In the September '09 issue of 4WD&SU magazine, I wrote about a 4-cylinder TJ built by Burnsville Off-Road. In that feature I said, "The 2.4 had the 4.0-liter’s bellhousing bolt pattern, so the new 4-cylinder Wranglers shared the same trannys as their 4.0-liter siblings." Wrong.
While the 42RLE automatic overdrive transmission is shared with the 4.0 liter six-equipped TJ Wranglers, the bellhousing bolt pattern is NOT the same. Don't think you can buy a cheap 4-cylinder Wrangler and install a 4.0 liter in it by just bolting it up to the 4-cylinder tranny's bellhousing. An adapter is required.
In our Forum, ftgiles saw my mistake about the bellhousing bolt pattern and wrote how better transmissions can be mated to the older 2.5 liter 4-cylinder. He says:
"In the article "A TJ with the Little Engine That Could", it mentions the AMC 2.5L used in the CJ, YJ, and TJ. It stated that the transmissions that mated to this bell housing bolt pattern were sub par in every way. But, the AX15 and the NV3550, both regarded as quite respectable transmissions, can be mated to the 2.5L. The bell housing used in '96-'00 Dakota pickups with the same 2.5L engine makes this happen. The Dakota came with the AX15. The AX15 and the NV3550 have the same case bolt pattern, so you can bolt either tranny to the Dakota 2.5L bell housing."
So, there you have it. Silly me.