I guess I'm just really bad at using the search. I spent about 3 hours last night wandering around, trying different words, and I am still not quite finding what I'd like to know. I'm heading to the junkyard this weekend and am looking to score the correct AW4/T-Case and drive shafts (and other associated stuff) to convert the XJ to 4x4. My Cherokee is a 2001 so I understand I need to look for a 98-01 model. My question is how do i tell if the transmission is the correct year? Obviously if its still in the junker I feel pretty safe it would (hopefully) be the right one.
-What do I look for to verify the right for 01?
-Does anyone have pics of the specific parts/areas that I could see visually what I'm looking for?
- Any suggestions about which driveshafts I should look for? My XJ sits on about 4-5"s of lift and I'm running an 8.8 in the back.
Please feel free to add your thoughts and ideas. And a big thank you in advance!

 

Apparently a bunch of the electrics are different: http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1053970 The difference in speed sensors seems to be the most obvious thing to look for from the descriptions. Maybe someone can find some good pictures of them.

 

Here's a pic of a 1998 - 2001 AW4 that shows the 4WD adaptor housing that's used in place of the 2WD extension housing. The '98> AW4 uses two transmission speed sensors; the output speed sensor is installed on the adaptor housing. '97 and earlier AW4's won't have the transmission output speed sensor.

Actually, all you would need is the 4WD adaptor housing to replace your 2WD extension housing. Your output speed sensor could be reused.

 

CCKen....
Just using the output (my tranny is fine) would be awesome but isnt the output splines different between 2 and 4wd AW4s? Please tell me they are the same and I'll just grab a rear housing and t-case instead of the entire transmission...*crosses fingers!*

 

Bad news (that I overlooked), the tranny main shaft in the 2WD AW4 is different than the main shaft in the AW4 4WD.

 

That's kinda what I had thought. Any idea on the spine count..if its different? If the shaft was just to long I could imagine cutting it down but if the splines are different then I'll just nab a complete trans too. *shrugs*

 

That and the 2wd version is a little longer. You need to grab a tranny from a 4wd vehicle.