Silentj

What's the best transfer case? I have a 232, but have heard that the 242 is a better system when is snows.

SeriousOffroad

231 is the better choice if you are looking for a tcase that has great aftermarket support.
242 if you need a full time 4wd option.

ehall

Pretty much that ^^

Silentj

Thanks for quick response. Love this forum!!!

Jooman07

Yep, last one had a 231 in it and was easy to find a SYE for it. Mine now has the 242 and while I love the Full-Time option, it needs a SYE and for these I've only been able to find a Hack N' Tap kit. Driveline vibes are driving me nuts! Even with a 1" t case drop.

jeepcherokee89

i am about to have this same problem, just got a 99 with a 242 and trying to decide whether or not to swap the tcase or use a hack and tap which i don't like the idea of doing and i refuse to use a tcase drop again

Jooman07

The Hack N' Tap seems hard but there are plenty of tutorial vids on youtube I've been watching and the only hard part seems to be cutting the output shaft. After that it's pretty much just taking your time drilling and tapping the hole.

SteveMongr

I have been running the hack-n-tap for over three years. Drive it daily and beat on it offroad. Even run 50mph down a rutted beach and jump all the camel humps at lower speeds.
Tom Woods has a full SYE for the 242. Can avoid the core charge if you can find a donor 242 output shaft to mail in.

mrshaft696

Ive done a few hack and taps now, can get it done in about 2hrs. I use the drilling jig from iron rock offroad. From northern drivetrain 3103-27CV
Transmission Slip Yoke 75bucks shipped. Its cake. If your lucky you can use a front driveshaft in the rear with no mods. Otherwise have one lengthened & its still cheaper than buying a sye kit.


Only thing I would change is that I would not use a 242 in a vehicle with a front autolocker. It is very common for them to not come out of 4wd easily, which is a huge problem on the street. All your tire pressures have to be perfect, everything aligned, stars and moon etc. Spend more time driving in forward and reverse to get it out, to drive home from a wheeling trip.

SteveMongr

^ Excellent post by Mrshaft696.
The trouble disengaging from one of the 4WD modes into 2WD is known as 'spline lock'. The 242 has this issue but I never experienced it with a 231. The only way that I have found to unlock is to go in reverse.
I used an un-modified front XJ shaft for the rear. It fit good.

Jooman07

Hell, I have that problem now with no lockers at all. Usually when I go from Full-Time to 2 HI I have to rock it a little from R to D to get the shifter to go all the way down and out of Part-Time. I thought it was a linkage problem.

ehall

I use a Hack n Tap on my 242, might get a Woods SYE at some point but I don't feel like I need it for what I do.

I have no trouble shifting my 242 after the Boostwerks linkage swap

Rambler65

Interesting stuff... my recently-acquired '99 XJ has the 231 part-time transfer case. First time I've owned a vehicle so equipped, our previous 4-wheel-drive vehicles were AMC Eagles with full-time 4WD. (You could switch them to 2WD if desired but there was really no need to.)

I like the idea of the 231 from the standpoint of simplicity and ruggedness. It'll be interesting to see how it does in the snow. The wife is very intimidated though by the idea of having to shift in and out of 4WD as needed!

t.mcginley.jr

With the 231 you can swap in and out of 4H/2H as long as you're below 55 mph right? At least I think that's how it's advertised.

mrshaft696

Its not a linkage thing with the 242, the stock stuff it fine, its internal to the t-case, and yeah you have to end up driving in reverse for half a mile to get it out of 4wd.


My wife is whiny about shifting the t-case as well & that's why I swapped a 242 in the 5.9 for the fulltime, my first mistake. I am removing it for a 231 instead, hopefully this weekend.



Ive driven my 231 fully locked in the snow for years no problems, never got stuck in 4wd either....




also buy a new 5/16" drill bit to drill for a hack and tap, use the cobalt drill bits, it will go right thru like butter.