Found AX15 for Swap into cj7 anyone done this before?

I found an AX15 tranny in great shape for only $100! From what im told this will bolt right up to my AMC (401). i think this tranny will give me the best of all worlds. I do what a good street jeep, with some off road fun. My engine will be strong enough to get me out of many jams and with a 4low crawl ratio in the dana 300 i should be good to go. Has anyone swaped one of these into a cj7 before, if so how involved is it?:twisted:

 

Not trying to talk you out of anything and sounds like a cool project, but have you checked out the strength of the AX-15? It's a great upgrade in Wranglers and Cherokees with the BA10/15 Peugeot with a 4.0 I-6 or like Dummy putting the NV-3550 behind a V-6 but in a larger heavier CJ-7 with a 401 V-8?
I've seen stock 401's split model 20 transfer cases in half in a CJ-5 running in sand....

 

I think it would be to light duty to put behind a 401.

 

I dunno guys. It all comes down to usage. Lookit it this way: the AX-15 is nipping at the heels of the NV3500 in the strength department. Dodge uses that tranny behind the 4.7L H.O. V-8 and that's nothing to sneeze at. The NV3500 isn't actually that much stronger than the AX-15. Plus, if he's got the 4.0L bellhousing still attached to it he will, indeed, be able to bolt it right to the 401. The 23-spline D300 will plunk right on the back. He'll have to move the X-member back, shorten the rear driveshaft, and lengthen the front, but hey, why not?

Advice: Keep you foot out of it when it gets bound, try to run deeper axle gearing (4.88s, 5.38, etc) to keep some of the strain off the tranny, and only really get into the throttle once it's rolling. Just keep your brain in the game while behind the wheel and you should be able to make it last.

I'm gonna be pulling the trigger on an AX-5 to AX-15 swap for my '89 2.5L Wrangler. I'm gonna run the AX-15 behind the four-cylinder for a while, but when I finally get around to dropping in that 550hp LS3 I'm gonna keep the AX-15.

 

great feedback guys! i think for an extremly low buck conversion($100) for the tranny, it may be worth finding out and keeping eveyone posted on how its working! After all this is pretty much a straight bolt in I do have a question though, will i be able to use the BRND NEw CenterForce clutch kit that it came with and bolt it to the 401 flywheel?

 

You can use the clutch disc, but you'll need a pressure plate for a 401, PN 361675. Don't forget, the 401 is externally balanced and you'll need to keep the 401 flywheel.

 

Looking for solution. Came across this thread and looking for more answers Please. Just rebuilt a 304 for my 83 CJ7. Motor not the problem. My tranny, a weaker than expected
T5. Which didn't last 1800 miles. lol. Looking for a tranny. Is the AX15 a good candidate for this? I need the bellhousing for 4.0? Which is different from the t5 bellhousing? Now, on to the transfer case. I have the dana 300 in my jeep with 198,000 miles. Yeah, it's up there! Will that bolt directly to the AX15?

Or, I know driveshafts and mounts will be different for anything I put in. That is not my concerns. I don't want to get into switching out input shafts or anything like that. Would the T18 from a 77-79 cj be the easiest route? What transfer case came with the T18 in CJ's. One more question, Is the T176 a good tranny? I have found a 4 speed with a Dana 300 for $600. That sound like a good deal? All and any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

I have a dodge 4.7 and it is a good strong motor, but its not even half the power of my 401. The torque output at just about any rpm in a 401, is to to much for the ax15. Your ax15 is more than likely going to go boom.

 

The 2009 4.7L Magnum is rated at 302 HP and 329 lb/ft of torque. You are saying you have a 401 that puts out at least 604 hp and 658 lb/ft of torque? Hmmm...

Got a dyno slip?

 

Listen, the guy has an extremely cheap overdrive tranny setup that will very-nearly bolt in to his application. Should he not use it because it isn't ideal? Hell no. Bolt that sucker in and just roll into the throttle gently. What'll really kill you is bang-shifting through the gears under full power or laying into the throttle with the tires bound into obstacles. I know a couple guys who keep Richmond manual trannies rated for less than 450lb-ft alive with twin-turbo small blocks making 1,400hp. Or sand guys with 750hp engine running paddle tires and T-90 and Spicer 18 T-cases. You gotta use your brain behind the wheel - that's all.

As for the dadroof guy and others wondering if they should go into an AX-15 for their big-power AMC V-8 - probably not. If you're starting from scratch and will be paying more for your tranny combo than the OP did, there are probably better options out there for ya.

Oh, and near as I can tell, most mid-70s 401s were rated at 255hp/345lb-ft NET, while the 4.7L Magnum and HO engines were roughly 235hp/295lb-ft and 265hp/330lb-ft, respectively. Not a monster-difference, really. Regardless, I'm not arguing the torque of a 401 versus the 4.7L. I was just giving an example that the NV3550 can survive in a moderately-powerful V-8 application and that the AX-15 is nearly as strong as the NV3550.

 

Ugh. I'll say it again, then I'm outta this. Nobody is arguing that the 401 doesn't have more torque than the 4.7L and that the power delivery characteristics aren't different. The guy has the parts, he didn't spend a lot of money on 'em, the conversion won't cost him a lot, and he should do it if his goal is to add overdrive cheaply. It's not for everybody, but it may be for him. Different strokes, different folks. End of story.

As for why Chrysler went from AX-15 to NV3550, it has nothing to do with torque ratings or any other performance parameters. It was a financial decision based on other corporate variables much the same as why the new Dodge trucks now run AAM axles instead of Dana axles.

Play nice, dude. If ya wanna pick fights, go hang on Pirate.

 

Typically what breaks gears is impact load. For example, burnouts. Or pinning the wheels and dropping the clutch. Or speed shifting. That sort of stuff. If the OP avoids these situations, the AX15 should be fine.

I'd think you could enjoy the power and acceleration of the 401 without driving like you're practicing your 1/4 mile time at every intersection. Plus, geez it's a $100 overdrive transmission that basically bolts up - not much to risk if it doesn't work out.

 

Hmmm, I've running a T86 behind a Pratt&Whitney turbine for over 186 million miles.




Anyhoo, I agree with Dummy. If he's got the set up free, and he's willing to make the "easy on the throttle" consession, they why not run it? Worst that happens is he hates it and cna go back to stock, or try again with another trans.