This info comes from Jpman94 over at
www.jeepforum.com. He highlights some differences between the Jeep AX15 and the 4WD Dodge Dakota version:
"I have a Dakota transmission in my Jeep. I want to say it was out of 99 or something like that. I can't remember. I found it on Ebay, and yes it was cheaper than one from a jeep. Don't ask me why, it's the same transmission.
The bell housing is removalable on the Dakota transmissions. I got mine without the bellhousing, the guy had the original that mated it to a V-8, but I didn't need that...
Once I got the transmission and then pulled my old one, I started comparing the two and looking for differences. I know, a little late to do that after I bought it, but I'm dumb like that... Everything was EXACTLY the same, input shaft size, spline count, output, transfer case shifter mount points, EVERYTHING, except.....
The 'clocking' of the transfer case mounting holes is different. The durango transfer case is clocked about 6-7 degrees LOWER! I thought long and hard about just making this work, but I sure didn't want to force it to fit and I didn't want to loose ground clearance.
So, after a lot of debating with my buddy helping me, we decided we would take a drill to my newly purchased transmission!!! We carefully made a template using the back of my old transmission and transferred the hole locations to the new one from the dakota. We then double and triple checked everything and then started to drill. While the ears that the holes are drilled into are the same on both transmissons, the hole locations are at opposite sides, (you just have to see one to understand that). So, there is room to drill the correct holes, but there is not much room for error. We started with small holes and worked our way up to the right size. When we were all done, the transfer case slid right on, in the correct location.
Other than that, the rest is better much a standard transmission install. The only other thing, is you will need to obviously use your shifter, as the dakota shifter isn't even close. Just unbolt it from your old tranny and bolt it to the new one."
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Pic 1 of the set up below was a method of getting a free beer from Randy Burleson at
www.4x4wire.com. The Isuzu DOHC 3.2\3.5L V6 has a dual bolt pattern on the back of the block. The outside pattern is strictly Isuzu, however, the inside pattern is the GM 60 degree. I can only presume it's there to fit up GM automatic tranny's in Troopers. So.. to prove this beyond doubt to Randy, there we have it. That's a twin cam 3.5L Isuzu V6 bolted (for the most part) up to a T5 out of a 95 2.2L S10 Chevy pickup. The bellhousing has the Ford T5 pattern on the case side and the GM 60 degree pattern on the engine side. I'd have put more bolts in the holes but I couldn't find any more at the yard. And yes... it is sitting in the back seat of a Trooper. Don't ask how it got there..... I like Fosters Randy....
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Pic 2 is of the "strange but true" variety. Using the Novak AX15 to GM bellhousing adapter, one can hook up the Toyota R154 Supra Turbo tranny (or any 96 and later "R" series with the longer input shaft) up to a stock 61-63 Buick 215 V8 bell. This set up will work behind any Rover V8 in a Land Rover, Range Rover, Discovery or Triumph TR8.
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Pic 3 is of the "Even stranger but TRUE!" variety. Using a Small Block Mopar adapter available from Hot Heads, a Dakota V6 bellhousing can be used to bolt up the long shaft transmissions to a Chrysler 1955 - 59 331/354/392 Hemi!
http://www.hothemiheads.com/ Of course, who would want too....
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Pic 4 is the Advance Adapters adapter plate to mount an AX15 to a Ford "butterfly" bolt pattern bellhousing.
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Pic 5 comes from Chris Pomeroy. Using a 2.5L Dakota bellhousing, he's hooked up a Toyota long shaft R150F to a Buick 3800 V6.
Pic 6 is also from Chris Pomeroy. It illustrates the hazards of fitting up parts that weren't designed to work together. When Chris fitted up the R150F to the 3800, he discovered the input shaft was positioned .5" too far back from the flywheel to fully engage the clutch disk. His creative solution involved having a spacer fabbed up to push the Camaro 3800 flywheel closer to the R150 input shaft and stacking the ring gears to compensate. See Chris's project at:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376653
Late Edit: There's a better method of doing this:
http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/showpos...4&postcount=99
Late Edit: Hooking up an R154 to a Mopar Small Block has been done. Just follow along:
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/...fpart=all&vc=1
Greg