Transmission swap

I have an ‘06 LJ 4.0 I want to put a manual tranny in it. I know it had a NSG370 option. But I have an AX5 will it fit?

 

Not directly, no. You can generally find an adapter to mate any transmission to any engine. But should you? The AX5 is a small car transmission. Sticking it in a Jeep was a bad idea from the start, and even with the 2.5L it is notoriously fragile. Putting it behind a 4.0L is begging for trouble.

 

Ok I found a NSG370

 

Obviously the least expensive, easiest option. The No Significant Gear 370 doesn't work all that well off road with the 3.6 and the 4.10 gears but should work a lot better with the 4.0. I'm not sure about the TJ application, but in a JK they don't like staying in gear over anything really rough. B&M makes a cure-for another $600.

 

You are talking about the B&M short throw? Thanks!!

 

I have heard that this is an issue, but fortunately have not personally experienced it. If memory serves, some people have found swapping fluids solves the issue without the B&M shifter.
I've got a B&M short-throw in my Vette, and if the Jeep shifter performs as well, it's certainly a worthwhile investment, if the fluid swap fails to fix the problem.

 

Any recommendations for a manual transmission??

 

IMO, unless you maybe filled the transmission with heavy grease (wouldn't end well), a change of fluids will not solve the problem. When you get a JK into something like bad washboard or just rough trail, the shifter will be violently oscillating back and forth, enough to pop it out of whatever gear you are in-it isn't particular. If you inadvertently get you hand in the way of that, it hurts. When I am anticipating a situation where that may occur, I hold on to the shifter. Pain in the ass fiat engineering. And no doubt why the JL/JT's use a completely different shifter design. I think a lot of that oscillation can be tagged to the overly flexible JK engine mounts. Whether it is a problem in the TJ's I don't know. All that said, I still think the NSG 370 is your best option.

 

Thank you for everyone’s input !!

 

The NSG370 should work just fine. Just be sure it's got proper clearance around the shifter, since that seems to be at least part of the popping problem.

 

I’m thinking about making a custom shaft to eliminate or help eliminate positioning problems

 

Wouldn't it be easier to just enlarge the hole in the transmission tunnel?

 

Ha! Probably but I wanted to get the shifter further away from the dash and closer to the driver

 

Could just just bend the stick? That would be custom!

 

Absolutely! And I’m lucky to have a CNC at work where the guys like to “test” new programs

 

@LJ4LJ I have an 04 LJ and I've been contemplating a manual swap as well. I used to have a manual Cherokee that I absolutely loved. I'm not mechanically inclined enough to do the swap myself but I have a local shop that I know can get the job done. My question is, where did you find a solid nsg370, and for how much? The cheapest one I can find in the rebuilt market is a reman from these guys, https://reman-transmission.com/transmission-codes/?code=NSG370. I also found a JY nsg370 for 1000 bucks but it seems to be in terrible shape.

 

I found a couple
On eBay ‍♂️