need help/info on trans swap

[turtl3tim]

hi guys, im new to the forum, i was just wondering if any1 could tell me how hard it would be to put an engine and manual trans or just the manual trans, out of a tj into an xj. i love the look of the cherokee's but i hate the fact that the petrols only came out with auto's. i kno ill need to find a pedal assembly from a turbo diesel manual and the console surround for the gear stick and a master cylinder...but i just want to get some help/info on how everything would bolt up, ive done an engine conversion before but it was a holden into toyota, im hoping that keeping it all jeep will make life alot easier.
cheers, Tim

[Windex]

Any reason you hate autos? I came from manual fourbys(lada/pajero) then bought the XJ as a stop measure while I looked for another car, now I would not go back to a manual for 4wding, the only downside I can see is the fact that you want to make sure your starter is in good health.
That said I love to swap cogs on the road so I have a second car thats a manual to satisfy my left hand.

Other than that I would try the US forums as I am sure there are guys there that have done all kinds of swaps

[mischf]

The XJ 4.0 came with a 5 speed manual, just not in Australia. The manual and autos have different cranks, I can't remember if the crank needs to be modified (shortened?) but I know you need a spacer before the harmonic balancer to keep the pulleys aligned. It might be possible to swap in a TJ 4.0 with the TJ gearbox, but that would probably involve some plumbing and wiring. Also the TJ will have a 231 transfer case (command-trac) instead of the 242 (select-trac). The later model cherokees came with a NV3550, and the earlier ones had a Peugot gearbox, AX-15 I think. I think the TJ has the NV3550???

[turtl3tim]

hmmm ok, i hate autos because they lag, theyre boring, theyre much more complicated than manuals and theyre alot less efficient, yes they have their good points but not many. ive owned 2 autos now and in the future i will try to avoid them as much as possible, i just cant stand them. i know the americans got a manual, because they get all the good stuff haha. would the transfer cases be a big deal, or would they virtually be interchangable? i havnt done alot of research on the t/c's. the plumbing and wiring shouldnt be too hard id imagine, providing i get the harness and computer with the tj motor and box

[junglejuice]

The Tj engine shouldn't require any plumbing or wiring to fit just use all the Xj's accessories.
But WHY the auto is so much better offroad than a manual in every aspect except for steep downhill, better at climbing, mud, sand, towing etc etc
I too prefer manual cars for your stated reasons but I would never want a manual 4wd after the Xj....

[rodxj]

Hey turtle, try PM ing a fellow member (XJBenny) as I believe he was doing a similar swap on his own XJ. The auto in the Chero is hard to beat, but hey....good onya for trying something different. Good luck with it!

[mischf]

Originally Posted by junglejuice

The Tj engine shouldn't require any plumbing or wiring to fit just use all the Xj's accessories.
But WHY the auto is so much better offroad than a manual in every aspect except for steep downhill, better at climbing, mud, sand, towing etc etc
I too prefer manual cars for your stated reasons but I would never want a manual 4wd after the Xj....

Sure, XJ accessories will bolt onto a TJ engine, the problem is they are in a different location.......