AX15 or AW4 swap Help

[jMedia]

As the title reads I have a few questions before I dive into a swap
Money and difficulty of swap aside, what do you guys think would be the best for a DD 88 GW v8?
Also how would I need to change my 3.31 ratio to best take advantage of the transmissions?

Thanks

[addicted]

The AW4 is going to be your cheapest and easiest way. It will keep it auto and require less parts to find and pay for.

The best ratio IMO for it would be 3.73:1, it will keep the engine in it's power band better, allow you to tow stuff and get decent mileage.

[mattmopar440]

T-5 would be the easiest just fine a 80 j20/j10

[jMedia]

The AW4 is going to be your cheapest and easiest way. It will keep it auto and require less parts to find and pay for.

The best ratio IMO for it would be 3.73:1, it will keep the engine in it's power band better, allow you to tow stuff and get decent mileage.

If I don't tow ever(no other goodies to tow yet) is that still the best ratio? Looking for best mileage

[lkmarsh]

One step at a time. Swap in the transmission of choice and see how it works with your engine and axles. Run a few tanks of gas through it to see what mileage you get and plan a gear swap if needed. 3.31s are good for highway cruising so run with them for a while and see how you like it.

[Chevelleguy]

I agree. I had 3.36's in my Chevelle with a 700R4 and it was perfect for what I wanted, 3.73 made first gear too short. This was with 275/60/15 tires, which are 28" tall.

If you are running taller tires, 3.55's or 3.73's will be needed. My wife's XJ with 31" tries didn't like hills much with overdrive and the stock 3.55's.

[addicted]

The vehicles main use will dictate what gears will be better. If it is going to see a lot of highway use then the 3.31's might just be perfect but if it is going to be used for a lot of stop and go a deeper gear will get things in the power band and keep the engine from lugging all the time and if stop and go is it's main use then putting an OD trans in it will be a waste of time and money since you will rarely see speeds high enough for long enough to utilize OD and it's benefits.

[jMedia]

The vehicles main use will dictate what gears will be better. If it is going to see a lot of highway use then the 3.31's might just be perfect but if it is going to be used for a lot of stop and go a deeper gear will get things in the power band and keep the engine from lugging all the time and if stop and go is it's main use then putting an OD trans in it will be a waste of time and money since you will rarely see speeds high enough for long enough to utilize OD and it's benefits.

Its used for some stop and go around town, but i do go a longer road trips quite often so it'll see highway use a lot

[addicted]

Then yeah I would say go for the swap, drive it for a while and if you find the performance is just awful or at least not up to your standards swap the gears out for some 3.54's

[jMedia]

Then yeah I would say go for the swap, drive it for a while and if you find the performance is just awful or at least not up to your standards swap the gears out for some 3.54's

If driven correctly, could I get better mileage out of the manual?

[grand_wag_85]

AX-15 is a great tranny but I have heard horror stories about guys gernading them with mildly built AMC V-8's. I dunno if it's true or not but like others have said an AW4 would be the best and easiest swap to do.

[grand_wag_85]

If driven correctly, could I get better mileage out of the manual?

Yes! I had a 90 XJ with a 4.0, AX-15, NP231 and 3.05 gearing. On a trip from PA to NC I averaged 32MPG. I was never able to do it again after that but my mileage was typically above 22MPG and my buddy's XJ would manage 17MPG and the only thing different was the tranny and gearing.

With fuel injection maybe you can get 15 or 16 with a GW

[Chevelleguy]

I remember 19-21mpg out of our 2WD XJ with the AX-15. Our 4WD with the AW4 got 17 also.

[grand_wag_85]

I remember 19-21mpg out of our 2WD XJ with the AX-15. Our 4WD with the AW4 got 17 also.

Must have been a fun Jeep assuming it had the 4.0

[jMedia]

Everyone keeps pushing me away from the ax15 swap, is it really difficult? Is there an easier OD manual to put in?