Topic: 95 YJ with external slave - local has 300$ internal slave rebuilt tranny for sal

[bestos]

I have 95 YJ with external slave.  2nd gear is very uncooperative and not sure how much longer tranny will last.  A local has a rebuilt tranny for $300 - he going with V8 Conversion.  His is internal slave. 

How difficult is it for me to take that internal slave tranny and mount to my external.  i already have everything right??

[sharpxmen]

i think it's only the bellhousing, shift fork and release bearing guide (the pipe around the input shaft) which you already have. They do look different though so i'm not 100% on this but from the bellhousing back should be the same, someone else should confirm as i am only assuming and did not do or check this.

[neale_rs]

Also verify if the transfer case shifter bracket attachment holes are the same.

[Jeffy]

I have 95 YJ with external slave.  2nd gear is very uncooperative and not sure how much longer tranny will last.  A local has a rebuilt tranny for $300 - he going with V8 Conversion.  His is internal slave.  

How difficult is it for me to take that internal slave tranny and mount to my external.  i already have everything right??

The bell housing are interchangeable.  It's a common swap, or it used to be.  You have all the parts you need between you and the other guy.  Use your bellhousing and clutch with the new transmission.

[bestos]

so if i take it to the tranny shop with both trannies in hand, they can handle . . . . yes?

[Jeffy]

so if i take it to the tranny shop with both trannies in hand, they can handle . . . . yes?

They should.  Although you'll want to be clear about it and make sure they know what to do.

[bestos]

i have never done flywheel or clutch work, so I really do not know anything.  and i am leary of buying a $300 transmission, even if it was rebuilt.  he says he is going V8. 

is the bearing retainer that retainer clip at the front shaft or is that big huge plate that you have to knock off with a BFH?  I am almost ready to take my tranny to shop and say, put me a rebuilt in and give me 3 yr warranty with it.  i am just sketchy of buying something, ya know.  I am lucky that i have all the parts or it would not be worth considering. 

[Jeffy]

i have never done flywheel or clutch work, so I really do not know anything.  and i am leary of buying a $300 transmission, even if it was rebuilt.  he says he is going V8. 

is the bearing retainer that retainer clip at the front shaft or is that big huge plate that you have to knock off with a BFH?  I am almost ready to take my tranny to shop and say, put me a rebuilt in and give me 3 yr warranty with it.  i am just sketchy of buying something, ya know.  I am lucky that i have all the parts or it would not be worth considering. 

If you're Jeep is in one piece and running but needs a new transmission then everything is there that you'd need other then the transmission itself.  The AX-5 is the same transmission used from 1984-2002.  There is really no difference other then the bell housing which has been changed a few times over the years.  Like I said before, as long as you have a replacemnt AX-5, it will go in no matter if the donor had an internal slave or not.  It doesn't matter as all you want is the transmission itself.

I'm not too keen on rebuilds though.  Depending on what was wrong with it, rebuilds tend not to last too long.  This probably has more to do with the rebuilder not being experianced with the in's and outs of the AX-5 specifically though.  I'd be more inclined to get a donor from a late model TJ that hasn't been rebuilt.

2nd gear has been a known problem for the AX family when it gets cold.  I've had issues when it was very humid as well.  Once it warms up 2nd gear usually works fine.  This is considered normal.  Changing the fluid sometimes helps.  If your issue is with the syncro's then that's not normal.  Although having bad syncro's doesn't mean the transmission is going to die anytime soon.  It just means you'll have to not rely on the syncro's for finding the gear for you.

Replacing the clutch isn't always necessary but you'll want to check it when the transmission is out.  If you're having someone else do the work then they will most likely look at it anyway.  I doubt it will cost extra other then the actual cost of the clutch as the work to replace the transmission means removing the clutch anyway.

Just make sure the shop knows what you want done.  If you remove the bell housing and other unnecessary parts from the donor, it will make it even more clear.

[Bounty Hunter]

A difference that has not been mentioned is between the XJ/MJ AX5 and the YJ AX5 transmission.  The XJ/MJ version clocks the transfer case lower, so you don't want to go that route unless you mind sacrificing ground clearance or redrilling the tailhousing of the transmission.

If you can find another YJ AX5, it's a straight-forward swap of the bellhousing and the input shaft cover.  Be sure to check the pilot bushing size between the two different input shafts.

[sharpxmen]

Bounty has a good point (somehow i thought the rebuilt one was YJ, if it's XJ then better look for a Wrangler one instead unless you don't mind what he suggested)

[bestos]

the one available is from a 91YJ.  I have 95YJ.  My 2nd gear synchro is bad.  When slowing down, I have to do the old school drop to neutral and rev, which I have gotten good at, and yes, the cold has made it even more difficult on upshift.  I do have the parts correct. 

My first thought was --- oh $300 ---- but if they are a cheesy rebuild --- then I am wasting my money having it put in only to fail soon enough.  Ill see if I can find one from TJ years.  I think I am going to pass on this one.  thanks for the advice so far everyone. !!

[Bounty Hunter]

Changing the fluid to Redline MT90 may be enough to improve your poor shifting issue.  It's an expensive gamble but it may extend the life of your current transmission.  It's great fluid, a full synthetic that generally improves shifting, especially in cold weather.

[Jeffy]

the one available is from a 91YJ.  I have 95YJ.  My 2nd gear synchro is bad.  When slowing down, I have to do the old school drop to neutral and rev, which I have gotten good at, and yes, the cold has made it even more difficult on upshift.  I do have the parts correct. 

My first thought was --- oh $300 ---- but if they are a cheesy rebuild --- then I am wasting my money having it put in only to fail soon enough.  Ill see if I can find one from TJ years.  I think I am going to pass on this one.  thanks for the advice so far everyone. !!

Yeah that sounds like your syncro's if you're having to rev match.  not a bad skill to learn though.  The other was is to know what RPM's you normally shift at and match it as the rpm's drop from gear to gear.  Same basic principle without having to do the reving.  Although if you rev match all the gears when downshifting, your syncro's would probably last forever.   

$300 should get you a salvage AX-5 from a TJ.

[bestos]

yeah, i will be scanning across craiglist local for donor TJ. 

I did the redline MT90 about 20k miles ago.  the only gear i have to rev match is 2nd gear - at the moment.  :)