Auto/Manual Transmission Swap...Can it be done??

04ollllloguy · 08-18-2012, 11:46 AM

hey everyone im looking for a Jeep but the one i really like is a manual and im wanting an auto trans. has anyone here ever swapped a manual trans with an auto? i spoke to the dealership and they said they didnt know what to expect since they have never done something like that before. will the body harness and all sensors have to be changed just because the tranny was swapped out? btw its a 42RLE tranny swap for 03-06 rubi.

**Jerry Bransford** · 08-18-2012, 11:56 AM

Yep, it's a bolt-up job and all the wiring is already there for the automatic. I did a manual to automatic conversion in my previous TJ and the offroad benefits I received from the conversion were every bit as dramatic as what the front and rear lockers did.

rchase559 · 08-18-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Yep, it's a bolt-up job and all the wiring is already there for the automatic. I did a manual to automatic conversion in my previous TJ and the offroad benefits I received from the conversion were every bit as dramatic as what the front and rear lockers did.

You didn't swap in a 42rle...

**Jerry Bransford** · 08-18-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rchase559

You didn't swap in a 42rle...

And that has exactly what to do with it being as much of a bolt-in job with the 42RLE as it was with my 32RH? Not a thing. It's a bolt in for him exactly as it was for me and is how I described it.

rchase559 · 08-18-2012, 01:06 PM

If it's so easy to swap a 42rle in then why is it such a pain to swap it out?

Sure it can be done, but at what point does the cost of parts outweigh just buying a TJ with an auto already in it?

**mrblaine** · 08-18-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

And that has exactly what to do with it being as much of a bolt-in job with the 42RLE as it was with my 32RH? Not a thing. It's a bolt in for him exactly as it was for me and is how I described it.

Jerry, I'm pretty sure the 03-04 have the stand alone TCU right in front of the brake booster. I'm also pretty sure that the harness for the 42RLE is not present in the manual versions which is not to say that a master plug for the extension to the transmission isn't there somewhere.

Take a look at yours and see if you can tell where the master plug would be or if it's integrated into the main harness.

Also look and see if you have the stand alone TCU or if you have the 4 connector PCM with the integrated TCU.

04ollllloguy · 08-18-2012, 02:50 PM

The dealership mentioned that i may have to change the wire harness sensors and all that. The reason for the swap is the cost of getting a stock jeep and building it outweighs the cost of getting the manual and buying an auto trans and puttinging it in a rig that already has been built the way i like…depending on how much trouble it would be to do the actual swap.

rchase559 · 08-18-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04ollllloguy

The dealership mentioned that i may have to change the wire harness sensors and all that. The reason for the swap is the cost of getting a stock jeep and building it outweighs the cost of getting the manual and buying an auto trans and puttinging it in a rig that already has been built the way i like…depending on how much trouble it would be to do the actual swap.

Depending on how built said rig is and how good of a deal you are getting on it in the end it may be a wash after you factor in what your time and effort is worth in addition to the actual cost of parts.

Just a quick glance under the hood of my 03 makes me think that it's really not worth the effort. The transmission harness looks to be very much integrated into the engine and body harness. There doesn't appear to be any disconnects that would disconnect the transmission harness from everything else. The 1 inch thick bundle of wires running out of the TCU and joining into another harness makes me believe that it's not a weekend job by any means.

This doesn't absolutely mean that the 04 is the same but I would imagine that it is similar.

**frenchy206** · 08-18-2012, 06:04 PM

First, why do you want an auto?

**biffgnar** · 08-18-2012, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchy206

First, why do you want an auto?

Please don't try to turn this into a manual v. auto thread. Autos have their positives. Accept that.

**frenchy206** · 08-18-2012, 06:30 PM

Not trying to do that. Would like to know why the op wants to swap? Is it because the op wants to rock crawl? Maybe he needs an auto because he only has one leg. My point is, we might be able to save the op a lot of time and $ if we know what he's gonna use the Jeep for.

**biffgnar** · 08-18-2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchy206

Not trying to do that. Would like to know why the op wants to swap? Is it because the op wants to rock crawl? Maybe he needs an auto because he only has one leg. My point is, we might be able to save the op a lot of time and $ if we know what he's gonna use the Jeep for.

BS! If OP thinks he wants an auto what is your alternative?

**mrblaine** · 08-18-2012, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffgnar

BS! If OP thinks he wants an auto what is your alternative?

No so clever ways to turn this into a pissin match AGAIN.

heretic69666 · 08-18-2012, 07:24 PM

To the OP;
I would not use a dealership if I were you. Well, not after the admitted that they have not done a swap like this before. I would opt for a well recommended shop that works exclusively or predominantly on Jeeps. They would have a better idea of what you will need if not already have a built sheet for it.

As for Manual vs Automatic........... Who cares, it's the OP's jeep. Let him do as he wishes. He is making it his, as we all do to our rigs.

Sent from my iPhone using JeepForum

**frenchy206** · 08-18-2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffgnar

BS! If OP thinks he wants an auto what is your alternative?

Quit acting like an *** hat. Go troll somewhere else. We are here to help by giving advice and opinions, not troll.