Will this work?

[Stox5225]

Okay. Jumping the gun here for sure. I won’t be building for quite some time, BUT I’m anxious and want answers/opinions lol.

I have a ‘97 SE 5 spd. I’ve done more tinkering with my truck (‘97 12v 5 spd) and I know a heck of a lot more about that truck than the Jeep I’ve owned for a decade. But, if my research is correct, it has an AX5 transmission with an NP231 t-case.

My buddy is giving me his AAM 9.25 front and 11.5 rear. If I plan on throwing these under the Jeep with the intent of running 37s, with the highest gear ration (5.13 is as high as I can find unless I run reverse R&P), with this work as a crawler? Or will the 4 banger die lol. I’d like to supercharge it. But would the money be better spent for a bigger motor? Discuss!!!


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[Rob5589]

Dude, 5.13's with 33's and the 4popper will run. But 5.13 and 37's?? Hell no Better throw in a LS swap while you are in there

 

[Stox5225]

Dude, 5.13's with 33's and the 4popper will run. But 5.13 and 37's?? Hell no Better throw in a LS swap while you are in there

That’s what I thought lol. Darn shame I can’t find deeper gears.


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[Chris]

Dude, 5.13's with 33's and the 4popper will run. But 5.13 and 37's?? Hell no Better throw in a LS swap while you are in there

Haha, I agree with this!

That setup on a 4 cylinder? Hell, even with a 4.0 I don't think I'd be going that extreme without a V8 in there. But on a 4 cylinder, I wouldn't even dream of it until I put a V8 in there first.

That little AX-5 might just blow up!

 

[Rob5589]

That’s what I thought lol. Darn shame I can’t find deeper gears.


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Maybe a 7.17. They used to cut em for the big Dana 60/70. Even still, it is too much to ask of a 2.5. Even the 4.0 is reaching the limit. Hell, I didn't even address the AX5. :meparto:

 

[Chris]

Yeah, I'm thinking at that level of build that little AX-5 (which isn't a very strong transmission to begin with) would start seeing some issues.

With full width axles and 37s, that's when I really think you want to start considering a V8 swap and an appropriate transmission to mate to it.

And of course at that point you really won't need to worry about such deep gears, because the V8 and whatever transmission you pair with it, will have an entirely different powerband.

 

[Stox5225]

Sounds like I need to source a v8 [emoji6].

How about tranny? I’d like to keep it manual.


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[Chris]

Sounds like I need to source a v8 [emoji6].

How about tranny? I’d like to keep it manual.


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You can't keep that AX-5 with a V8 swap. For one, it won't bolt-up, but for two, you'd blow it up with a V8... way more power than the AX-5 can handle.

Depending on what type of V8 you want to put in, there are a variety of manual transmissions you can put in to pair with the V8.

Read the section here on "Manual Transmission Options":
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/engines/swap-guides/chevy-buick-gm/tj-swap

That covers the manual transmissions you could use with a Chevy V8 swap, as well as a bunch of other useful information.

 

[Stox5225]

If I could find one in rebuildable condition, I’d like to throw a Cummins 4BT under the hood.


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[Stox5225]

How about if it was in 4 LO all the time. Would a 2.5L be torquey enough? I definitely had a buddy who had Dana 60s and 37s being spun by his 4 banger. Maybe 35s???? It was a looong time ago. I followed him to his house from the trail and he was doing 45-50 no issues. Can 60s be geared deeper than AAMs?


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