Topic: Tranny not Trany

[oldjeep]

Afetr doing some research, I agree with Jeffy and I'm not going to rebuild the ax5. I decided to do a AX15 conversion and I'm about ready to start collecting parts. I have a few questions I'm still not sure about. Does the donor vehicle of the ax15 have to be off a 4wd? Also, how many miles does the average AX15 go for? Thank you all for all your help! If anyone would like to try this conversion here is a link that I found that makes seem to be pretty moderate.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181361&highlight=ax15+swap&page=1

Yes, it needs to be from a 4wd - otherwise it will have the wrong type of output shaft and will not have a tcase adapter on it.   As far as how long they last, it depends entirely on how it was abused.  I pulled a perfectly good AX15 out of my kids comanche that had 150K miles on it, they guy I sold it to said it looked great inside

[Jeffy]

Afetr doing some research, I agree with Jeffy and I'm not going to rebuild the ax5. I decided to do a AX15 conversion and I'm about ready to start collecting parts. I have a few questions I'm still not sure about. Does the donor vehicle of the ax15 have to be off a 4wd? Also, how many miles does the average AX15 go for? Thank you all for all your help! If anyone would like to try this conversion here is a link that I found that makes seem to be pretty moderate.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181361&highlight=ax15+swap&page=1

If I was going to do the swap, I'd really consider the NV3550 if you can get one.  It's a bit more money but a lot newer then an AX15.  The AX-15 has some of the problems the AX-5 has.  The #1 being hard shifts when cold.

All, you need to do is find the bellhousing.  You don't need the transmission.  Most are 2WD anyway.  The problem is the AX-15 in a Dodge is clocked a bit compared to the Jeeps which is straight.  Get your transmission from a Jeep.  Newer the better.

[enginethatcould]

If I was going to do the swap, I'd really consider the NV3550 if you can get one.  It's a bit more money but a lot newer then an AX15.  The AX-15 has some of the problems the AX-5 has.  The #1 being hard shifts when cold.

All, you need to do is find the bellhousing.  You don't need the transmission.  Most are 2WD anyway.  The problem is the AX-15 in a Dodge is clocked a bit compared to the Jeeps which is straight.  Get your transmission from a Jeep.  Newer the better.

Not to sound too stupid, but what vehicles did the NV3550 come in?

[Jesse-James]

IIRC, it comes in 2000 and up TJ's with a 4.0L

[Bounty Hunter]

If I was going to do the swap, I'd really consider the NV3550 if you can get one.  It's a bit more money but a lot newer then an AX15.  The AX-15 has some of the problems the AX-5 has.  The #1 being hard shifts when cold.

The AX15 shifts smooth as butter when cold if the correct fluid is used, and from owner reports, sounds like the 3550 is a can of rocks with all the rattles.

[Jeffy]

The AX15 shifts smooth as butter when cold if the correct fluid is used, and from owner reports, sounds like the 3550 is a can of rocks with all the rattles.

I've had hard 1-2 shifts even with the correct fluid used.   Heat also caused harder shifting.  Then it was really high humidity or over 100*, 1st was harder to fined.

The NV3550 is louder because it's a truck transmission.  Dodge put them behind the 318cid 1500 Rams.  This would also set you up nicely for a V8 swap down the road.

[jfrabat]

I've had hard 1-2 shifts even with the correct fluid used.   Heat also caused harder shifting.  Then it was really high humidity or over 100*, 1st was harder to fined.

They say the same thing about the AX5, and I would have agreed... Until I put some Redline MT90 in there.  I have not had any hard shifting since.

[enginethatcould]

I've had hard 1-2 shifts even with the correct fluid used.   Heat also caused harder shifting.  Then it was really high humidity or over 100*, 1st was harder to fined.

The NV3550 is louder because it's a truck transmission.  Dodge put them behind the 318cid 1500 Rams.  This would also set you up nicely for a V8 swap down the road.

What years did Dodge put that in? I'm Having a hard time finding one locally of off a jeep. The V8 swap is a couple years down the road right now. While Im at this junctuion I would like to anticipate the v8 by putting the best option in.

[Bounty Hunter]

I've had hard 1-2 shifts even with the correct fluid used.   Heat also caused harder shifting.  Then it was really high humidity or over 100*, 1st was harder to fined.

The NV3550 is louder because it's a truck transmission.  Dodge put them behind the 318cid 1500 Rams.  This would also set you up nicely for a V8 swap down the road.

Sounds like it may be just your tranny, I haven't heard that as a common problem with the AX trannies.

So the 3550 should sound like a can of rocks at idle because it's a truck tranny?

[Jeffy]

Sounds like it may be just your tranny, I haven't heard that as a common problem with the AX trannies.

So the 3550 should sound like a can of rocks at idle because it's a truck tranny?

The hard shifts are/were very common on the AX family.

Ever use a NV4500?