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NP 242/231 Swap help.. And I ain't no quitter!

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Jeepenstein, Jan 6, 2014.

  1. Jan 6, 2014
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Jun 15, 2003
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    2,132
    As stated, I ain't no quitter.. Just 10 years delayed in my CJ build.. :) Anyhow, my XJ seems to have a T case that is going south.. It's the NP-242 and I'd prefer to swap in the NP-231.. My question is the driveshafts and case output length.. Are they the same in that regard or should I pirate the driveshafts from the donor as well?


    Bubba
     
  2. Jan 6, 2014
    JustEnos

    JustEnos Member

    Fox Point, NS,...
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    IIRC the front shaft is the same, rear shaft is about an inch shorter on the NP242. Why would you want to switch to the 231 over the 242?
     
  3. Jan 7, 2014
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    OK, that's what I was thinking.. I will snag the rear shaft too then.. And as far as why, my other XJ's all had the 231 and it was always good to me.. It engaged and disengaged precisely when I hit the lever.. The 242 I have now seems to require me to back up, go forward and all kinds of iterations to get it back out, and it takes a while to engage as well and I just like the simplicity of the 231. It's also a wife issue.. Simple is better.. Trust me..
     
  4. Jan 7, 2014
    JustEnos

    JustEnos Member

    Fox Point, NS,...
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    Aug 9, 2006
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    Your reason for the 231 is my reason for the 242...but that is more of a winter thing, put it in full time at the first snow and leave it there for the winter. I've never had your problems shifting with either of my 242s, so it sounds like you definitely need a replacement. 231s are easy to come by too, just make sure to get the correct spline count...I don't remember when they changed.
     
  5. Jan 7, 2014
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    I love my 242 too. Its been pretty much in full time the last month.
    Can't help at the moment but if I get a chance at work tomorow I should be able to snap a pic and measure a 231 on a wrangler that's sitting on my hoist
     
  6. Jan 16, 2014
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Swap complete.. No issues and it worked great.. The only small things that are a bit of not straight "bolt in" were the plug for the dash light (4 pin on 242, 2 pin on 231 and the swtches are not interchangeable) but I hated that light anyhow.. So no big deal.. The other is the shifter gate.. I should have snagged that too, it works fine but you have to be a bit careful as you can go into N without the stop. Easy to fix though, just need the 231 shifter gate and to pull the console to replace. I'll probably just skip that too.. Anyhow, length wise they are the same and everything was straight bolt in.. No issues..
     
  7. Jan 25, 2014
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    So, the driveshafts worked as well? I prefer the 231 as well. Her Cherokee has the 242 in it. Almost keep me from buying it but, I went ahead with the purchase. No issues yet but, if it fails, I'll swap in a 231. I agree with the statement that it is a simpler case in several respects. I'm simple so, I like simple things.
     
  8. Jan 25, 2014
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Yeah it was a bolt in deal. No problem, I used the original drive shaft and everything.. As I said above though, get the shifter gate too.. Not required but it's nice to have that stop before you get to neutral.. And do some research, there are some differences in years for the input shafts.. I went 98 for 98 so I had no issues there.. So far it's been great..
     
  9. Jan 25, 2014
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Good deal. Thanks for posting.
     
  10. Jan 25, 2014
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    I still say I like the 242 with the part time and full time. Never had any problems with it and ive had it in full time since before christmas.210,263 miles on it so far8)
     
  11. Jan 25, 2014
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    I think mine just had issues.. It didn't like to engage and disengage and got waaay worse when the wife drove it to Nashville and back stuck in 4wd.. And didn't understand why the jeep was shaking itself to death at 50MPH.. oops..
     
  12. Jan 26, 2014
    JustEnos

    JustEnos Member

    Fox Point, NS,...
    Joined:
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    Driving in part time 4wd sucks for sure. I've had good luck with my 242s though, 400000km on my old XJ, we had to change the chain at about 350k, it was so stretched it came off the gears without removing them LOL. My ZJ is pushing 390000km with no issues. Nothing wrong with a 231 either, but for winters around here I like the 242.

    Glad to hear the swap went was not an issue, the only thing I wasn't sure about was the rear driveshaft length.
     
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