AX15 into a '99 Ranger

[Orange69]

Thanks for letting me join. I have been searching with google and facebook pages and have not found much info on swapping an AX15 into my son's '99 Ranger. I just swapped one into my '69 bronco and that is what got me thinking about swapping in an ax15 into his ranger when we do the 5.0 from an explorer, instead of using the m5od from a '97+ f150 4x4, which seems hard to find. I found an ax15 on marketplace with transfer case and drivelines for a pretty good deal. I like the idea of using the jeep's transfer case since it is small and should fit nicely between the frame and is manual shift and the ax15 is a game changer in my classic bronco.

Here's what I am wanting to know:
The ax15's shifter location is farther back than the typical m5od from an full size truck (pre'97) but by how much? And would it be worth it?
The '97+ m5od 4wd w/ V6 is hard to find and I don't like the idea of using the full-time 4406 transfer case. Unless it comes in a part time variety, that would be great, but again, hard to find.
If I used the transfer case from a full size, how much of the frame to you have to notch to make it fit?

Thanks for any input.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't know nuthin about the AX15

You are right, it does take some looking and I did manage to snag a M5ODR2 for my truck.

Most 4406 tcases are part time. A manual one shouldn't be too hard to turn up, they were fairly common in F-150's. The on demand one would be out of an Expedition.

I used a NP205 and it is basically the same footprint as the stock tcase side to side but is much shorter fore-aft. I twin sticked it and I love it.

 

[Shran]

www.car-part.com is a good place to start your parts search.

Looks like Advanced Adapters makes an AX15 to SBF adapter but unless you want to use a Rubicon transfer case or something like that I kind of question why it would be worth all that trouble. I believe you can get an Atlas transfer case that will bolt up to any of the Ford full size manual transmissions... if low gearing is your ultimate goal... I would find a M5OD-R2 or a ZF that will bolt right up to your 302 and put an Atlas behind it.

I don't have anything against the AX15 or Jeep t-case, I have that in my YJ. Simplicity of things that just bolt together with factory parts is a big bonus in my book, thus my suggestion.

 

[superj]

you used an ax15 in your bronco? wow. i had never heard of people using jeep trans in other vehicles. thats pretty cool.

maybe you guys could bo that 6 speed that came in the later tjs instead of the 5 speed ax15?

if the ax15 and ax5 are the same length, i can have my son measure the ax5 in his 97 wranger.

or i guess i could just measure from the split line of the bell housing/engine to the middle of hte opening in the trans tunnel too. i have the 03 wrangler at the house waiting its trans swap.

 

[Orange69]

I don't know nuthin about the AX15

You are right, it does take some looking and I did manage to snag a M5ODR2 for my truck.

Most 4406 tcases are part time. A manual one shouldn't be too hard to turn up, they were fairly common in F-150's. The on demand one would be out of an Expedition.

I used a NP205 and it is basically the same footprint as the stock tcase side to side but is much shorter fore-aft. I twin sticked it and I love it.

Well that's good to know about the 4406. That transmission website I found said they were all full time cases, unless I misread it, but am pretty sure that's what they stated. That helps a lot, thank you.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well that's good to know about the 4406. That transmission website I found said they were all full time cases, unless I misread it, but am pretty sure that's what they stated. That helps a lot, thank you.

The one I had in my 2002 F-150 was part time as was the one that was hanging off the back of my R2 when I pulled it.

From what I gather they are tight but are probably the most used with V8 swaps in the 98-11 trucks.

 

[Orange69]

www.car-part.com is a good place to start your parts search.

Looks like Advanced Adapters makes an AX15 to SBF adapter but unless you want to use a Rubicon transfer case or something like that I kind of question why it would be worth all that trouble. I believe you can get an Atlas transfer case that will bolt up to any of the Ford full size manual transmissions... if low gearing is your ultimate goal... I would find a M5OD-R2 or a ZF that will bolt right up to your 302 and put an Atlas behind it.

I don't have anything against the AX15 or Jeep t-case, I have that in my YJ. Simplicity of things that just bolt together with factory parts is a big bonus in my book, thus my suggestion.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check them out. An Atlas is totally out of the budget. I like keeping things simple and cheap as well, and at this point I am just brainstorming an idea. But now, thanks to 85_Ranger4x4, I didn't realize the 4406 is part time. That website I was reading stated it was full time. So that changes things.

