Jeep 2.5L AX5 to Mercedes OM617 Turbo Diesel Swap
 

Working on another adapter plate for the 2.5L 4 cylinder AX5 transmission to the Mercedes Benz OM617 Turbo Diesel engine. We are working on the starter mount now. Here is the way the adapter will be cut out to join MB engine to AX5 transmission.
Attachment 22000
Then starting on a crankshaft adapter for the flywheel. :humm:

i cant see the picture but keep me updated i have a 91 wrangler i would like to put an om 617 into. i have one in my sonoma with a ax15 and im real happy with it. i think the wranglers next. im having alot of wiring and electrical problems with the wrangler. i think the om 617 is the perfect answer to its issues.

We are finally making progress on Jeep AX5 adapter for OM617 Mercedes diesel.Here are some pics.
Attachment 22441 Attachment 22442 Attachment 22440

Attachment 22443 Attachment 22444 Attachment 22445
Now working on crankshaft to flywheel adapter... Hope to have back from CNC shop in next week.

Sweet looking :tu:

I am looking at a 1989 wrangler with the ax5 to put my 617 into. Is there a kit out there for this? Is the ax5 strong enough?

ax15
 

Try and find a AX15 as they have the same bolt pattern and are twice as strong! they came behind Dodge Dakotas with a 4 cylinder and also some of the half ton dodge pickups came with them as well as some Jeep cherokees and wranglers with a straight 6.

Good luck with your build and keep us posted!:rocking::rocking:

Thanks for your response. I think I will look for another wrangler to put the 617 in with a blown straight six.
Thanks, Brent

hi,,, i wondering if you are interesting in help me a little one.. im doing the same work and i want to know if you can give me information about the measure of the flange..
thanks !

Bought the jeep with the ax-5 trans but he kept the motor and trans. Can I use this transfer case? It is model 231? And the company that makes the conversion kits said I could keep the jeep closer to stock height if I put cherokee front leaf springs under it. I wonder what year cherokee I need to look for. The jeep I bought is a 1989. Is there anything else to swap before I begin. Thanks for the help.

Should be able to. The NP231 is the most common t-case and has been bolted up to ax5, ax15, aw4, 42re, 46re - just about every tranny Jeep has offered in the wranglers and small cherokees

So you are putting the om617 into a YJ - a.k.a. Wrangler with square headlights, right? The Cherokees with front leaf springs are the old full-size wagoneers. Pretty much any year should work - they almost all had the 304 or 360 V8s - meaning much heavier front leaf springs.

Thanks for the reply. Yes it is the square headlight wrangler which I will update to the round, just to make it look newer. Can't wait to get started. Brought it home yesterday. So as soon as I get the TDI jetta trans rebuilt and on the road I will start.

Like the looks of this.

Just got my flywheel balanced last week and will be working on it this week.

My 617 to AX15 is going to be dropped into my Ranger. Can't wait!

Awesome, I'm real curious on the MPG you will get.

30+ is my goal
 

Brent,
Based on the Benz it came out of with an auto trans and no overdrive, plus being a little heavier than the Ranger, I am fairly confident I will be able to get 30+ mpg.

If I have to I can change the rear end to get there, but I want to see what my rpm range/power band is to start with. Then I can adjust if necessary.

Currently driving a 91 Jetta 1.6L NA that is very weak and likely needs a rebuild. People keep advertising these on CL to get 50+ MPG and the best I can get on mine is 38. Mostly 35-36, and sometimes only 31 with all my tools in the trunk and doing 70 on the freeway.

If I can get about that with my Ranger I will be thrilled!

Anyway, I will keep posting as I go along. Tomorrow I will mount the conversion plate, and cut away the side of the oil pan to make room for the starter.

Rick

Hi Rick, you should be able to get 30+mpg, I got that with my Cherokee automatic so a 5spd will be better. Your ranger is 300 lbs lighter as well (I just scalled my ranger-3500lbs). I was going to put a OM617 in it but went with a Kubota instead 40+mpg.

Very nice indeed
 

Thanks for the reply.

I have heard of others using small tractor engines and getting those kinds of numbers too.

I'm not that experienced yet in doing all the fab work, so I wanted this project to be a simpler one to get started with the conversion components fairly easy to get, and not too expensive.

Is your Kubota turbo'ed? Which model and HP?

I looked at also doing a Cummins 4BT into a 1/2 ton 95 Dodge Ram. My neighbor has one in good shape, but with seized engine that I can get for cheap, but the 4BT's I found are way more than the truck.

Thanks again.

Rick

It's a V2203DI out of a reefer unit 2.2l and yes I added a turbo. Stock hp is 50, but it has way more now, has plenty of power.

Thanks
 

Sounds like a sweet setup. Very hard to do the tranny connection/adapter plate?

Any updates on this kit?

Nice work! I wish I knew of a decent shop around here to make adapters.

Om617 to ax5 swap help
 

I'm trying to do the same thing. I have a 93 jeep Cherokee with a ax5 and a 81 Mercedes with a om617. What do I need to do to make this work? My email is ilovemuddin88@gmail.com