AX15 swap, problems galore!

[xburn3]

Hellooo, I have an 87 Jeep wrangler that I am trying to install a 94 AX15 from a cherokee into and I am having the worst luck in the world. I have just about everything ready to go and I try to install the T/C shifter on, and it is rubbing the side of the floorboard, I have tried using the 87 peugeot shifter - no good, a Cherokee shifter - will just not work, and an AX15 shifter from something? - will not fit right. As if that wasnt enough, the transmission mount will not work at all. I got a transmount from a 94 YJ with AX15 and apparently the skip plates must be different because it won't happen. Even if I managed to drill holes into the skid plate, it would have to be somehow raised an inch because the skidplate metal is raised in the mid-section. Anybody got any solutions. I dont want to install my peugeot but I seriously need a ride. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[BriansYJ]

Been there done that, I know how you feel.

In my case (89 YJ) I was able to grind a little off the xfer case shifter to get it to fit properly. I did not have to get a new one.

I also was able to get a new tranny mount and still use my old skid plate. Yours may be different for 87. My skid plate already had holes in it for the tranny mount (the holes weren't used for my Peugeot). Probably the best solution would be to try and grab another skid plate if yours doesn't have the holes for the tranny mount.

Good Luck!

[xburn3]

yeah I was trying to avoid getting a skid, none of the Junk yards up here have any Jeeps in them.

[muddiejeep]

i ran into the same problem in my 87. i cut the middle cross section enough for the mount to fit and drilled new holes. my shifter didnt hit, but the x-case shifter hole didnt line up to the hole on the trans so i had to modify the shifter but no clearance problems. if it is rubbing the floor then cut the floor till it wont rub

[xburn3]

I am assuming you cut the underside of your skid correct, I am looking into this as a possiblility and then just mount the trans to the hump in the middle of it. I was going to cut the floor I guess, I dont want to ruin the adapter, Which, model shifter did you use that you didnt have any trouble?

[redrocket_78]

I put an NV4500 hd tranny behind my 4 banger. I had to mod the crap out of my skid to get it to bolt up. Its wasn't even close to the same. When doing swaps, there is always custom stuff that has to get done. Sorry that doesn't solve your problem. If you have to cut a part of the raised section out you may think about reinforcing it elsewhere to gain the structural integrity of the skid. Those things are pretty stout. They didn't go skimpy on the YJ skid.
Chad.

[muddiejeep]

no i cut the hump running across the middle. strenght? i have yet to run into any problems. and my traction bar runs to my skidplate and nothing has happened yet. but next summer im going to make my own skidplate. the stock one is to thin in my opinion.