gcozee

New member, 1st post. Kinda new at this. We have a 1987 Comanche 2.5 auto 2WD that we are changing over to 4WD. Donor was a lifted 1995 Cherokee 4.0 auto. We pulled the complete driveline, harnesses, CPUs, and a lot of other parts. Will this be pretty much a bolt on/in project? Also, the Comanche has a column shifter and the Cherokee had a console shifter. Is it going to be possible to keep the column shifter (for nostalgia!)?

Thanks for your input and advice!

UKXJ

Sure you can't use a column selector for an auto as the shifter for a manual - but some police spec manual Cherokees had a column shift, although that might be the only source. Otherwise it's essentially nuts & bolts - just a lot of them

Check out https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChK...le2_waQX5_5iuw young Rudy's converted a 2WD Commanche to 4x4 quite recently; won't be a how to do it instructional but might provide inspiration & a few ideas.

gcozee

Thanks. As mentioned, both transmissions we are dealing with are automatics.

UKXJ

Whoops - I obviously misread your original post - sorry for any confusion.

gcozee

No harm, no foul!

gcozee

No harm, no foul!

UKXJ

Just thought I'd put my hands up before some one shoots me down

That Jeep Guy XJMJ

If this was me - and this is exactly what i've done in the passed a couple times now. For the most part you have a bolt in swap ahead of you. Things that are going to be important for your swap given the 95 XJ and harness as the donor You will need the donor steering column 95 was the first year for an airbag in the steering wheel. Prior to that was the GM style column so with that the harness and connectors are completely different. Also with that the floor shift is a more direct option. Another thing to consider is which the harness plug for your gas tank/sending unit its still the same - the way it sends the signal is different. If you plug the 95 harness into your 87 sending unit the fuel gauge will read backwards and not exactly accurate. The speedo is driven electronically with the 95's system vs the 87's cable setup. Ideally retaining the donors cluster would make things simpler for you. Adapting the XJ harness to work with your factory MJ rear harness isn't too difficult. It will not be a plug and play deal but tracing and splicing is required.

Im sure there are some other things i may not be thinking of at the moment but if you skim through my build thread https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/my...doing-d-19146/, I have done this a couple times over to this MJ specifically now. Feel free to PM directly if you have any questions

gcozee

Awesome info, thanks!!!!! Cozee

FletcherHubbards

some police spec manual Cherokees had a column shift, although that might be the only source. Otherwise it's essentially nuts & bolts - just a lot of them