American Expedition Vehicles Tummy Tucker – TJ Wrangler NON-Rubicon - Manual (Page 2)

Installation Instructions:Tummy Tucker™ – TJ Wrangler NON-Rubicon
Nth30115 v4.doc page 2 of 11 Download @ www.nthdegreemobility.com
Fig. 1
Auto
Brkt. Manual
Brkt.
Step 2: Read all of the following instruction steps before beginning! Do not disassemble vehicle unless
all parts are present and all tools and facilities required are available.
Step 3: Remove Current Center Skid Plate. If you have an ’03 TJ with automatic, remove the front
transmission skid plate first. The two frame rail bolts will come out much easier and more reliably if you
heat the heads of the bolts with a torch first. You will not be able to re-use this skid plate with the TT or
with any lift kit – Nth° makes a heavy duty replacement for this skid that is compatible with the 4-speed
auto-specific TT and any amount of lift height (Nth1470x)
For the main skid, support the powertrain by placing a jack/stand under the double cardan joint on
the rear drive shaft, then remove the four M8 (13mm head) trans mount nuts in the recessed slots near
the center of the skid plate.
Be sure nothing else is attached to the skid plate such as auxiliary air lines or wiring, etc. then remove
the six bolts that attach the plate to the frame rails (’97-’02 is 3/4” head, ’03+ TJ = 18mm). The stock
skid weighs over 40 lbs., so be prepared!
Step 4: Remove Stock Transmission Mount. The stock rubber mount and adapter bracket are not used
with the TT.
-
For manual transmissions and ’03 4-speed autos, remove the four bolts that attach the bracket to the
rear-underside of the transmission (5/8” heads) – there is no need to remove the isolator itself from
the adapter bracket.
- For 3 speed auto trans (32RE), you must first remove the four nuts on the isolator to access the two
bolts (5/8” heads) that hold the adapter bracket to the underside of the transmission tailhousing.
Once the bracket is loose, slide it rearward until the exhaust steady rest isolator slips off of the hanger
pin (solid rod that is welded to the pipe ahead of the
catalytic converter.)
Step 5: Remove exhaust hanger bushing. You will re-
use the exhaust steady rest isolator bushing from the
original bracket. To remove it, note that the rear (as it
was installed on the Jeep) end of the isolator has a
smaller lip on it than the front – push the isolator out
from this end towards the front using a ¾” socket
(using a larger socket will shear off the small lip).
Replace the isolator in the same orientation in the tube
on the new bracket – it will be much easier if white-
lithium grease is sprayed inside the tube. See figure 1
for completed conversion orientation.
Step 6: Pre-assemble New Transmission Mount Adapter Brackets. The new mount supplied with the TT
has two parts – the main bracket to connect the two new isolators to the trans, and a bolt-on extension
for the exhaust ‘steady rest’ tube. There are two main types of trans brackets: one for all factory autos,
and one for all factory manual trans used with 4.0L engines (there is also a different bracket for AX-5
manuals). The exhaust extension comes in two styles: ‘low’ for ’02-older vehicles, and ‘high’ for ’03-06
TJs. Consult the pictures below to confirm that you have the correct brackets for your vehicle (trans