Topic: 700R 60degree trans hooked to a YJ 4banger?

[rwing1]

I am considering trans swap possibilities, and I am kinda fond of the "4 squirrels that could".  Has anyone done research or performed a swap with a 700R out of a 60degree v6 S10 vehicle?  I understand the bellhousing pattern on the 2.5 is the same but will everything work with the right pieces?  Just seems like a decent 4-spd auto with aftermarket behind it.  If you used a trans out of a 4wd S-10 type vehicle, don't some of these use a chevy version of the NP231 T/C?  Could these pieces fit together, or even almost be a bolt-in swap?


My Yj is a '94 with the 4.0TB,exhaust work, homebuilt open-element intake system, and an 2-spd electric fan out of a 90's Intrepid, running 31" BFG MudTerrains.

[Jeffy]

I am considering trans swap possibilities, and I am kinda fond of the "4 squirrels that could".  Has anyone done research or performed a swap with a 700R out of a 60degree v6 S10 vehicle?  I understand the bellhousing pattern on the 2.5 is the same but will everything work with the right pieces?  Just seems like a decent 4-spd auto with aftermarket behind it.  If you used a trans out of a 4wd S-10 type vehicle, don't some of these use a chevy version of the NP231 T/C?  Could these pieces fit together, or even almost be a bolt-in swap?


My Yj is a '94 with the 4.0TB,exhaust work, homebuilt open-element intake system, and an 2-spd electric fan out of a 90's Intrepid, running 31" BFG MudTerrains.

I believe it's doable but you might need to space the torque converter yourself.

[rwing1]

In the FAQ section on tranny swaps there is a picture of a 3.4L Camaro V6 with a Jeep AX5 bell bolted on.  This would seem to answer the bellhousing question, the 700R should bolt on there. From what I have found the Chevy NP231 is made different than the Jeep 231 so I think I might still need the adapter from Advance Adapters to mount up to the transfer.  I wonder if the factory Jeep 2.5 auto flexplate would be adaptable to the Chevy TorqueConverter.  Would the bellhousing spacing be off far enough to need a spacer? In the FAQ write-up on the 3.4V6 and AX5 bell, I think the mention of the Camaro Flywheel to space out the clutch was for the Toyota Short input shaft trans being mounted.  I need to hit the junkyard and take a few measurements.

On another note though, anyone swapped in a 3.4L V6 out of a Camaro? Should even bolt infront of the soon to be dead AX5.

[Jeffy]

In the FAQ section on tranny swaps there is a picture of a 3.4L Camaro V6 with a Jeep AX5 bell bolted on.  This would seem to answer the bellhousing question, the 700R should bolt on there. From what I have found the Chevy NP231 is made different than the Jeep 231 so I think I might still need the adapter from Advance Adapters to mount up to the transfer.  I wonder if the factory Jeep 2.5 auto flexplate would be adaptable to the Chevy TorqueConverter.  Would the bellhousing spacing be off far enough to need a spacer? In the FAQ write-up on the 3.4V6 and AX5 bell, I think the mention of the Camaro Flywheel to space out the clutch was for the Toyota Short input shaft trans being mounted.  I need to hit the junkyard and take a few measurements.

On another note though, anyone swapped in a 3.4L V6 out of a Camaro? Should even bolt infront of the soon to be dead AX5.

Yes, the 2.5L uses the GM 60 Degree bellhousing bolt pattern but like I said you'll need to shim the TC, probably need to weld on new mounts with propper spacing.

Why would you want to use a NVG-231-J?  No one makes an adapter.  The internals are mostly interchangable with the 231-C.  The 231-C might uses  a 6 bolts to bolt it to the transmission while the 231-J uses 3. (worst case it will have a 3 but I doube it.)  Using a spacer would mean you'd need to add an extention onto the input shaft and the spacer would bring it back a few inches.  It's not worth the trouble.  Just use the 231-C.  Not to mention the only real differences is in the front outer case and the tail shaft and main shaft assembly.  I forget if the C has the 1-1/4" chain or the 1" chain like the J.  If it's got the 6 gear planetary then it will have the wider chain though.  

A friend of mine who was going to turbo his 2.5L was also going to install a 700R4 60 and went over to Tri-County Gear and talked to them about it.  THey could do it there since they also do 4.0L 700R4 swaps.  Although like I said, before they weld on spacers to the TC to get it to work.

Keep in mind that the biggest concern with a 2.5L is that the transmission is going to suck a lot of power from the engine.  The 2.5L auto's were always a bit of a slug and they're only 3-speeds.  They needed the extra RPM's from staying in 1:1 to keep the speed up.

With all that work to try to get a 700R4 in there, you might as well just drop in a 3.4L or 3.8L with it.  Or get a 4.3L...

[rwing1]

You have good point about the Auto sucking even more power out of the engine.  I suppose by best swap would be an AX-15 or 3550.  That opens the door wider for future engine swaps too.  If I had the money...... I would just start with a new Hemi and matching Automatic trans.  Then build up the rest of the Jeep to take the abuse.  But If i had money, I wouldn't have this poor old Jeep to begin with,  I'd have a Rubicon.....with a Hemi!

[rwing1]

FYI to anyone interested... I sent an e-mail to www.high-impact.net and Greg Miller responded:
     
       

"Interesting possibility. We have a system where we use an NV3550 5 speed onto the 2.5L "four squirrel" motor. Your 700R4 is an interesting idea, but I don't have the answers for you without doing a bunch of research. If you want to order a 700 from me, I imagine I could figure out how to make it happen. 700R4 bad boy $1875, I would figure about $75 for a flexplate - I would just take the jeep flexplate and redrill it to fit a 700 torque converter. "

Greg Miller
High Impact Wheels / Transmission & Gear
Toll Free 888-898-4331
www.high-impact.net

[Jeffy]

FYI to anyone interested... I sent an e-mail to www.high-impact.net and Greg Miller responded:
     
       

"Interesting possibility. We have a system where we use an NV3550 5 speed onto the 2.5L "four squirrel" motor. Your 700R4 is an interesting idea, but I don't have the answers for you without doing a bunch of research. If you want to order a 700 from me, I imagine I could figure out how to make it happen. 700R4 bad boy $1875, I would figure about $75 for a flexplate - I would just take the jeep flexplate and redrill it to fit a 700 torque converter. "

Greg Miller
High Impact Wheels / Transmission & Gear
Toll Free 888-898-4331
www.high-impact.net

Try contacting Tri-County Gear http://www.tricountygear.com/. I'm sure they will do it.  Actually, they will do it, if you've got $$$.  This is where my friend went when he was going to do his.  Problem is they never reply to emails.

I still like the NV3550 swap though.  It's not an auto but ti will set you up for a engine swap later if you want.  With the V6 700R4, you'd be stock with it unless you swapped the transmission to a 90* version.  Someone else mentioned there is a AW4 that was used with the 2.5L on the XJ's.  This is a 4-speed auto tranny also.  I've never seen one before though.