Anyone know how reliable the tranny found in 93-98 zjs are? It is the one that bolts up to the 4.0L not the 5.2. Pretty sure its the 42re. The only thing i heard is to use high quality gear oil but thats it. Any info would help. Thanx guys.

this is a 999/904 based tranny and will live in front of a 6 or mild v8. A 300 will bolt up to it with a clocking ring to take up a little space (and flatten the belly). It also has a 2.74 first gear which is better than many other choices. Good luck

I think what my buddy (toydawg85) was trying to decide was between the 4.0 and 5.2L '96 zj. He was trying to get an idea of which one would last longer as a DD since hes already got a wheeler.

As a DD it's a great tranny, wouldn't go out of my way to put it in a wheeler though (it's currently in/came with, my wheeler).

The tranny that came behind the 4.0's in the ZJ is AW4 also found in the XJ. This is a toyota built transmission and has overdrive and 2.80 first gear.

Rockslut I don't think ur right. I don't think the AW4 was used behind the 4.0 in the grand (at least in 96). I think the 42re is the tranny they used.Correct me if i'm wrong, but the AW4 was used only in XJs and not in ZJs? Let me know what you guys think.

Only early 93 ZJ 4.0s got the AW4. After that they switched to the 42re. In 96, the 5.2s got the 44re, which is basically the same as a 42 re, with a V8 bellhousing

Would you say that the AW4 is a far superior tranny to the 42re?? Or is the 42re pretty similar? I think toydawgs looking for nothing but reliability and longjevity.

i like the AW-4's better.

the 42re is just like the rest of the A-500 series, and has the same problems. there is too much shift overlap (in 2 gears at once) which provides for smoother shifting...and excessive heat. otherwise they are pretty good as long as they are maintained and adjusted properly.

transgo makes a shift-kit which makes this a better tranny. i had a guy modify the 46-RH in my 1994 after i overheated it a couple times. he worked with Transgo on developing the kit, and used parts of the kit on my tranny, along with some other toys (kevlar bands, "cool steel" steels, fancy clutches, diesel OD, some GM crap, and other misc parts and stuff). it is now a 49RH (modified for and using 9 clutch packs) and could be considered 1 1/4 ton duty rated. i've put over 20,000 miles on it and still love the clean, crisp shifts and consistency of the shifting. my temp gauge shows tranny temps about 75ºF above ambient temp. the only time is goes up is when i'm running in 2nd gear pulling a trailer up a hill (the TC doesn't lock up in 2nd). the hottest its gotten is 210ºF...about normal operating temp on stock trucks.

matt

Thanx a lot jeepnmatt. That what I think my buddy was looking for.