DRAKE WOODINGS

I'm contemplating getting this 2001 jeep Cherokee for a first car does anyone know how much it would cost to manual swap it, I know how to drive stick and would like to have a manual car and I'm struggling to find a jeep Cherokee with a manual trans

Buffy

No real good answer on cost as it depends on new/used/parts availability. Your transmission choice could dictate the cost NV3500? AX-15? AX-5? The biggest issue is finding the pedals and other parts needed to complete the swap. Factory shifter covers are made of pure unobtainium, had to make my own. You might could source some parts from a TJ but the pedals are unique to the XJ, the TJ and XJ share the same clutch master cylinder. I was able to find my pedals off ebay.

TrailerTrash

One of the biggest factors in determining cost is whether you would be doing the work yourself or paying someone to do it. Paying someone gets expensive quickly. Doing it yourself requires tons of research and parts chasing. Not to mention alot of tools and basic mechanical skills.

BlueRidgeMark

Yep. And all of that research and parts chasing at standard shop rate.... well, it's not hard to see why paying someone else gets expensive quickly.

And you are not going to find a shop that will be as meticulous as a dedicated owner can be.

TrailerTrash

well said.

This isnt as simple as paying a shop to swap in a new transmission or re-gear some axles. It will require lots of little parts and everything will have to be organized and noted so you know you have every part needed. Then there will be some snags along the way. And no doubt some problems that will require troubleshooting.

But do not let this scare you away from the idea. It would be an awesome learning experience.

BlueRidgeMark

Yeah, I'm thinking a project notebook will be a requirement.

And then, of course, since it's a home-brew modification, it will do a number on resale value.

Ralph77

Here are some pedals for sale to get you started. LOL.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/p...389754918.html

agreen

I did a manual swap in a couple of days. Mind you, I'm an experienced tech who used to work for Chrysler back in the day when these were new.

My total cost was right at $500. I found the transmission in a U-pull-it junkyard.

2 vehicles were donors for my 5 speed swap:

From the 1990 4wd XJ- Just the transmission.
From the 1997 2wd XJ- Bellhousing, input bearing retainer, shifter, boot, pedal assembly, and crossmember.

I bought a new flywheel, clutch kit, and master/slave cylinder assembly w/ hose. I would not buy them used.

Because the transmission was a 90 and my engine was a 98, I needed an adapter pilot bushing. The split for that is 1992. Before that year used a small pilot shaft and crank bore, and 92+ used a larger bore and 3/4" pilot tip. Novak had that piece (which I ended up somehow destroying about 3 months later and replaced my input shaft with one from a 95 Dakota)

So if you can piece it all together like I did, gather all the parts necessary, and be able to overcome obstacles like having to drill the hole in the firewall for the master cylinder... or having to shorten the front driveshaft... and there's probably more that I'm forgetting about... then it can be done fairly inexpensive.

Edit:
I forgot about the wiring too. The neutral safety switch has to get wired to the clutch switch, and the reverse lights have to get wired into the reverse switch on the transmission. This, of course, takes the place of the range sensor on the side of the transmission. And you'll also have a CEL unless you get the ECU as well. Unfortunately, I have STILL not found a 98 4.0 manual ECU. I've put out many requests on car-part.com, and EVERY manual XJ I've ever seen in a junkyard has already had the ECU picked. You can get around the CEL with some resistors and some trickery with wiring, but it also idles weird after engine braking (unless you blip the throttle).

So yeah. It's slightly complicated, but doable. If you decide to go through with it and have any questions, you can always DM me. Good luck finding the parts though. Took me almost 6 years to finally find one in a pick-n-pull. I'm too cheap to pay what most people want for just the trans. I could almost always find an AX-15 or NV3550 on craigslist or marketplace, but they were always around $8-900 with 200k miles on them. U-Pull-It yards usually charge $100 for any transmission. Just be patient and you'll find one.

DustyWagoneer

You know this guy hasn't been on here since he posted the ONE time?

TrailerTrash

We scared him away.

Corky

Killed "the build" before it started...lol...

Ethan.n

I thought about doing this too!
Looked into it more and thought, "No thanks!"