Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler YJ shifters

Which automatic transmission should I put 1988 YJ?

Pamp

New Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2024
Messages
13
Location
IN, Lowell
Hi everybody I need to know what automatic transmission to put in my 1988 jeep wrangler yj with the 4.2 I can’t drive the the crapy Peugeot 5speed anymore please help.
 
Why not go with an AX-15? Are you dead set on an auto?

32RH would probably be your best bet if you want an auto.
 
Hi everybody I need to know what automatic transmission to put in my 1988 jeep wrangler yj with the 4.2 I can’t drive the the crapy Peugeot 5speed anymore please help.

No YJ should have an automatic trans. thats blasphemy.
 
No YJ should have an automatic trans. thats blasphemy.
It’s only Blasphemy… unless you’re like Pamp & myself, then blasphemy becomes blessing. 😖😂👍

Me < spinal cord injury from horrendous rollover accident.
I can move my legs enough to drive my ole Yj some but need my hands to help move left leg… it sux on steroids

AS FOR TRANMISSION ***
Pamp, you might not be interested? but an LS swap (with auto) isn’t too big of nightmare anymore.
Lots of places sell motor mounts, wiring harness, etc for this to be pretty simple & not horribly expensive.
Especially if you get a good deal on a good complete GM donor with motor/trans/ t- case and wiring.
I explain it a little more below.

My ratty ole Yj is/was getting an 5.3 LS w/Auto after we finish doing exorcism on my 2018 Rubicon.
The POS Penta devil star is gone… Its pulled its last stunt of a thousand issues. < exaggerating heavily but it’s been a total pain in the bank account.

Me & that PentaStar have not had any good relations…nor the uncaring techs that butchered my Jeep under warranty… not a fan of my many dealings with a stealer ship who cram stuff in & out not caring about the quality of work done.. I will rant for an hour, so i will just not… 🤬

I think i’m taking the “devil star” to a recycle yard to save someone hating me in the future. 😖 (not joking).

My 2018 is currently getting a 392 out of a tee-boned Scat pack (such a beautiful car to be totally not repairable).
Hemi swap isn’t cheap or easy but OH MY GOSH… the outcome will give basically me a 392 Wrangler for not a lot of money because of how i bought the Donor… It mostly gave me all my money back in about 3 weeks of work & lots of Craig’s list idiots.

However, my Black YJ may be soon traded for my friend’s 2006 LJ Rubicon (Tj unlimited).

He blew head gasket on 4.0 & didn’t realize it was pushing water into engine oil.
Apparently he found out the hard way 😖. Boom, clatter, clatter, clatter at 75 mph!
There are holes in both sides of block (ouch).

He doesn’t want to mess with it… & it already has blasphemous auto. 😂👍

Keeping fingers crossed because i bought a rolled 2096 z71 Tahoe (still runs, but it’s also not repairable)
Already sold everything that was any good. It covered most of what i paid for it.
The rest will go to crusher soon. Doing the same with ScatPac.
Wanting this mess of yuck gone. It’s a total pain EXCEPT if you will put in the work you can cheap sell anything off the donor to the point it’s just crusher metal… Then take it & title to scrap yard they will give you couple hundred bucks & its over
Plus you can sell OLD NON USED JEEP PARTS after the swap is over (unless of course you have a possessed Penta Star)

If he brings me the Lj… I wont have my Yj anymore. (sorta sad & bittersweet, but probably more sweet after some hard work).

Want a Hemi in the TJ also, but it’s a tough swap & the LS is already here & basically plug & play these days.
I’m pretty sure he is gonna swap me. It was his idea & mine is running & ready to roll.
He only uses his Jeep for his work commute vehicle & hunting ride… To save miles off his new truck.
He’s not very picky as long as long as it runs good, because he’s gonna bang it around in the woods anyway.
He really wants my 98 5.2 Grand Cherokee, not gonna happen. I bought it new after i got out of school.
It’s a time machine full of good memories a wilder days.

I’m just getting totally worn out on all this swap and sell stuff.
Plus i don’t deal well with junk setting around.
This will be it for me hopefully for a long time. 2 great vehicles with very good engines/ transmissions.

I’m mostly too messed up for the dedication this stuff is demanding, but it’s temporary & worth it (i think)?
I sure am not having any trouble sleeping… I’m too young to be this screwed up.
My desires out run what i can easily handle but it beats sitting in the house wasting away when im not working.
 
Hi everybody I need to know what automatic transmission to put in my 1988 jeep wrangler yj with the 4.2 I can’t drive the the crapy Peugeot 5speed anymore please help.

A popular swap is the AW4 from a Cherokee or the TF999/32RH from older Wranglers—both are solid matches for the 4.2 and much more reliable than the BA-10.
 
They came with 32RH from factory if 4.0 and auto. I believe the earlier ones were called 999 autos. Pretty much the same thing. Mine has one. I prefer standard shift, but like others have mentioned, my left knee hates it now. Nothing blasphemous about driving an auto other than some people's body wants to be the blasphemous part and not let them enjoy stick shift life anymore.

To the OP, FWIW, seek out someone parting an AMC Eagle (or maybe purchase the whole thing cheap if they have the fatal front subframe rust). They use the 999 auto in most of the wagon and sedan versions as they had the 258 (4.2) in them. They also had the floor shift control vs the column shift like in YJs, so adaptation will possibly be simpler into a manual version of the YJ without the proper steering column.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler YJ shifters