJ shifter (can be from AX5 or AX15), TJ brake/ clutch pedal (can be from AX5 or AX15), TJ manual transmission mount bracket (XJ bracket may work-haven’t confirmed), shift knob (paint in the butt to get off without destroying), and flywheel with bolts. These are all the used Jeep parts I can think of.
New parts should be complete TJ clutch kit, TJ pilot bearing, TJ interior shifter boots (small round one on shifter tower and larger round one with metal trim that screws to tub- might as well get new because they are 31$ for both on rockauto and every original one I’ve seen are torn), interior trim rectangular bezel and shift boot(this might be able to come from the XJ donor-haven’t confirmed and they are cheap on Amazon), transmission rubber mount (if old probably needs replaced anyways -same part for auto and manual), replace input and output seals with new.
Total cost is going to vary based on where you’re able to source parts, I’ve been lucky and will probably be all in for $600. If I can sell the Dakota bellhousing that would be extra savings and make it cheaper in the long run.
I wrote this out on my phone so if you see any edits or flow issues that need cleaned up let me know. The following posts will have some pictures.
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Yes it would bolt up to a ZJ with a 5.2 or 5.9 but would need some modifications since the stock auto transmission has the starter on the passenger side and the Dakota bellhousing puts it on the drivers side.
Put the bellhousing on here For Sale first as there were some folks not to long ago looking for one. Then if you don't sell it put it on Ebay. Should be able to sell it for $150-200.
Woah so this is the transmission mount holes for the Dakota and it looks like it’s the same bolt pattern as the TJ I posted!
Wildman: will do. I’m new here so no clue how to post for sale or what is a fair member price on here for the bellhousing. I will do research on posting it but if you have tips that would be greatly appreciated.
For Sale section is here.
https://wranglertjforum.com/forums/parts-for-sale.128/
Pricing is up to you.
From the For Sale section:
Skip the YT videos, and the 'template' stuff.
Just buy this, and knock it out.
https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/transfer-case-clocking-drill-jig.html
Took me all of 5 minutes to mount it up, and drill it out, and I did it IN the Jeep.
Buy 2 bolts & nuts from the hardware store, throw the jig on the back of the housing and use the two bolts in the existing holes to hold it up.
Then just take your drill and pop the new holes.
You can make your own template, but is this REALLY a job you want to accidentally botch?
The jig is well worth the $60 for the peace of mind that it's done correctly the first time.
Woah this is amazing! I had no clue this existed, thanks for the heads up!
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