from <http://www.dirtroad.com/article.htm>, I looked at:
>>When the Wrangler first hit the showroom in '87 to the death of the
>>4.2L six in '90, Jeep used a Peugeot 5-speed as standard equipment
>>with the 258. If you own a Wrangler with one of these transmissions,
>>you likely know how weak they are and how grossly expensive they are
>>to rebuild/replace. Here's an alternative to shelling out the dough
>>on another Peugeot transmission that won't last any longer than the
>>first.
>>With the entrance of the 4.0L engine into the Wrangler also came a
>>new 5 speed, the Aisin AX-15. This transmission is easily capable of
>>handling the extra horsepower the 4.0L produces and can take all but
>>the most abusive small block V8 without complaining.
>>...
So this got me thinking: has anyone tried dropping an Aisin AX-15 into
a 505? My '84 STI has developed a horrible primary gear whine, after
140,000 miles and a previous owner who believed that the only time a
car should be seen by a mechanic is when it's towed in! Poor Jacques
(as in Jacques Peugeot).
And all of this happened just before I took my son* to the Oakland
Roadster Show. It got me thinking. Why stop at the trans? The phrase
"..can take all but the most abusive small block V8.." brought to mind
that there are any number of powerplants sporting higher output and
greater efficiency available now that are of sufficient lightness and
suitable size to replace an aging pushrod hemi. Such things are
available for 240 Volvos and Miatas (they can both be fitted with 5.0
Mustang power teams). To be honest, a Toyota 4-cylinder pickup engine
would add 40 horsepower and improve fuel economy.
Any experience among the 111? Is this heresy? Hearsay? Say what?
Craig Parada
cparada@ix.netcom.com
(* At 9 years, he was ready to see the world of Tangerinemetalflake. He
is enough indoctrinated into the world of Archane Autos that the first
time he saw a '57 Chrysler he asked if it was an Amphicar. So it was
now time to go out into the Real World.)