As the title says Im looking into doing this swap. What all is needed to do this swap? Thanks Joe, 1998 cherokee 4.0 2in tcase drop

 

Not worth it. Keep the 242!

 

really? Ive heard that the full times are trash. I dont mind it just didnt hear that they hold up and cant find an sye for them

 

Only downfall to a 242 is you have to do a hack-n-tap SYE. I wouldn't bother either if the 242 is still good. All you need to make the swap is the shifter cover, and t-case, linkage should be the same.

 

its harder to find after market stuf for the242 but its as good or better strength wise to the 231
tom woods makes a sye kit
but you can do a hack n tap just as esay

 

the 242 is not a full time TC it has a full time position thats a good thing
but if you are a trail rig only you wont ever use it

the full time TC you have herd about you have no option for full time just 4L and 4H

 

ok so what are themain differences between the 231 and 242, bsides full time and part time..? Are there any differences in gear ratios? Is the 4H in the 242 a viscous system or a clutch system, how does the differential operate in it?

 

(48/52 differential torque-biased-drive)

 

OK, so Im ignorant, but what is the difference between full time and part time 4w. I thought if you put it in 4w, you were in 4w. Is part time 4w when ever the rig feels like being in 4w or when the rig starts to slip. Also why wouldnt you want to run it in full time 4w on the trail?

 

full time allows front to back slip like a open diff has slip side to side
full time is good if you are driving on paved roads that may have bad traction

part time you are locked and can damage part if you use it on paved roads

if you are a trail only rig you can run in part time you don't need full time
you don't need the slip action in the tc

 

exactly i have a 231 and like it and others have the 242 and like. it the other diff between the full and part is that the 242 has a wider chain since it has the full time and has the stronger part time sun gear or what ever it is i forgot. but it is a upgrade to the 231. so if you swap it into the 231 it will be an upgrade for the 231

 

I own a 87 with a 242 and I beat the hell out of it. I have more features than the 231! I don't see how this is a upgrade.

 

Like mentioned i beat the hell out of my 242 and it hold up just fine..............upgrade huh maybe a change

 

I have one, and it works great. As others have said, I beat the beans out of mine as well. The ONLY reason I'd swap it, is for the 4.1 kit, that is only available for the 231. Other than that, I see no reason to swap it. FWIW, mine is a trail only rig, and not a DD, and I rarely use the "full time" option, but still have no plans on changing it.

 

ok so do they make an upgraded sun gear for the 231 or would you have to pull one out of a 242?