Ba10/5 swap to ???

[jdjohnson]

So I'm in the process of blowing apart my 88xj and just finished rebuilding my 4.0. It has oe type internals but a few bolt on's. With that being said I'm really having troubles deciding which way to go with a trans. Used ax15s have proven hard to find and Novak wants nearly 3k for a new one with all the stuff to make it work. I can find aw4's for a couple hundred bucks and get it rebuild for under 1k. Then I still need all the attachments and linkages to make it work plus the electronic shift kit assembly.

Are these my only options?

 

[87manche]

you can bolt up anything amc patterned to a 4.0, but you'll have to figure out cps mounting and the right flexplate/flywheel to make the ecu agreeable.

AW4 should not be hard.
the wiring should be there.
swap the tps for the auto one, plug in TCM, plug in trans.
done.

 

[jdjohnson]

Does anybody have any tips or ideas that can keep the swap reliable yet less then the motor cost me? Am I really better off switching to the auto with the electronic shifter vs the ax15? I'm dying to drive this thing and not sure putting the ba10/5 in with a fresh motor will hold up that well.

 

[87manche]

no, if it didn't come from the factory you'll have to spend money to modify things.

the aw4 is nearly bomb proof. Don't even bother rebuilding it, just chuck it in there.

ax-15 is my preferred transmission of choice behind a 4.0. You just have to buy them when you find them to have parts on hand.

run the 10/5 until it pops, but don't put any money into it.

any other swap will also require new shafts.