Aw4 swap complete

[80Limited]

I just completed my aw4 swap and I have to say, it's great. Smooth shifts, quiet cabin and a lot better take off. Thanks to everyone who lent their info.

[yossarian19]

Want to pay it forward?
I'm curious what kind of clearance issues you had around the crossmember, fuel tank, etc.
I know how to get it running and bolted to the block but I still am not clear about space issues with a passenger drop Wag.
Glad it worked!

[80Limited]

I couldn't tell you anything about passenger side drop, mine is driver's side. There was no problem with the fuel tank and crossover. I just moved it to the farther back holes and then drilled new ones for the aw4 trans mount. My 727/219 combo was pretty much the same length as the aw4/231, so my old rear driveshaft was reused, just swapped the XJ yolk onto the wagoneer driveshaft. For now I want to keep the little 4Wheel lever so I have to rig up some linkages. Have you got it all wired yet?

[80Limited]

Will it bolt up to the QT without an adapter? I ended up taking a lot of stuff off the parts Cherokee I thought I would need. The only thing I don't reall like is the four bolt that hold the trans to the engine. Since the flexplates were the same diameter I redrilled holes for the aw4 torque converter and used 1/2" shims to bolt them together. Which then I was able to reuse my original starter.

[yossarian19]

I am a ways out from actually buying parts on this, let alone starting the swap. I still have to get the paperwork on the FSJ sorted out (bought it in oregon and the title was missing a signature, from a deceased owner...) and figure out if the 401 can be saved.

I anticipate using a Dana 300 or Chevy 241 for the swap and having to lose the Qtrac. I'd rather not have to mess with it but adapting the qtrac, if it's even possible, is probably more expensive than replacing.

[80Limited]

Just let me know if you need help.

[Wagoneerlover]

Glad to see some others out there who have adopted the aw-4 transmission. Its one of the best swaps I have done. Each rig I get, gets this and fuel injection immediately. (Will chime in again when I am at home and not using my cell to type this).

[80Limited]

I did it because it was so darn cheap. I picked up a little Cherokee for $250 took what I needed and parted the rest out. I think I have about $150-$200 into the swap so far. Sure beats hundreds of dollars for adapters. I have the stock 3.31s in it now and 4.10s on the bench waiting to go in. With the stock gearing it feels good at cruising speed.

[Wagoneerlover]

This is part of the reason I did it. An aw-4 can be done without the usage of adapters depending on what transfer case is used. Years ago when I did my first aw-4 swap it cost me almost nothing. Cruising on the freeway feels great now!

[bkilby]

Is there a post somewhere outlining the parts/adapters needed for a swap like this? Just curious. I'm familiar with the AW4, just not familiar with the process to bolt it behind an AMC V8.

[rocklaurence]

How did you manage the electronic shifts?

[SC/397]

Is there a post somewhere outlining the parts/adapters needed for a swap like this? Just curious. I'm familiar with the AW4, just not familiar with the process to bolt it behind an AMC V8.

The AMC V8's have the same bell housing and flex plate bolt pattern as the 4L so, it all bolts together even with the 4L flexplate and starter. The flex plate should be balanced to whichever V8 engine you are running. A combo throttle position sensor and cick down cable bracket has to be adapted to a carb or whatever fuel injection system that you are using.

[80Limited]

The transmission is a separate entity. It uses its own control unit. As long as you have power to it and the TPS and lockdown it does it's thing. I will get my info together and make a list of what I did.

[80Limited]

Kick down not lockdown. Stupid phone

[rang-a-stang]