Got into a discussion today with a Jeep guy, and somehow the conversation turned to manual transmissions. He was telling me about the AX15 5 speed manual installed in '88 up Jeep vehicles, and how it's a popular piece because it's damn near indestructable. So I did a little snooping around on google. Looks like a solid piece that's capable of handling the power of a hot 350 chevy without any issues. A couple guys on a 4X4 forum praised it's quick shifting ability and smooth positive gear changes... There were also a couple who talked like it was a piece of junk. Available in 2 and 4 wheel drive. 5th gear overdrive [0.79] and a deep 3.83 first gear has me thinking this ****** has a place in the hot rod community. Anyone using one of these or familiar with them?
I had a buddy that ran one behind his 4.2 in a Jeep on 33X15.5's. Woefully undergeared, the trans held up beautifully. U joints, however, didn't. From what I remember, the shifter is kind of sloppy, and the case is pretty large, but I guess it's nothing that can't be sorted out. It was pretty tough, I'll give it that. JK
Through experience I know that they will handle some abuse, that's for sure. I have considered another one for a future project. I say that they really need to be used. People are missing out on a great transmission. ******Knuckles
These guys here: http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/ax15.htm Offer a kit to put that ****** behind a corvette LS1... Wow! That would mean this beast is capable of handling 400 ft/lbs at least. As per the comment about the sloppy shifter, look a tthe pic on that link. That shifter in a stock jeep has to be 2 1/2 feet long. I'll bet a shorter shifter in a car would solve a good deal of that problem.
AX15 trans is also used in Dodge Dakota Pickups with V6 and 5.2 V8 and in some Toyota Celica Supra models. The bellhousing detaches from the main case so the Jeep, Dakota and Toyota are essentially the same behind the bellhousing. I have run them quite a bit in Jeeps off-roading with no problems. Ray
I've got one for my '41 Plymouth project but haven't actually got it on the road yet. It came pretty highly recommended by the Mopar guys.
Talk to gary 73RR here on the hamb he uses them in hemi aplications and recomended one for my early hemi from a dodge dakota
That's a damn fine recommendation right there. If Gary puts these things behind early hemi's, they gotta be pleanty stout!
The AX15 is pretty stout, and as was mentioned, very popular with the off-road crowd and rock-crawlers. The AX15 is also refered to as an 'R' series, used by Toyota. The hot-rod Supra guys are putting nearly a 1,000 hp into modified R154 units. There are quite a few variations in the applications so be careful about where yours comes from as opposed to where it is going. Remember that these transmissions do not have the 'normal', 'usual' round registration hole in the bell so adapting to another bell will require some serious fab work. The input shaft lengths vary with application but some swapping can be accomplished. Here is some 'family' info: AX5 = 7.5" AX15 = 7.875" Pre 1995 R150\R151 = 6.5" 1996 up Toyota R series = 7.5" 87-92 Turbo Supra R154 = 7.25" Toyota W series = 6.5" Toyota G series = 6.5" AR5 = 8.2" MA5 = 8.2" NV3550 = 7.875" NV1500 = 8.6" The Jeep/Dodge AX15 5-speed, the Jeep NV3550 5-speed, the Jeep NV1500, the Toyota R150F, R151F & R155F, the 87-92 Toyota Supra Turbo R154, the Isuzu AR5 and the Pontiac Solstice\Saturn Sky\Chevy Colorado\ GMC Canyon MA5 5-speeds all share the same case to bellhousing bolt pattern (Large Pattern). As such there are a number of possibilities that can be had when a 5-speed is desired: This is a '96 Dakota, 2-wd unit. For those interested, the Dakota and Ram1500 also used a 6-speed (Getrag 238) from 2005-2008. Gary .
Gary, Would you consider these "quick shifting" transmissions? Having gone into Supra's, I'd guess so. But I'd hate to see someone go thru the trouble of installing one, only to find their grinding gears like a Mack truck.
I found some excellent tech for transmission swaps. Regarding the AX-15, the asian warner bolt pattern transmission. B&M also make a short shift for the AX-15. http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/showthread.php?t=4740 I'm actually designing a offroad buggy right now running the GM Ecotec 4cyl. motor it bolts right up to the AX-15 with the Sky bellhousing. I have all the parts apart if anyone has questions, I haven't ran it yet. If I have my years correct, in 92 they went to an external slave and in 94 they revised the internal gears which also gave it a larger pilot bearing diameter. ~Justin
I thought those transmissions were pretty weak... then i got to thinking, I think some people have them confused with another transmission that I think was a mitsubishi trans.. behind some of the 4cyl jeep motors. that is notorious for blowing up at like 100k so that is probably where the bad reviews are coming from but also to note, make sure your not getting one of those...
