98 ZJ 42RE into a 98(ish) TJ

[Franky-N]

Ok all here's the skinny, I have a 98' TJ that was rebuilt with a 04' LJ frame and Aftermarket LJ tub. That started life as a 4-popper stick and is now a 4.0 auto.
How ever it has a 98-01' TJ 4.0, 98' 32hr the tranny is smoked, I'm still collecting funds for my Hemi swap (have motor and trans). I'm prob another year plus out of funds for teh Hemi swap.
BUT I have a 98' ZJ that has good transmission and wiring. I want the Jeep usable without it sitting another Year plus.
I know the 42re is hated, I've had many. BUT I have the parts, spacer and time.

WHO has done this swap?
I have the complete donor rig so wiring and computers all there, and same year as the TJ wiring.

 

[TheBoogieman]

A waste of time IMO. Get a used 32rh or wait. It's your Jeep, so go for it and post your results aka complaints.

 

[hear]

Or just rebuild your 32RH. $100 + a torque converter, bob's your uncle.

 

[Franky-N]

Budget is a constraint right now and I have the 42re - I’m atleast a year out from the Hemi swap - not wanting my jeep to sit .

 

[Franky-N]

Or just rebuild your 32RH. $100 + a torque converter, bob's your uncle.

I did that and broke the govnor - so now it revs to the moon in first gear only. I’m not rebuilding it a second time - plus with 4.88s and 35s I really need an over drive .

 

[hear]

I did that and broke the govnor - so now it revs to the moon in first gear only. I’m not rebuilding it a second time - plus with 4.88s and 35s I really need an over drive .

You can replace the governor by taking off the t-case & extension housing, once you get there it's an e-clip and a snap ring. And are you certain it won't shift out of 1st gear? Like how high did you get the rpms out on the road? If your kickdown band is toast it will eventually shift to 3rd, but it's close to 6k rpm (ask me how I know).

Regardless, this forum has some serious hot sports opinions about the 42RLE overdrive. And you'll be hard pressed to find a single person who advises going from a 32RH to a 42RLE.

 

[lBasket]

You can replace the governor by taking off the t-case & extension housing, once you get there it's an e-clip and a snap ring. And are you certain it won't shift out of 1st gear? Like how high did you get the rpms out on the road? If your kickdown band is toast it will eventually shift to 3rd, but it's close to 6k rpm (ask me how I know).

Regardless, this forum has some serious hot sports opinions about the 42RLE overdrive. And you'll be hard pressed to find a single person who advises going from a 32RH to a 42RLE.

Isn't the rev limiter below 6k?

 

[hear]

Isn't the rev limiter below 6k?

IDK, but when my band went I was able to find 3rd by running 1st way up there. I suppose different tires/gears/etc might make it harder/easier/impossible.

 

[Franky-N]

You can replace the governor by taking off the t-case & extension housing, once you get there it's an e-clip and a snap ring. And are you certain it won't shift out of 1st gear? Like how high did you get the rpms out on the road? If your kickdown band is toast it will eventually shift to 3rd, but it's close to 6k rpm (ask me how I know).

Regardless, this forum has some serious hot sports opinions about the 42RLE overdrive. And you'll be hard pressed to find a single person who advises going from a 32RH to a 42RLE.

I can go to 9000 RPM no shift, I did futter gas once and got 2nd but it just simply holds 1st. I did a pan drop right after the rebuild and got the "pleasure rings" from the govnor in the pan.

 

[Franky-N]

You can replace the governor by taking off the t-case & extension housing, once you get there it's an e-clip and a snap ring. And are you certain it won't shift out of 1st gear? Like how high did you get the rpms out on the road? If your kickdown band is toast it will eventually shift to 3rd, but it's close to 6k rpm (ask me how I know).

Regardless, this forum has some serious hot sports opinions about the 42RLE overdrive. And you'll be hard pressed to find a single person who advises going from a 32RH to a 42RLE.

The Trans has all new clutches and bands and such I replaced it all. Due to losing 2nd gear band.

 

[Franky-N]

You can replace the governor by taking off the t-case & extension housing, once you get there it's an e-clip and a snap ring. And are you certain it won't shift out of 1st gear? Like how high did you get the rpms out on the road? If your kickdown band is toast it will eventually shift to 3rd, but it's close to 6k rpm (ask me how I know).

Regardless, this forum has some serious hot sports opinions about the 42RLE overdrive. And you'll be hard pressed to find a single person who advises going from a 32RH to a 42RLE.

Also, Snap-Ring is inside the main body holding the Govnor and shaft in place.

