Yeah for $500, I’m more inclined to find and make a 6.4L LX intake work!
This is a great build with a ton of information! Amazing job! I know I’m late to the party, but you mentioned earlier that with the computer situation that the 05-06 TJ’s came with a CAN bus system? Am i misreading this because in my research for the swap on my 06 TJ manual trans, I have been told that I need an 05 Ram 2500 manual computer which is PCI bus. Am I supposed to be sourcing a later style computer and wiring for that matter?
I also bought the Holley mounts and was wondering how much further forward you would estimate the front face of the bell housing is now sitting compared to stock? I’m putting a brand new AX15 from Novak and was hoping the shifter wouldn’t be too far forward. Thanks in advance and keep up the amazing job!
I also bought the Holley mounts and was wondering how much further forward you would estimate the front face of the bell housing is now sitting compared to stock? I’m putting a brand new AX15 from Novak and was hoping the shifter wouldn’t be too far forward. Thanks in advance and keep up the amazing job!
OP
TJ's went to PCI in 2001 and later rigs.
Scroll down thru this page and they list the different Chrysler models and what format they use.
https://www.hotwireauto.com/chrysler-harnesses
I can't tell you on the Hemi PCM but with the Magnum PCM what is recommended to guys doing a manual swap is to use a auto PCM and then send it to B&G to reprogram it as a manual PCM.
Looks like I will need to review and update this information. My guides and information I've gathered shows 05-06 gauge clusters are CANBUS. However, the Hotwire reference shows PCI. Out of curiosity I pulled up a 2005 Jeep TJ Field Service Manual and it indeed shows PCI
Seems like perhaps new gauges are in order for me as well (or perhaps a CAN-to-analog converter...
I know that the 06+ Ram NGC controllers are CANBUS. Since your engine is a non-VVT, you should be fine running an 02-05 Ram NGC controller. I think @NashvilleTJ did the same thing with his Hemi swap!
I honestly didn't take a good mental picture of where the factory bellhousing was at but I can take some pictures of mine. The Holley mounts are intended to be used with the 545/65RFE (which is 3" longer than the AX15) and keep the driveshaft lengths the same. My guess is that your shifter will be 3" forward - likely a problem. You may want to look at the Novak or other mounts that offer flexibility in where they mount to the frame rails.
OP
I think part of the confusion is that Dodge/Ram went to the CAN from PCI but the TJ never saw that. This chart from HotWire is nice to reference but I have read that it has been off by 1/2 years here and there.
Thanks to both of you guys for the quick reply’s!! I too, have read about the TJ’s only being PCI after 01, but I just wanted to make sure they never changed again. It seems to be very hard finding info on the 05-06’s in general, let alone for a hemi swap, even though on paper, they seem to be the most straightforward.
I see where you have you motor placed on the Holley mounts, you only have that little 1/4” or so of room before the valve cover hits the firewall. I can’t imagine the motor could be moved back anymore regardless of different engine mounts, though I could be wrong. I know I’ve seen the ax15/nv3550 behind a hemi before, I just have no idea how much surgery it required.
I appreciate all the research you’ve done and the time you’ve taken putting this write up together, it’s one of the best ones I’ve seen on the subject.
I see where you have you motor placed on the Holley mounts, you only have that little 1/4” or so of room before the valve cover hits the firewall. I can’t imagine the motor could be moved back anymore regardless of different engine mounts, though I could be wrong. I know I’ve seen the ax15/nv3550 behind a hemi before, I just have no idea how much surgery it required.
I appreciate all the research you’ve done and the time you’ve taken putting this write up together, it’s one of the best ones I’ve seen on the subject.
Yeah the Hotwire chart is certainly not gospel - for example, it lists 96-97 Ram as CCD. I can assure you that CCD didn't start in the Ram 1500/2500 trucks until 98.5. I know this because I've done 3 Magnum MPFI swaps and I usually use 96-98.0 ECM and harnesses for just this reason.
OP
Yep you can use the 96-97 PCM to make the engine run but your gauges WILL NOT work. Has to be a 98-2000 PCM for the CCD TJ's for the gauges to work. But it is a good source of information and does help to point you in the correct direction.
What does this do with your swap? What all if anything do you have to change?
OP
The easy way to fix the shifter on the transmission is to weld and extension to it. I'm trying to find a picture of one done but am having issues finding it. When I do I'll post it up here. Basically you use a piece of flat stock to move the shifter back into the hole in the floorboard.
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...
If I run across any links/discussions, I'll send them to you and link them here for folks to refer to.
OP
His plans changed and he is now building a LJ instead of the TJ that this swap was going into.
Here is the LJ build
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/pc1ps-2006-jeep-lj-build-brünhilde.48964/page-2#post-862266
And here is the TJ build that got stopped.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/pc1ps-1998-jeep-tj-build-ophelia.42820/
@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).
OP
Got a link to this site so checked it out and it has some interesting TECH for the Hemi.
https://www.mopardiy.com/
https://www.mopardiy.com/
Awesome Write-Up. I have a 2006 Magnum R/T with with a 5.7 HEMI I am thinking about swapping into my 1997 TJ. I was going from a 2.5 to a 2003 4.0 out of a Rubi that I rebuilt but the wiring harness and ecm are being a pain to get which blows me away.
I am curious about price and complications for the swap. The only issue with the R/T engine is I blew a head gasket. It still runs fine but I'm sure i'll have to at least hone the cyl's and of course make sure the heads didn't crack or warp. I of course have the ECM and all wiring in the car still. I'm wanting to bolt to my AX15 with NP231 Transfer Case.
I am curious about price and complications for the swap. The only issue with the R/T engine is I blew a head gasket. It still runs fine but I'm sure i'll have to at least hone the cyl's and of course make sure the heads didn't crack or warp. I of course have the ECM and all wiring in the car still. I'm wanting to bolt to my AX15 with NP231 Transfer Case.
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.
I'm not sure about the accessory configuration on the Magnum, but on the truck they are stacked vertically - which makes it a bunch easier to swap into a TJ.
Here's mine:
If you are interested in seeing the detail, check out my build thread over on JeepForum.com, starting on post #1070.
https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f22/nashville-tj-s-coilover-build-3838225/index107.html
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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.
hardtailpan
TJ Enthusiast
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.
OP
The AX15/NV3550 is rated for 300 HP per Novak if that helps any.