I've got a '99TJ sport that I'm getting ready to completely re-do. Right now, it has the stock tranny and t-case. I've decided on an Atlas2 for the t-case, but I am still undecided on the tranny. I've considered a 700r4, SM420, SM465, or NV4500. I will admit, I don't know much about tranny swap and I know that I am getting over my head, but give me credit for trying to do it myself. Now, my questions - which would be the easiest swap? Which would be the least costly swap? Are there any other trannies that are good/better and why? I am building this more towards rock crawling and would like to know why you would pick a certain tranny and how difficult it would be to install. Also, any pointers as to watch out for would be greatly appreciated. Actually, anyone wanna come to Indiana and help install a tranny, t-case, and full suspension? :D Worth a shot. Any input would be appreciated. TIA

Rookie

Ok, Rookie, so what else are you going to do???

Yeah, you might be headed in the right direction, but why bother with the tranny and xfer case if you're not going to lift it, and swap in HD axles and big meats?

Maybe you have these things planned, but I'm getting tired of seeing rookies come on here and tell us of their big plans that are not very well thought out.

Ok, here's what is being done. HP 60s front and rear. Moving the rear axle back and adding a fuel cell. 38.5x14.5x15 TSL SX mounted on beadlocks. Coilover shocks. I've got all that figured out and I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of different trannies. The axles are being picked up on the 9th along with the control arms - so that is all taken care of. I am also going to add hydraulic steering, but that is pretty straight-forward. The biggest problem I'm having is deciding, with my limited knowledge of trannies, which tranny to go with, how much I should expect to pay, and what kind of problems I should expect to run into. TIA

Rookie

Excellent. You've got a plan. Proceed to Go, and collect your $200 worth of monopoly money.

I'm not trying to single you out, but we've had a rash of newbie shiznit recently, and I'm going to start cracking down.

Now somebody answer his question - I haven't dealt with this new fangled stuff.

And Rookie, you don't happen to be the same guy from Kokomo IN that had a CJ8 as a possible contender in the Tough Truck competition for one of the rags a year or three ago?

Well what do you want, an auto or stick?? You listed both. And what's wrong with the stock AX-15?? Is it that bad to be considered a weak link in what you want to do??
And lots of people beat the snot out of the 231 t-case with no problems. Why not just add Tera-low?? Just my opinion. I don't know you an how much/hard you wheel, but why shell out big $$$ for things you might not need?? It's your rig, and you can do what you want, but I wouldn't just go nuts for the sake of going nuts...

Mark

I am not an auto fan so I'll just comment on the manuals.

NV4500- Nice tranny, but overrated unless you plan on driving your rig everyday on the freeway or on long trips

SM420- Great 1st gear but sometimes this tranny is hard to find in the wrecking yards. Very reliable and stout though.

SM465- Another good 1st gear but not as good as the 420. Easier to find and just as reliable as the 420. I personally use this tranny.


***Please note, the harder to find comments are for my area (Sacramento,CA)

we demand pic's rookie!

Originally posted by Welby
Well what do you want, an auto or stick?? You listed both. And what's wrong with the stock AX-15?? Is it that bad to be considered a weak link in what you want to do??
And lots of people beat the snot out of the 231 t-case with no problems. Why not just add Tera-low?? Just my opinion. I don't know you an how much/hard you wheel, but why shell out big $$$ for things you might not need?? It's your rig, and you can do what you want, but I wouldn't just go nuts for the sake of going nuts...

Mark

"What's wrong with the stock AX-15??" - Everything. He's going big. 38.5's and even moderate rock crawling will kill it. AX15's are a light car transmission. Period.

And on the 231... Same thing. LIght duty. Plus, you get to put the terra in it right, that's about $1200 out the door. And then you'd have to go SYE, there's another what... $300-400?? All of a sudden your spending close to 2k on a "light duty" tcase. No thanks. For the extra $300-$400 I'll take tha Atlas please.

Yes people beat the snot out of em, but not on 38.5's and not on advanced trails push'n it time and again. It all depends on what he wants to do. Major trail fixes or being towed out sucks.

Allrighty then :D

Ok so how 'bout autos? I have to pick one for my up comming one ton jeepsteer project (SBC 350, auto, AtlasII, 60's, 37"+ tyres, 106" WB). I was thinking 700r4 because it has a overdrive but now I have heard people saying it is week. So whats a good slushbox with an overdrive? The reason I want a O/D is caus I dont have a tow vehical yet and will have to drive on the highway. If Klun made a box with a O/D, 1:1, low range, and 4:1, I would be set with out the OD tranny.

A well built 700 is supposed to be good for 450 ft-lb of torque. That's what Jet rates theirs at. I'd say thats plenty stout for most people.

No, I'm not the guy with the CJ-8. I've got pics but the only ones I have are of the Jeep with its current lift (RE 3-inch). Here's what I've thought so far. 700r4 because of the fact that it's an auto and ease of rockcrawling. Problem is - hills won't be as easy as a manual (which I'm used to).

Manual because of hills and, if I get the crawl ratio low enough, I won't have to worry about stalling (which is a real pain in the butt) or burning up the clutch. Problem is - major difference in tranny length (stock versus SM420 or whatever) which means - pain in the butt trying to get the shifter to work well. I'm kinda leaning towards SM420 or SM465 because of the price (cheap) and low first gear. This is a trailer queen 95% of the time so overdrive isn't necessary.

So, let's say I go with an SM420 or SM465 (which is what I'm really looking at), what problems am I going to run into? How easy is it going to be to get the shifter in a good position that it will work well? If I get a tranny for around $100 - how much more should I expect to pay in adapters and what-not?

TIA

Rookie

Anyone???

Rookie

Originally posted by CJ-Jeeper
A well built 700 is supposed to be good for 450 ft-lb of torque. That's what Jet rates theirs at. I'd say thats plenty stout for most people.

The RamJet 350 I want to use makes 400ft/lbs:D. How long will the 700 last?

You and everyone else keeps talking this or that tranny but, you're missing an important ingredient in this mix. Since you didn't mention it and since its a '99 i will assume the 4.0l stays. So that pretty much rules out the 700R, yes anything is possible...

For an auto you are pretty much limited to the TorqueFlyte that was an option from DC. Which is a decent tranny by the way.

What about the SM 420 or SM 465??? There again is an adapter available??? Don't know haven't played with that new stuff (yet). I'm sure someone AA or Novak or??? has a set up to do the NV 4500, but the 4500 really ups the cost unless you can find a killer deal on the donor tranny.

Guess it boils down to how deep your pockets are. I won't get into the slush box vs. the stick debate. You have to make that call. FWIW I've had both and will never go back to a manual!!! The compression braking thing really isn't that big of a deal. You're talking deep 4 series or possibly 5 series R&P and at least 3.8:1 in the Tcase. It will do just fine with an auto.