i have 4 high part time 4 low part time and 2 high full time and neutral. is that the 242 or the 231?

 

sounds like mine...and i have a 231

 

lol then i guess thats what i have then

 

I would go with the SYE its stronger and easy to install.
i have the 321j and did the install myself in a day.
i bought mine for 165 crown set up off the net. if you
have a 231j i have a write up.

 

if you have a truck with a newer 242, then a hack and tap is really all you need, because the output shaft is sealed, whereas the older style 242, and the 231, if the driveshaft comes out, so does all the fluid.

and for the screwing up of the hack and tap, to make a nice straight cut, your best bet is to idle the truck with the driveshaft removed, and just hold the cutoff wheel square to the shaft, that way it will make a straight cut. the new yoke slides onto the splines of the output shaft, so you dont have to worry about that not being properly aligned with the output shaft. the bolt is just there to hold the yoke onto the shaft.

 

Plus, nobody makes a hack n tap for the 242.

For the guy looking for an NP231 hack n tap, I would recommend Iron Rock Offroad's version.