wrangler drivetrain

[wrangler4.2]

I just got an awesome deal on a '87 wrangler 4.2. Just wondering what some of you guys are running for stock drivetrain, i've heard their trannys can be problematic.
And any other suggestions you have. (i'm running on a little bit of a budget!)

[soulfly]

Originally posted by wrangler4.2
(i'm running on a little bit of a budget!)

isn't everyone...

[bit breaker]

i wish i had a jeep budget, I sometimes mix it up with my food budget.. damn those jeeps can eat a lot..



ken

[Robert]

The tranny would be a Peogeot (sp?) better known as the PushNGo. They are pure junk!!
87 YJs came with the NP207 t-case, which is also junk.
Basically the only major drivetrain peice worth keeping is the engine, and it needs fuel injection swapped on.

I hope this thing was cheap, because it is mostly just good for the tub and frame.

[MossMan]

i run a built 4.2 in my yj. plenty of torque and reliable. by built i mean cam, header, enhanced ignition, and a weber carb. nothing crazy. runs awesome but it's still not fuel injection. the puegot ba-10 has to go though. ain't worth shit. i swapped in a ax-15. a lot better but still not way heavy duty. haven't had any problems yet though. :fingers crossed: and i've been told that some 87's had np207's and some had np231's. i don't know how accurate that is but i have a 231 with sye and it's held up pretty good. it did split and crack when my front d.s. broke goin' about 60 mph but i had it welded and its still holding up. anyway, not super heavy duty stuff but it's been pretty dececnt so far.

[Robert]

Originally posted by MossMan
it did split and crack when my front d.s. broke goin' about 60 mph but i had it welded and its still holding up. anyway, not super heavy duty stuff but it's been pretty dececnt so far.

Damn, dude, I wouldn't even think to weld up a 231

[MossMan]

yeah, not my first choice but it held up in a bind. i gotta get a new case.

[wrangler4.2]

yah well i paid $500 for it, its clean, all records, soft top, hard top, bikini top. I think thats a pretty good deal, also has a weber 32/36 on it. I heard a lot of bad things about the tranny and t-case, so whats easy and good to swap in. Im going to start off w/an soa and 33's.

[Robert]

I would look for a T18/98 four speed and D300 or Atlas.
The T18 or T98 can be swapped in with factory adapters (bellhousing and t-case adapter). I would not waste money going to a 231 t-case. Swap in a D44 front (at least ) when you do your SOA, with right diff, and run a D300, or run an Atlas with whatever side front output you want.
Granted the four sppeds don't have the coveted overdrive fifth gear, but so what. With the granny first gear, you won't need as low of an axle gear. Larger tires will give the same effect as an overdrive on the freeway.

[wrangler4.2]

so will a ax15 swap right in? Or do i need adapters, and what t-case?

[Jason R]

Originally posted by wrangler4.2
so will a ax15 swap right in? Or do i need adapters, and what t-case?

You won't need an adapter for the motor, but I'm not sure if the 207 will bolt in behind the AX15. I would use an np231 or D300 depending on how much strength you need.

The D300 is passenger drop unless you get a flip kit or make one etc. Its a very strong tcase and relatively inexpensive.

[Robert]

The NP 207 is going to be a 21 spline input. Most (if not all) of the AX15s were 23 spline.
While the AX15 was better than the PushNGo, they are still marginal, especially when used with tires, and horsepower.
My 90 YJ came with the AX15 originally. It went out at 75000m.
Just for shits and giggles, I spoke with several shops about rebuilding it. They all laughed at me. I was told it was better to replace it. At $2700 for a new reman, it was FAR cheaper to go with a four speed granny tranny. I have been much happier with the four speed as well.