CJ Transmission Cross Member/Skid Plate

orange150

orange150

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Fairfax City, VA
Running into a bit of bad luck lately which is forcing me to do my AX15 swap before I had planned, and rather promptly as I'm trying to beat the ticking time bomb that my T5 has turned in to.

I think I've got most of it figured out but would like some input from y'all on what to do about my trans cross member/skid plate. The new drivetrain will be ~2.25" longer, so my mounts need to change.

Part of the AX15 swap involves an adapter for the D300 which allows me to clock the t-case, so that will be nearly flat (I'm not running a body lift).
Another aspect I want to keep is the stock style trans mount w/ torque arm.

My first thought is to run a Barnes 3" drop skid w/ the optional braces welded in and measured/drilled for the trans mounts.
Or, have a stand alone cross member made and then run a skid under that?

If it was your vehicle that you drove daily, and had to maintain, what would you do?
 

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orange150 said:
Or, have a stand alone cross member made and then run a skid under that?
Click to expand...

^This^... just ask the folks that have to drop links or hang the drivetrain from the cage, to unbolt the skid... to change fluids or a u-joint. Phuckdat!

I'll be ditching the OE crossmember (stamped POS "catch-ALL") for another inch or 2 under the TC and the ability to run a skid (Barnes is #1 on the possibilities list)
 
Cool. That's kind of what I was thinking.

Does anyone near Raleigh want to help me with that? I don't have the skills to fab my own cross member, and my Jeep doesn't really move anymore. I would obviously pay. Should I make a post in the 'Vendor Referral' section?
 
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