A conversation with Mr. John Elle: What does it take to put an AX-15 in an AMC car? A. The parts from a Cherokee XJ with an AX15 from the factory. Is it satisfactory when done? A. From XJ drivers - yes - from these discussions on optimum street driving ratios - sounds as if 1st is too short for performance applications. Many NAXJ.ORG drivers testify to beating the crap out of their AX15 rigs - problems arise after 100k+ miles of such abuse - syncros being the main complaint. Does the speedometer work? A. In '91 they went to an electronic instrument cluster - so there is a solution somewhere. I have read that in order to get something accomplished you have to take 2 or three permutations and assemble one that will function supposedly correctly. A. No, I was looking at a driver 5 speed behind a moderate 360 - straight parts pull from one '97 - '99 Cherokee XJ - bolt it in - as this is the most 'improved' version. What is the point if I have to buy 3 transmissions. A. I'm missing something here -......... And what happens if the 2 or 3 you buy have parts that don't interchange. A. Not planning on swapping internals - the '97 - '99 had a larger input shaft upgrade - hence my choice of years. A. Can't change input shafts between an R154 and an AX15 as you'd have first gear to tend with. Do the complete internals exchange ? I haven't found anything posted to this - as I don't believe anyone has tried. AX15 and R154 are noted to be in the same 'category' ? for Aisin designs - so a possibility that you could swap internals - however - why bother when the R154 will bolt in behind an AX15 bell housing ? What is the point in buying a Toyota Truck transmission so you can get better gearing if the parts won't fit in the jeep transmission. A. The Aisin 'Toyota' truck transmissions are the 'F' transmissions - not even in my considerations - I started my 5spd. investigations beginning with the AX15 - that I have in my '89 Cherokee - which is a nice transmission - but would be short on spread in first gear for a 360 streeter. Andrew pointed out the virtues of the Toyota Supra Turbo R154 5 speed - which will bolt to the AX15 bell housing. This has great reviews from being used in swaps behind 350 chevies to Turbo'd Volvo's to 600HP street 'Kings' - haven't found a bad review yet combing www.google.com - and - buy in is $350.oo with 'short shifter' kits available along with various HURST and alike shifters. I haven't found any posts on www.google.com as to someone having 'Blown up an R154' either. con't: j.elle - I'm not saying that they don't or won't but no one has indicated that they will. I have already installed one Mustang Transmission and have driven it behind a cooking version of a 390 for about 15 years now and really have no complaints. If I had the money and the inclination there are gear sets that would enable me to change the gear ratio of 1st and 2nd to give me a closer to a close ratio 4 speed with a deep over drive which would have done 2 things. Let me keep the 3.54:1 rear axle with out changing it and strengthened the transmission to specifications approaching those of a T-10. A. The 'dead' 1st gear of the Mustang trans.- somewhat useless by example if one is starting in 2nd gear with a Daily Driver - is why I'm not considering a Mustang transmission. R154 This is a robust 5-speed transmission found in the MKIII Supra Turbo <http://www.answers.com/topic/toyota-supra> and Toyota Soarer <http://www.answers.com/topic/toyota-soarer> (turbo) up to 2001. Ratios: * First Gear: 3.250:1 * Second Gear: 1.955:1 * Third Gear: 1.310:1 * Fourth Gear: 1.00:1 * Fifth Gear: 0.753:1 Mustang 1st 3.35 28 (C) 32 (D) 2nd 1.98 48 54 3rd 1.34 71 80.5 4th 1.00 95 107 5th .76 125 143 With C being the speed in gear with a 3.54:1 Rear Axle and D being the speed in gear with a 3.15:1 Rear Axle. The speed is calculated using 4500 rpm w/P205-70-R14 Tires Considering the 3.35 of the FORD camp - I'm back to Toyota Supra Turbo - which will bolt up using the AX15 bellhousing - as far as I've researched & found info. for. The clutch throwout bearing changed from an internal [inside bellhousing] to external for the AX15 - the R154 uses the external version. $350.00 buy in price for R154 $220.00 rebuild kit. xxx.xx AX15 Bellhousing - clutch arm etc. $129.00 New AX15 reservoir / slave [get used] xxx.xx clutch / pp / bearing / flywheel - assorted For the reviews I've read - this is choice #1 so far for under 1K$ ........ but I'm listening ! -- =Bt= milnersXcoupe "The Heretic" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.amc-list.com/pipermail/amc-list/attachments/20070516/45bdc6e2/attachment.htm _______________________________________________ Amc-list mailing list Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list