I guess it depends how much HP you want to put in front of it. The AX-5 is really weak and AX-15 medium duty they are almost identical looking. The AX-15 has an aluminum center plate. AX-5 has a steel center plate. They have different bellhousing bolt patterns too. ~Justin
'Quick' is a relative term. I think they are quite good, but then I am used to Mopar shifters. I think they are smooth and easy but again, I don't have many comparisons ... If someone is considering one of these then a test drive at the used car lot will tell plenty. As I listed above, the 'little brother' of the group is the AX5. Probably not a good v-8 trans but certainly good for anything under 150 hp or so. .
The real lemon in the Jeep 5-speed world, is the Peugeot BA 10/5 used in 87-89 or so Jeep YJ Wranglers. The AX-15 is a great trans. I have one in my 99 Jeep and it's got 189K on it. Still shifts nice. Pete
I'm doing the same thing with my project. Turbo Ecotec from a front wheel drive Saab, Aisin AR-5 5 speed transmission from a Chevy Colorado, and the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch, and throwout bearing from a Pontiac Solstice. It's like it was all meant to go together!
I'm really surprised at how much aftermarket suport there is for this trans. Adaptors to bolt one up to just about any engine you could imagine!
cool, I had always heard they were junk but thats what I have in my wrangler and I have to say it performs beautifully with 186000 and change on it.
The AX15 in my V6 Dakota has a noisy 4th gear. The truck shows about 120,000 miles on it, but I know the person I bought the truck from has no concept on how to drive a standard shift trans. Everything else seems OK. I'm going to use it when the drive train goes into the 48 Plymouth project. Gene
The AX15 in my 95 Jeep has 264,000 miles on it and still works great. I like it better then the T-5's I've had in 5.0 Mustangs. I would like to put a AX15 in my 1947 Ford pick-up, but no kits are made to bolt it up to a Flathead.
73RR, convinced me on the AX15 a awhile back. I sourced a '90 Dakota from a friend last weekend. I'm putting the AX15 behind my 270 Hemi.
My Jeep has one, with a conversion to a 355 SBC. Beat the snot out of it, on and off road. Used this from Novak Conversions. Bolt"s to a GM alum bell housing. Hyd Clutch http://www.novak-adapt.com/index.htm The Novak Guide to the Borg-Warner T15 Transmission The Borg-Warner T15 is a medium-to-heavy-duty, three-speed transmission, introduced in the 1971 Jeeps. It was offered in Jeeps up through 1975. The T15 was primarily found behind the AMC V8 engines as the base transmission, but was also found behind the AMC 232 and 258 I6 engines as an upgrade option over the T14. The upgrade to the T15 transmission was the Jeep T18 four-speed.
I think there may be some confusion here. The BW T-15 (or T-150) IS NOT the same transmission as the later Jeep AX15. The AX15 is an Aisin derived gearbox......... The adapter shown is indeed for an AX15 and a nice piece for conversions. Ray
The 04 Dakota used the AX15 in V6 Vehicles Using the AX-15 Manual Transmission <LI id=jsArticleStep1 itxtHarvested="1" itxtNodeId="1">The AX-15 MT was first used a**** Jeep's models such as the Jeep XJ, MJ Cherokee, Wagoneer and Commanche in 1987. In 1989, it was used in the 4.2 L Wrangler YJ models. The Jeep XJ, YJ and TJ models also used the AX-15 MT from 1988 up to 1999. The ZJ Grand Cherokee used the AX-15 in 1993 with its V6 models. Aside from Jeep, it was also used in Dakota trucks. The AX-15 was also compatible with most General Motors engines as well. USAGE The AX-15 was first used in Cherokees (XJ) and Comanche's (MJ) with the 4.0L engine. In mid 1989, the AX-15 was used in Wranglers (YJ) with the 4.2L engine and it continued to be used with the 4.0L engine. The first year of the Grand Cherokee (ZJ), the AX-15 was rare option only with the 4.0L engine. The AX-15 is still used in TJ's and XJ's with the 4.0L engine. <CENTER><TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellPadding=2 width=539><TBODY><TR><TD width=201>TRANSMISSION</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>1ST</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>2ND</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>3RD</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>4TH</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>5TH</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>REV</TD></TR><TR><TD width=201>AX-15</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>3.83</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>2.33</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>1.44</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>1.00</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>0.79</TD><TD width=64 align=middle>4.22</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER>
The last of the XJ Cherokees with the AX15 was 1999.The last two years of XJ used the NV3500 which is disliked by Jeep guys. I've had four Jeep XJ's with the AX-15,still have two 1999 5 speed 4.0 4x4's with about 130,000 each.My experience with these ******s is they are rugged but poor shifters.Second gear syncro tend to grind when hurried or when the ****** oil is cold.Redline gear oil helps a lot but I wouldn't call them slick shifting.Yes,the Jeep shifter is sloppy but the syncros can be balky. And first gear ratio ****s for performance use,as in not 4x4. Maybe the Dodge versions have better ratios?
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