Mopar/Jeep stuff in general is typically short in info and availability - that's really the main reason I compiled this as I went through my swap and learned along the way!
I cut off the nubs on the valve cover and have ~3/8" to 1/2" of clearance now. You're correct though - even with the different mounts, sitting lower in the frame and with non-Eagle heads, you'll never be able to completely keep the AX in the factory location. I also feel like I have seen Hemi-swapped TJ's with AX15s but do not recall any of them mentioning major surgery. The AX-15 trans mount does sit back on the crossmember some. Perhaps they redrill or relocate the mount forward some and then bend the shifter to fit around the dash/console? With a slight shift in engine location + a non-tummy tuck + some shifter work, it may be possible...
@Wildman saved me some time
I put a Hemi out of an '06 Dodge RAM into mine. Cost is driven a lot by what you do to the motor. Mine is stroked and bored to 392, with a complete forged Molnar rotating assembly, head work, and 100% new accessories. Along with a complete performance build of the 545RFE tranny. It was not cheap. A good guess for just swapping in an engine is probably 5-7 grand or so - plus the cost of the engine and trans.
Looks great man. I have the engine already in my Magnum R/T and will just put it back stock for expense purposes and it had good HP/Torque stock to be more than enough in a TJ. I plan to use my AX15 with it for now if I go this route. I've already put a good 4k in the Jeep already so I better ease up a little.
The AX15/NV3550 was the path I wanted to go down with my hemi swap. There are some questions as to whether or not this transmission will hold up behind the hemi, but it sure seemed like a hemi powered manual transmission TJ would be a ball to drive.
Hey Wildman, yeah, I remember reading this, probably from some of the awesome info you've pointed me to in the past. This rating makes it weak to put behind the hemi. My thinking is if you aren't thrashing the hell out of it it will be ok, but who knows, not enough of them have been created, at least that i know of, to give us any meaningful stats on viability.
Working on it! Need to find me a motor and trans again…
Boring. You need to do another hemi swap... Cuz I need the info! Lol
@Wildman saved me some time
The Hemi swap will resume once I get situated after the move this summer. I have been reading good things about some of the aftermarket controllers for the 8HP transmissions, so I may end up doing something with that instead.
Alternatively, Holley now offers a controller for the Eagle motors + 46RE transmissions, which is actually a better transmission (wow, never thought I'd be saying that about a 46RE!!!) for higher horsepower builds. Since everything rusts apart in PA, I may be on the prowl for a 98 5.9L ZJ in the junkyards and snatch up the trans from it (the Jeep RE's have the starter on the right-hand side).
