Any 242 from 1998-2001 will work. 1997's may work, but the 97 transmissions are different from 98-01 so I'd look for one from the same year range just to be safe.

I *think* you can use the same driveshafts. Front shaft will be the same but I'm not 100% positive about the rear. You'll have to get the in-dash indicator panel, I'm not sure if there's a "shift gate" issue or not.

 

its so late and getting cold have not had anytime to get jeep plow ready for winter.....looking to get this post back up to the top to see if anyone knows if i can reuse my driveshafts. 99 cherokee sport 4.0 with 231 t case(bad front bearing) rear is 8.25 and a front d30. there is a 242 in newyork i might pick up but if i need to switch driveshafts and all it might be an added expense and would need to look for one or both. i need a pro answer and not a " it might fit"lol

 

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85k on it now asking $300 and if i pick it up its 80miles away almost 2 hours or shipped for $68 maybe just look for a local 231 for $150-200 lol

 

anyone have any specific in on this ?

 

Yes.

The driveshafts are the same and everything should plug right up. The only thing is you might need a bulb in the dash for the full time light to come on. I actually did this swap on a 98. The 242 is way better thatn the 231 in my openion. Love the full time in snow.

Thumbs up you are good to go.

 

Yes.

The driveshafts are the same and everything should plug right up. The only thing is you might need a bulb in the dash for the full time light to come on. I actually did this swap on a 98. The 242 is way better thatn the 231 in my openion. Love the full time in snow.

Thumbs up you are good to go.

True for on-road use of 4WD... but in offroad applications with lockers and tires over 31-32" you run a much higher chance of stretching the chain. The internals are a little weaker, but for any and pretty much all on-road driving they drive much smoother when actually using 4WD.

 

Have you ever had a 242 in snow or do you believe like the majority the 231 is better. Have you ever looked at the size difference between the 231 vs. the 242 ??? the 242 is a monster. No matter what transfer case ANYBODY has chains stretch. Oh yeah I swapped a 242 in my 98 cause the 231 chain stretched

 

I actually daily drove a 242 ZJ all last winter and absolutely hated it, swapped in a 231, and the ZJ was twice as stable in the snow. :thumbsup:

Reread my post, I did not say the 231 chains don't stretch. I merely said 242's run a higher risk of stretching the chain when using oversize tires, which, FWIW, is completely true. Besides, the 231 has an infinitely larger aftermarket. :thumbsup:

 

ct99 someone told me that the electrical hook up was different everything plugged in for you?

 

They're different for the year ranges. My ZJ was a base model so I didn't have any lights in the dash or anything for the 4WD, the only plug was speedo sensor. It might be different from XJ to ZJ, but I never bothered to compare the two side-by-side. I'll look into it for you if you'd like, though.

 

id be getting the 97 or 98(whatever was the change) -01 242 from a cherokee if i dont rebuild mine or get another 231

 

For the driveshafts: bolt in the ones you have with the NP242, and if they don't work then search for the right length. Don't go spending money on stuff you may not need.

As for the NP242 vs NP231 discussion... I've been wheeling the NP242 hard for 5 years, and have not had any issues except for the shift fork failing on the original tcase. It was cheaper to swap out the whole case than to buy the parts to rebuild the couple that needed rebuilding. I have found the NP242 to be much nicer in crappy and snowy weather than the NP231 because to me the Full-Time option is priceless. Now with lockers F/R the Full-Time option is rendered useless, so an NP231 would serve the purpose just fine. The NP241 even better

 

Yeah i agree with 2000XJ. That CT99XJ is smoking crack that a 231 is better in snow LMAO. The part time mode in either TC literally pulls itself around turns vs the 242 in full time that doesn't. LMAO I just can't believe he thinks it is better.

 

Reread (again) everything I've said. A 231 is simpler inside and has a wider aftermarket, and it's less likely to stretch a chain. Try finding a bolt-on SYE or replacement chain for a decent price for a 242.

Also fact: As Dave said, once you lock your rig, the 242 is useless. Both my rigs are locked front and rear.

As to snow... it's personal preference. 231 is predictable.

 

Whats a NP241 ?

 

It's the Tcase that comes in the Rubicons, has 4:1 gearing for 4Lo. Much nicer for wheeling.

 

are you sure because my dakota had a 241

 

The Rock Track NP241 is found in the Rubis and has a 4:1. There are other variations of the 241, and most of them do not have a 4:1 ratio.

 

what is the deal with the splines for the t cases i see 21 and and 23 ........ is the 231 21 and 242 23??? if that is the case then how would it line up if i have a 231 going to a 242. or is the input a 21 and and the output a 23??? an info? where does the time go lol update still have not done anything for the t case but the plow is on . t case and suspension is now on the top of the list..............

 

The spline count (21 and 23) refers to the number of splines on the output shaft that goes from the trans and into the tcase. Later model XJ's have 23 spline output shafts, whereas older model XJ's had 21 spline output shafts.

I can only speak to this point for the AW4 specifically because I do not know if other trans (AX-5/AX-15) were any different.

 

these are the pics he sent me

 

the rest its on long island looks alittle salty huh lol

 

I wheel a 98 Limited. I finally wore out the bottom of the case (242) from sliding over rocks. No SYE, nothing fancy. Jeep is a trailer queen and never comes out of 4 lo.

Yesterday I swapped in a 231 out of a 98 Sport. Everything went great but the wiring connections are different and cannot be swapped from the 242 into the 231. I could care less about about dash lights, every single one is on anyway. Driveshafts worked fine. Linkage adjustment and I should be good to go!

I DDed a Jeep with a 242 for a few years. LOVED the full time position for driving in the snow. Offroad, the 242 kinda sucks ONLY because of the lack of aftermarket support. I liked to be able to put it in full time, and just drive, not worry about hitting spots of dry pavement or anything.

My current DD XJ has a 231. We'll see how it goes. Im thinking its whatever you get used too.

Now if the G/F wanted to take the jeep on a snow day to work, and I had a choice of Jeeps with the 2 cases, I would send her in the Jeep with the 242 and have it in full time. Then she would just need to drive, not worry about much else.

 

anyone have a problem with the linkage on the transfer case end the pop rod thing does not fit inbetween the shifting lever coming out of the t case and the case of the t case. it close and i used a big screw driver but its not going in. do i force it some more or have to take the piece off to pop it in

 

I end up using a prybar every time. Takes some effort to pop mine on and off, sometimes to the point that I think I'm going to break something.

 

its not the popping on and off its getting it to line up with the hole to pop it in. the gear selector arm that comes out of the t case and the gap to the t case housing can not fit the linkage

 

what you see here is the cluster connections by the trans dipstick. the main harness coming down running along the firewall. i ran the third wire up today and looking to connect as soon as i find out where.. from my work tracking the wires back up it looks like the recentagular black harness is the one. i dont think im gonna go all " pin pretty". im gonna bypass it and just butt connect the two wires.i know colors can change going through harness sometimes so we'll see..... the gray harness i believe had a black with white stripe but they went to something. in the picture you will see to black rectangular harness has two black with white stripe wires but the one to the right of the orange goes through to something the black with white stripe behind the orange and next to the gree that im pointing two with the red arrows does not have a pin on the other side. since the third wire coming off the switch back at the t case is a black with white stripe is this the one i connect to????

 

jeeper matt here is a pic of the location

 

opps here