So I picked up a transfer case as a spare to rebuild. since my Jeep is my DD I don't have the time take it out and have it down. It's a 231j. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what year this came out of as the seller didn't remember (he had 5 sitting in the garage). It has the old style output housing, but It is not vacuum operated. I'm thinking it's a 1996 but still unsure. Anyway other ways to check?

The tag should have the build date. What's it say?

The serial number on the tag will be the build date. For example, a 6 20 96 would be June 20, 1996.

so this one is a 1992 then? Would it work for my 2000?

Why does it need to be rebuilt? Or do you just want to inspect and verify? I drove one 500 miles with only a wisp of oil in it (I forgot to check prior to a vacation). It was hot when we got home. I figured I toasted it. But I put oil in it when we got home, drove for another 4 years. One day I got ambitious and pulled it apart. I expected to find blue parts and scortched bearings. To my surprise, NO such problems. Put in a couple new seals and put er back on the road. Point is, they're pretty tough. Clean up, pull er apart and see what she looks like b/f buying any parts. May not need to. Maybe a couple output seals and call it good.

Good luck..

Well the one on my 2000 has play it both output bearings, and I got a hackntap on it now. I wanted to get another and rebuild it and put an sye on it. I know with the sye the output side doesn't matter nor the shaft. But I know it has that different gear that's 24mm instead of 16mm. Will it still work with my 2000?

Couldn't find anything really in that thread, unless I missed it.