 

[Rickyd]

Ok all here's the skinny, I have a 98' TJ that was rebuilt with a 04' LJ frame and Aftermarket LJ tub. That started life as a 4-popper stick and is now a 4.0 auto.
How ever it has a 98-01' TJ 4.0, 98' 32hr the tranny is smoked, I'm still collecting funds for my Hemi swap (have motor and trans). I'm prob another year plus out of funds for teh Hemi swap.
BUT I have a 98' ZJ that has good transmission and wiring. I want the Jeep usable without it sitting another Year plus.
I know the 42re is hated, I've had many. BUT I have the parts, spacer and time.

WHO has done this swap?
I have the complete donor rig so wiring and computers all there, and same year as the TJ wiring.


View attachment 628861

Long term I'd like to do the same thing in my 97. Lj conversion and a built 42re behind my stroker. 98 has a a tcm,correct? You should be able to feed it inputs from tps,vss,etc to control the overdrive and lockup functions.

Looking at 98 zj pinouts should show you what the tcm needs

 

[Wildman]

Just out of curiosity, what transmission behind the Hemi? 545RFE or 8HP70?

Here's our Hemi Reference thread BTW: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/gen-iii-hemi-swap-into-tj-reference-guide-swap-info.46347/

I don't know of anyone who's done a 4.0 & 42RE swap into a TJ but I'd say if you've got it then go for it...

 

[Franky-N]

Long term I'd like to do the same thing in my 97. Lj conversion and a built 42re behind my stroker. 98 has a a tcm,correct? You should be able to feed it inputs from tps,vss,etc to control the overdrive and lockup functions.

Looking at 98 zj pinouts should show you what the tcm needs

Yes, it has standalone TCM - I have the full ZJ runs just rotted. I get it's not a normal swap, but I have all the parts. Just need them to work together. My long-term goal is the Hemi swap I have but need the harness and getting my 1-tons built first. I don't want to lose the rest of this season with it parked.

 

[Franky-N]

Just out of curiosity, what transmission behind the Hemi? 545RFE or 8HP70?

Here's our Hemi Reference thread BTW: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/gen-iii-hemi-swap-into-tj-reference-guide-swap-info.46347/

I don't know of anyone who's done a 4.0 & 42RE swap into a TJ but I'd say if you've got it then go for it...

The Hemi I have also has a 545RFE with it. It's all out of a 06' Commander. Collecting parts to make that a final swap. But I'm planning a Harness from Painless but it's not painless on the wallet.

 

[Wildman]

The Hemi I have also has a 545RFE with it. It's all out of a 06' Commander. Collecting parts to make that a final swap. But I'm planning a Harness from Painless but it's not painless on the wallet.

Why Painless instead of Hotwire? Hotwire will blend your TJ harness with the Hemi harness. Unless you're planning on not using the stock dash... And then if you aren't and are gutting the stock wiring I'd look at a Holley Terminator.

I did a Hemi swap on mine last year and just finishing things up now. I have the 545RFE right now but have a 8HP70 waiting to swap in once I gather the funds.

 

[Franky-N]

These rings (green circle)

are what came out in my Trany pan of eth 32rh after the rebuild.

 

[Franky-N]

Why Painless instead of Hotwire? Hotwire will blend your TJ harness with the Hemi harness. Unless you're planning on not using the stock dash... And then if you aren't and are gutting the stock wiring I'd look at a Holley Terminator.

I did a Hemi swap on mine last year and just finishing things up now. I have the 545RFE right now but have a 8HP70 waiting to swap in once I gather the funds.

Painless has been good for reply's I never thought to reach out to Hotwire. Plan is to use stock dash

 

[Wildman]

Painless has been good for reply's I never thought to reach out to Hotwire. Plan is to use stock dash

If you're wanting to use the stock dash you're going to need a 2001.5 & newer one since you're running PCI instead of CCD for the bus system.
Reach out to Chris at Hotwire. He's very good at replying to your emails. I'd bought a Jeep that had a Hemi swapped into it and then swapped it into my TJ and it had a Hotwire harness in it. So I wasn't a customer but he still answered all my questions and helped me out. And I can't say enough about his quality and customer service.

 

[Franky-N]

If you're wanting to use the stock dash you're going to need a 2001.5 & newer one since you're running PCI instead of CCD for the bus system.
Reach out to Chris at Hotwire. He's very good at replying to your emails. I'd bought a Jeep that had a Hemi swapped into it and then swapped it into my TJ and it had a Hotwire harness in it. So I wasn't a customer but he still answered all my questions and helped me out. And I can't say enough about his quality and customer service.

Yep I have a complete dash and harness from a 04’ lined up to go in at swap time.