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These are not instructions!
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Vehicle Background:
What we have here is an 88 YJ (see specs). It has a 4.2 and fuel injection from SDS. The guy who sold it to me claimed figures of about 160hp and 180ft/lbs (at the wheels). Who knows, but it was strong enough that I DESTROYED reverse gear without too much effort and in short order (1st is complaining too). I had budgeted replacing the tranny from the moment I purchased my heap.
Rebuild Options/Goals:
I was entertaining many options including rebuilding the 10/5, going to an ax-15, and springing for the NV4500!
My goal with this swap is simple...Get back on the road with a NEW transmission (not rebuilt or yard sourced) that will handle most anything I dish out, and not open a huge can of worms. So I did a mess of research on the NV3550.
Turns out it fit the bill...here's how.
Rebuild Obsticals:
I faced some of the following problems.
- Budget
- Swap complexity
- Actual durability
- Future torque handling capacity
- Timeframe
Budget:
We all know the prices so I wont bore you with that. Lets just say I cant afford to do this twice.
Ease of swap:
The AX-15 would probably have been just as easy to swap as the 3550 and I'm sure many people are very happy with the 15. I might have gone AX-15 but the ratios/torque capacity is better in the 3550. The 4500 is huge and awesome...but there's a bunch more fab work and drive shaft stuff that needs doing for that swap.
Actual Durability:
Considering my torque requirements (current and future) I have decided that I will never ever go above 300 lb/ft from the engine. Given that I will be using this jeep as a daily driver and mild crawler/tow vehicle, I won't be needing a "trail rated" granny low, or huge torque capacity. The NV3550 is rated 300 lb/ft (conservatively) based on a GVW of 7200 lb.
I think my jeep is, at most, half that weight.
Future Torque Capacity:
If I am correct in assuming my injected 4.2 is producing about 207 ft/lbs at the crank (180x1.15), then it's safe to say I'm in the clear with the current motor. However, assuming the conservative rating of the 3550, if I do swap in a nice new 4.0 and stroke it with the old 4.2 internals, or go with a 3.8 S/C (who knows), I will still be safe.
Timeframe:
I want a "drop-in" tranny upgrade!! Unfortunately those don't come easy. The idea of fabricating for weeks and trouble shooting after that, puts most "granny low" transmissions out of the picture for me. Time is not a huge factor for me, but I don't want to be on my back in a frozen garage, battling with mechanical jigsaw puzzles. The best solution is coming into focus...
Let the sparks fly!
So I ordered the NV3550 conversion kit available from
High-Impact Transmission & Gear
EDIT:
I never included a parts list with part numbers...so here it is complete with links.
For reference from another thread:
'92-'99 AX15 and NVG3550: OEM pilot bearing 53009180AB for '87-'91 engine
Advance Adapters Bell housing kit incl release lever, throwout bearing and pilot bearing p/n 712590
(P/N 715545) NV3550 Shifter Bracket (for Jeep NP231 transfer cases)
23 spline transfer case input conversion
(P/N 716007) NV3550 Crossmember Mount Kit (for Jeep YJ Wranglers)
(P/N 716340) Jeep Slave Cylinder Kit For NV3550
Stage one - Teardown:
2 huge boxes arrived at my door after waiting patiently for my Sept. X-mas. The Tranny in one and the adapters/clutch in the other.
I took a quick inventory of all the stuff..."yup all there....woah....whats THAT?"....A chipped Clutch plate that's what.<Replaced Free of charge by
Advance Adapters after some E-mailing and picture taking. (AA is a great company)
Parts...check.
Tools...check.
Started by removing the shifters.
Then the front and rear drive shafts came off.
The rear U-joints were in a bad state. One literally fell apart right away, displaying the roller bearings inside. The other was seized.
Next I lowered the belly pan.
This is about the point when I broke out the ziplocks for labeling and storage of "loose items".
Then I removed all the vac lines, speedo cable, backup light wires, vent tubes, and cobwebs and removed the x-fer case.
Next installment I'll give a step by step on replacing the input gear in the np231 (from 21 to 23 spline).
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Build Thread - Peugeot BA10/5 to NV3550
Call me if you need anything else
