NV231 - 242 swap

jerbacher · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:30 am

This is just one of those "for the sake of curiosity" questions. What all is involved with a swap from the NV231 command-trac to NV242 selec-trac? I cant even count how many times i wished i had full-time 4x4 in variable conditions.

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:49 pm

why would you want to do that a 231 is a stronger T Case.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:01 am

Yes - the absolute strength of a 231 is higher than a 242 - and how many people do you know of that have broken a 242??

(Yeah tjkj will know someone and so will JJ -but that doesn't mean it's common - just that you never challenge them to Jeep trivial pursuit)

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32339

sounds like the biggest challenge is making sure you have the right parts -
and then drop 1 transfer case - install the other

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:25 am

LIV42DY wrote:

why would you want to do that a 231 is a stronger T Case.

Well he did say he wanted to have Full Time capability.

jerbacher wrote:

I cant even count how many times i wished i had full-time 4x4 in variable conditions.

I only know of one person that broke a 242 but they wheled the crap out of it before it broke. Then again, I've not known too many other people that wheeled a 242 hard.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:39 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

sounds like the biggest challenge is making sure you have the right parts -
and then drop 1 transfer case - install the other

thanks for the replies!

yeah, i figured it woudnt be too big of a deal. what about handle, electronics etc. does my dash have a "full time" light in it or is that totally omitted if equiped with command-trac?

i'm not really too concerned about the strength, i'm not wheeling hardcore. and if i'm doing anything intense enough to break the t-case, the front diff is gonna break first anyway!

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:21 pm

based on Kjpilot's writeup - he needed a new shifter handle
he didn't mention electronics - and based on other light/wiring issues I'd be really, really surprised if they made a different dashboard - although I'm not sure how to check. (isn't there a dash check procedure? I wonder if it would light?)

One concern with the 242 - the shifter can be irritating - it moves a level which pushes a spring loaded gear - there is no positive indication that the gear is engaged. you do get a feel for it, but it is a nusicance.
(I know when the front DTT is engaged - don't care what lights are on)

FANGO · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:42 am

I would like to swap my T-case with the NV242 too. Did anyone tried this with the manual trasmission?
I red kjpilot's thread and other experience with automatic but nothing about manual trasmission yet.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:57 am

I must confess that I've considered this swap too but seriously is it worth all the trouble just for the ability of full time 4WD?

When could you really use full time 4WD?, not on the trails. I didn't witness it but I have heard of a KJ owner blowing his NV242 because he was on a trail in full time 4WD.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:59 am

LibertyFever wrote:

I must confess that I've considered this swap too but seriously is it worth all the trouble just for the ability of full time 4WD?

When could you really use full time 4WD?, not on the trails. I didn't witness it but I have heard of a KJ owner blowing his NV242 because he was on a trail in full time 4WD.

you should check your sources - full time is full time - because you can run it anywhere - worst case offroad - you have tires spinning because the transfer case is not locked
the folks who blow transfer cases are the ones who leave it in part time on the highway - locked transfer case and good traction from wheels trying to turn different speeds - bad news.

Fango - I asked because I think that would be a great combo - and was told
- Jeep never put them together and there's a real question if the 242 will hold up to the shocks transmitted by a manual.

I think the best case for fulltime - were the winding mountain roads in Colorado the day after a snowstorm - because of sun/shadows
right hand turns would be clear and dry - left hand turns would be packed icy snow - and about a 20 foot transition between the two.
and some of the folks in snow country say they put it in fulltime in November and take it out in March.

FANGO · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:05 am

@LibertyFever: No, I don't need FT on the trail, but by rain on the road the KJ si not so stable...also when I try to go very slow.
By snow is a problem too, when a minimal quantity of snow is on the asphalt I can't select PT.

FANGO · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:14 am

Quote:

Jeep never put them together and there's a real question if the 242 will hold up to the shocks transmitted by a manual.

I know, but I heard that some people has FT with a manual trasmission on the XJ. They swap the T-case from NP231 to NP242...is that right?
Is the difference between NP242 and NV242 T-cases so big?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:22 am

The only difference between NP242 and NV242 is the ownership of the Company - from NewProcess to NewVenture (they're something else now)

I don't know the history on the XJ
(I test drove a couple but they had automatics - and they didn't have a Diesel)

FANGO · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:40 am

Thanks for your reply, AtxKJ.
I suspect this is a problem with the manual but I don't understand so much about mechanical difference beetwen the output of the automatic and the output of the manual trasmission.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:40 pm

Drop a PM to sirsam, I’m pretty sure that swapping to the NV242 selec-trac is fairly easy and does not require intensive labor. For the sake of this discussion, I purposefully wanted a KJ with the NV242 because I have found that full time 4X4 is something that I have used a lot. As a matter of fact, I will be looking for a NV242 XJ here pretty soon, it’s my favorite transfer case option. When I had my 04 TJ, I had the command trac and missed having the NV242.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:45 pm

Can't swap in a XJ T-case in a KJ. The XJ had U-joints on both sides of the t-case, the KJ has a CV for the front and a u-joint for the rear. The speedo input on the XJ is on the t-case and on the KJ its on the rear diff. Need a NP242 from a KJ for a direct swap.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:24 pm

jeepkj02 wrote:

Can't swap in a XJ T-case in a KJ. The XJ had U-joints on both sides of the t-case, the KJ has a CV for the front and a u-joint for the rear. The speedo input on the XJ is on the t-case and on the KJ its on the rear diff. Need a NP242 from a KJ for a direct swap.

Correct, the NP242 from a KJ is a pretty direct swap. I was meaning that I'm looking to buy an XJ, and I want to make sure I get one with the NP242. :wink:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:31 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

One concern with the 242 - the shifter can be irritating - it moves a level which pushes a spring loaded gear - there is no positive indication that the gear is engaged. you do get a feel for it, but it is a nusicance.
(I know when the front DTT is engaged - don't care what lights are on)

Yea, it is sometimes. It can be annoying at first but you learn that you must give it plenty of time to shift before turning or spinning the wheels. You dont want to shift out of part time to 2wd then try to do figure-8's.

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:09 am

i just swapped my 231 for a 242 with relative ease. I did replace the shifter handle as well and only have 2 issues. The first is the full time light does not light. I am 99% sure it is the same switch on both t-cases, however I now believe the BCM has to be told it now has a 242. Looking at the plunger diagrams, they have the same graduations and resistances for each position, however on the 231, two of those positions are labeled as neutral vs only one position (the first neutral is now full time) on the 242. The other issue is that the shift boot is now really stretched when it is in 2 hi....not a big deal....just wasn't expecting that.

Dave08 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:17 pm **Posts:** 250

Honestly if you're in a snow area, a lot of the time with the 242 you will run full time 4 wheel drive almost all of the winter, except maybe on clear interstate runs.

DryBones · **Posted:** Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:02 pm

so when would you run part time? trails? mud?that's 4 lo time. not rain or snow on highway but what about around town in the snow?

NV231 - 242 swap

Who is online