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

I've never even seen a manual F150, but I know I would rather drive my Ranger with the R1 1000x vs. my Jeep with the AX-15. Jeep clutch effort is easily double, and reverse is a pain in the ass.

Jeep tcase is supposed to be lighter than the fullsize tcases, at least.

 

[Orange69]

you used an ax15 in your bronco? wow. i had never heard of people using jeep trans in other vehicles. thats pretty cool.

maybe you guys could bo that 6 speed that came in the later tjs instead of the 5 speed ax15?

if the ax15 and ax5 are the same length, i can have my son measure the ax5 in his 97 wranger.

or i guess i could just measure from the split line of the bell housing/engine to the middle of hte opening in the trans tunnel too. i have the 03 wrangler at the house waiting its trans swap.

Yeah, it's sooo much fun to drive now. Thanks for offer to help, but now, knowing the 4406 is part time, that changes things.

 

[Orange69]

I've never even seen a manual F150, but I know I would rather drive my Ranger with the R1 1000x vs. my Jeep with the AX-15. Jeep clutch effort is easily double, and reverse is a pain in the ass.

Jeep tcase is supposed to be lighter than the fullsize tcases, at least.

That's interesting, the clutch effort on my bronco is super easy, but it is also mechanical vs hydraulic. I wonder if that has something to with it.

 

[Shran]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check them out. An Atlas is totally out of the budget. I like keeping things simple and cheap as well, and at this point I am just brainstorming an idea. But now, thanks to 85_Ranger4x4, I didn't realize the 4406 is part time. That website I was reading stated it was full time. So that changes things.

If you don't care about really low range (like a Rubicon case or Atlas) then a 4406 or 205 will be your easy buttons. 205 can be twin sticked but their low ratio kind of sucks, and they have some inherent gear driven noise but they are tough brutes. 4406 low range is pretty close to the normal Jeep 231J low range, not 4:1 like a Rubicon case but usably low. You can't twin stick it (or the 231 for that matter...) I really like my twin sticked 205.

I think if you're not building a dedicated crawler rig and you'll see street time, you will be very happy with a 4406.

If you are building a crawler rig... I might be more tempted to use an AX15 and a Rubicon case (NOT a normal 231...) or save up for the Atlas... either way there you are spending some bucks. That adapter plate for AX15->SBF will cost you a bit plus you have some clutch parts to round up. It would be really attractive if you're putting a 302 into a YJ or TJ... not as much when you're starting with good Ford parts though.

Behemoth is making some pretty cool low range boxes too so there is that option as well if you need more low gear.

 

[bobbywalter]

it just depends on what you are starting with and whats available like anything. i dont have fear of the thick plate adapter setups that use stock bells and simplified pilot setups, but like shran says having something naturally mated together is usually the best option.

dont leave much for windsors, but they are out there.



i have put 302 and 351 in jeeps and cherocars and helped with a 302 in liberty and some toyotas over the years. those being relevant for using the 3550 and the ax15 which were pretty cheap to adapt back then. and the 3550 was actually fairly new...they had just come out...around 05 or so with the 351 cherocar swap. it was cheaper than adapting an aod to a 231 or 1350 t case...

have a toyota swap a guy i work with has been bugging me to help him do that wants to run the 302 he has with a w56...

he refuses to do the 5.3 and the toy v8 is just too big. of course i want to try the toy v8 because i dont know much about them so it will be fun to learn and its for an older 4runner. i told him to go 3550 and 231 t case or the 154 with crawlers. i dont know if there is still a way to put the sbf to the 154 though.... it is similar to the ax 15.






the 231 case is venerable and has a better low range than the 4406 or 1350/54 t cases and fits as well as the ranger t case. the 4406 is much larger, similar to the jeep 208, which was my go to case back in the day.

i like the 208 more than the 4406 but i suspect the 4406 is a stronger case. these will want a body lift depending on cab type..

but for a wheeler i would probably go with a zf5 as first choice with a 302 for the overdrive and creeper 1st gear.

they usually have a 351 in front of them, last setup i looked at was 1200 for engine and trans plus 150 for t case.

that seems like a bargain....i remember when just the trans worn out was 1200.