as title says. Dakota 3.9/AX15. doing engine swap that involves an AX15 and a 318 but not in a Dakota, want to retain as much of drivetrain as possible til I get the bugs worked out..... want to put a V8 into a Wrangler, I have the engine on the way, along with its wiring and computer, 40K original mile motor coming out of rusty van. Conversion motor mounts I will need are "cheap enough" from Advance Adapters.

 

What's wrong with the current bell housing? 3.9/5.2/5.9/Viper V10/Gen III hemi all use the same bell housing mounting.

RwP

 

If the AX-15 was in the Jeep, it likely has the bellhousing for a 4.0L I6. Unfortunately that bell housing would not share the aforementioned pattern.

 

He mentions the 3.9/AX15 at first; then wanting to keep the drivetrain.

You're probably right, though, not wanting to use the AX15 that he has with the 3.9.

But I still wonder what's wrong with the current bellhousing on that 3.9.

Volaredon - if you don't find one elsewhere, car-part.com shows several at $75 to $100 (less than one page, so easy enough to find someone near you.)

RwP

 

nothing wrong with current bellhousing, but it wont mate up to a 318. One from a 3.9 will.
$75-ish I'd go for... looking on Epay and CL I was finding them for MUCH more, to a point I'd venture a guess that if still available, I could get a new one from Dodge for what some of these idiots are asking.... thought I'd see if someone out in Dakota-land had one they were using as a door stop/tripping hazard, that they would be willing to part with..... just in planning stage right now, trying to decide what I want to do with my Jeep..... fix it up or send it down the road and get another one.... I got time, Jeep has (mostly) been my winter driver these last couple of years.... got other issues going on, other projects to get to/finish up before I can start another one.

 

Heh. You DID mention a 3.9/AX15 in the first line. I gather you don't have that combo for parts then?

RwP

 

nope. still drivin the Jeep with the 4.0 and AX15 but it is getting tired, sounds like maybe some wrist pin noise when cold, (NOT "rod knock" for sure..... though I know wrist pin is at the "other end of the rod) goes away by the 2nd time I go "thru the gears" and don't hear it again, more prevalent when cold outside.... I know they had an issue with piston skirts cracking on that engine for a couple of years, forget the exact year(s) involved, was a supplier problem by whoever they were getting their pistons from at the time-- could be what I am hearing. Had a guy I know with one a couple years newer and found part of his piston in the pan.... it still ran when it was yanked and pulled apart.

sometimes spins over like it has low compression, etc,,,,
195K miles, have owned this Wrangler since it was 3 years old with 19k miles, back in Y2K, I am getting this low mile 318 whether it goes into this Jeep or not, cost to put it in, get bellhousing and V8 clutch, aftermarket conversion mounts, and have a custom exhaust run is comparable to what I could rebuild the 4.0 for.... I have had several 4.0s and several 318s, I love both engines.... got enough parts to assemble a fresh 318 shortblock already on hand including a block that has been thru the machine shop besides the 40k mile one that I have coming..... so why not???? If I stay 4.0 I have to do away with the putrid 3.07 gearing in the diffs, with the V8 I might be able to live with them staying in place..... so it might be cheaper to go with the V8 in the long run????
had considered selling the Jeep instead because I see an 06 Wrangler "unlimited" for sale not far from here, unfortunately it is at a dealer's used car lot.... I don't do dealers and payments well..... I already have this jeep, have not yet tired of it, but has long since been paid for....
only bad feature of the Unlimited is an auto trans, my current one is a stick, which I would rather have.....