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Jeep Wrangler YJ
YJ Build Threads & Member's Rides
The Diesel Jeep Build
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<blockquote data-quote="RangerRick" data-source="post: 428758" data-attributes="member: 19360"><p>[USER=19255]@jeepjoe43[/USER] , I totally understand the weak powertrain rabbit-hole syndrome from decades ago and agree it's no fun hunting OEM style parts down! Of the 12 Jeeps that have passed my stables: "The Home For Abused and Neglected Jeeps", (there is an article over on the sister TJ site of the MOPAR Magnum 5.2/5.9L V8 conversions I did on two 1997 TJ Wranglers). I have owned two 2.5L powered YJ's, one automatic, one a stick. One 2.5L Automatic TJ and this originally 2.5L powered CJ-7. None of them were fireballs that's for sure! "Black Betty" mentioned above in the intro with the worn out engine that started the quest for diesel powered jeeps was sold to a good friend who I "thought" was going to convert her one day. He sold her when he got married and moved to Japan due to practicality of driving a lifted 35" tire shod Jeep Wrangler in the land of the rising sun hitting him.</p><p></p><p> I swapped the transmission out on the other red 1990 TBI 2.5L YJ before I sold it because the AX-5 was shot and it was easy enough to swap in the very similar AX-15...... That took care of the weak transmission problem for the next owner! The nice thing about the AX-15 Asin transmissions is they are really tough unless heavily abused and lack of maintenance issues crop up. They can be had used in a junkyard, CL or ebay for reasonable prices. They can be rebuilt easy enough and there are adapter bellhousings out there for just about any engine you'd ever want to put in front of it. I say swap the AX-5 for an AX-15 for sure and if you have a YJ that's before 1994.5 when they went to external slave cylinders, convert it at that time to the external type slave at the same time as the swap. The AX-15 can handle about 300 Lb. Ft. of torque input power reliably unless you're just an absolute animal, (it's rated for something like 275 stock).</p><p></p><p>"Black Betty" YJ had dual 31 spline 9" Ford high-pinion axles that Currie Enterprises built for YJ's with 6-lug GM bolt pattern. Nothing wrong with the quality of build but..... Never again will I go with something custom that I can't get junkyard parts for to fix if something gets busted on the trail.... I don't even want to go into that nightmare and unless you plan to carry your 1-off custom shafts or it's way overbuilt 35 spline Rock-Jock 1-Tons, think again before throwing huge money into something totally custom unless totally over-built. If I had to do it all over again, I would have used something common in salvage yards that I could get over the counter like I did on later consecutive Jeep 4x4's that I built LIKE THIS CJ. Lesson learned the hard way!</p><p></p><p> I used common axle parts for this build so if I ever break an axle part, I can call up any dealer or junkyard and order what I need to fix it. That or go to the local salvage yard and pick it myself. The front axle is a little rarer because the long side is from a 1974-1978 Chevy/GMC D44, the short side is from a narrow track SJ Cherokee or the original Grand Cherokees. Both the rear axle shafts are your garden variety 1995-2001 Ford Explorer 31-spline (passenger side) shaft to which then I can use an adapter for the bolt pattern until time when I can re-drill it. There are manufacturers I can order a chromolly alloy one from like Yukon which are pre-drilled for both patterns. All stock parts from readily available sources, nothing custom length one-off parts anymore.</p><p></p><p>[USER=19255]@jeepjoe43[/USER] , I recommend to keep this in mind when you decide to build axles for your YJ for if disaster strikes on the trial, it could really wreck your vacation time waiting for days to weeks to get a replacement part. Just sayin'!</p><p></p><p>RR</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RangerRick, post: 428758, member: 19360"] [USER=19255]@jeepjoe43[/USER] , I totally understand the weak powertrain rabbit-hole syndrome from decades ago and agree it's no fun hunting OEM style parts down! Of the 12 Jeeps that have passed my stables: "The Home For Abused and Neglected Jeeps", (there is an article over on the sister TJ site of the MOPAR Magnum 5.2/5.9L V8 conversions I did on two 1997 TJ Wranglers). I have owned two 2.5L powered YJ's, one automatic, one a stick. One 2.5L Automatic TJ and this originally 2.5L powered CJ-7. None of them were fireballs that's for sure! "Black Betty" mentioned above in the intro with the worn out engine that started the quest for diesel powered jeeps was sold to a good friend who I "thought" was going to convert her one day. He sold her when he got married and moved to Japan due to practicality of driving a lifted 35" tire shod Jeep Wrangler in the land of the rising sun hitting him. I swapped the transmission out on the other red 1990 TBI 2.5L YJ before I sold it because the AX-5 was shot and it was easy enough to swap in the very similar AX-15...... That took care of the weak transmission problem for the next owner! The nice thing about the AX-15 Asin transmissions is they are really tough unless heavily abused and lack of maintenance issues crop up. They can be had used in a junkyard, CL or ebay for reasonable prices. They can be rebuilt easy enough and there are adapter bellhousings out there for just about any engine you'd ever want to put in front of it. I say swap the AX-5 for an AX-15 for sure and if you have a YJ that's before 1994.5 when they went to external slave cylinders, convert it at that time to the external type slave at the same time as the swap. The AX-15 can handle about 300 Lb. Ft. of torque input power reliably unless you're just an absolute animal, (it's rated for something like 275 stock). "Black Betty" YJ had dual 31 spline 9" Ford high-pinion axles that Currie Enterprises built for YJ's with 6-lug GM bolt pattern. Nothing wrong with the quality of build but..... Never again will I go with something custom that I can't get junkyard parts for to fix if something gets busted on the trail.... I don't even want to go into that nightmare and unless you plan to carry your 1-off custom shafts or it's way overbuilt 35 spline Rock-Jock 1-Tons, think again before throwing huge money into something totally custom unless totally over-built. If I had to do it all over again, I would have used something common in salvage yards that I could get over the counter like I did on later consecutive Jeep 4x4's that I built LIKE THIS CJ. Lesson learned the hard way! I used common axle parts for this build so if I ever break an axle part, I can call up any dealer or junkyard and order what I need to fix it. That or go to the local salvage yard and pick it myself. The front axle is a little rarer because the long side is from a 1974-1978 Chevy/GMC D44, the short side is from a narrow track SJ Cherokee or the original Grand Cherokees. Both the rear axle shafts are your garden variety 1995-2001 Ford Explorer 31-spline (passenger side) shaft to which then I can use an adapter for the bolt pattern until time when I can re-drill it. There are manufacturers I can order a chromolly alloy one from like Yukon which are pre-drilled for both patterns. All stock parts from readily available sources, nothing custom length one-off parts anymore. [USER=19255]@jeepjoe43[/USER] , I recommend to keep this in mind when you decide to build axles for your YJ for if disaster strikes on the trial, it could really wreck your vacation time waiting for days to weeks to get a replacement part. Just sayin'! RR [/QUOTE]
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