XJ Drivetrain Swap in '74

Hey everyone, some of you have probably read about my plans for my '74 CJ-5. In the end I would like to use a 4.0L and AW4 out of a late model probably 96-99 XJ. I would ideally use all the wiring out of a 4.0L OBD-II XJ or possibly TJ. I know the main thing I am going to run into is length issues. Now the only other thing is I plan on going SOA so I'm thinking that would make some driveshaft issues go away but at the same time I'm going to have to clock the rear axle skyward to correct the pinion angle. I also plan to use a D300 case since I heard they will for sure bolt behind AX15s and 23 spline AW4s are the same output. Do you guys think this is feasible at all? I know some of you probably wouldn't go to this much work but if the length can be made to work, I would like to attempt it. Let me know what you all think. Thanks so much!
-Collin

 

AW4 is prolly too tight for a CJ5

4.0EFI sounds like a lucid plan to me, though.

 

Well the good news is I have two spare 23 spline AW4s right now so I guess I can always mock it up, I just don't have any D300s laying around only NP231s. Does anyone know, will the AW4 bolt up to the 258? I guess the 258 and 242 are technically the same physical shape so it should, I could even try to bolt one behind the 258 that's in it now, just as a test. Does anyone else have opinions or test analysis?

 

just curious.. but what's wrong with the 258 and stock tranny t/case?

 

Its all just tired, the trans and tcase are completely shot, the engine is getting there too. I want fuel injection too, I'm young and have no experience with working on carbbed vehicles. I'd like to have a CE light so I can troubleshoot problems easier.

 

A friend of mine did that swap into a 87 CJ7 and it was pretty tight with a short rear drive line. Take a lot of measurements 1st. He used the AW4 shifter arrangment with a strap welded across the tranny hump and to the front of the shifter to hold it steady other wise it would wobble around every direction.

 

Good I'm glad to hear that it has been done, but that was in a 7 which is a bit longer right? I was planning on grafting an XJ tranny hump plate to the CJ-5 plate and then using an XJ shifter assembly, cable, and console since I have about 4 laying around right now.

Does anyone know if the fact that I am going SOA will help the rear driveline? It would make there be more distance between the case and rear axle but will put it at a more severe angle. I figure if I drop the tcase and move the perches to tilt the rear axle I should have a decent pinion angle.

 

no such criitter as an 87 cj 7. . . soa will give ya more issues to deal with as far as steering goes. i'd stay spring under with a 4 in lift. 35" tires. just my 2 cents worth.

 

You will have a pretty severe rear dirveshaft angle with a SOA or a 4 inch SUA lift and the AW4/300 combo. I dont know if a CV will have allow that much angle. They make high angle cv shafts but they are $$$. If you rotate the rear pinion up you will need to use a CV shaft or you will have horrible vibration.

I run a 4" lift SUA. With a short shaft t-18/20 combo I am right at the limit of what the CV can handle when the rear axle is at full droop. And this is shorter then the AW4/300 combo.