Switzer99

00t444e

Keep your 231 I have a np242 in mine and I have a 231 waiting to go in its place, the 231 has more aftermarket support and is easier to find if you need parts, loosing the full time isn't a problem because I never used it anyway.

firebane

Don't bother. 231 is a great transfer case

Switzer99

firebane

Purely subjective from who says it.

Only difference is the full time which is useless 99% of the time.

fb97xj1

Which one is better depends on what YOU want to do with it.

Mine has a 242, and i prefer it over the 231 because of the full time 4wd. I can leave it in full time 4wd all year round no matter what the weather is like, but does that make it better? For me, yes. If thats what you want, get the 242. If part time 4wd is important to you, the 242 can do that as well. The 231 can only do part time 4wd, which means slick surfaces only, like mud and snow. Dry surfaces are a no no. BTW, part time 4wd with the 242 is the same as the 231 in part time 4wd. Same rules apply.

My deciding factor would be, if its a daily driver, 242. If its an off-road only rig, 231.

eugnton

Depends on how you use it. I've had both, I'm on my 3rd XJ, 4th Jeep counting a '96 ZJ. Up until the latest purchase, my XJ had only been used for light wheeling and camping, as a father, having the 242 made me feel better about getting around in crappy weather. When I lived in a place where they didn't plow the roads for the entire winter, I ran my '97 242 for 2 straight months. I recently had a V8 ZJ, ditched the 249j (with a bad viscous coupling) and swapped in the 242, I was very happy to have my teenage son heading up to the slopes on the snow covered mountain highways with it. I am back in a '96 XJ with a 231, I plan on building and wheeling it now that it is not a family and kiddie hauler anymore. Rusty's 3" and 31's are in the mail.

Ralph77

I would like to swap my 231 to a 242 in my '00. Would also like to pair that with a 8.25 rear with a factory limited slip. But my logic in wanting to do that is my Jeep is just a DD. My days of thrashing around out there are long over. Just want to be able to get around in the snow. Thinking this set up is more suitable to my needs. Not that there is anything wrong with it now but if the right parts Jeep pops up with these parts I could see myself going through with this.

awg

I like the 242 with full-time 4wd,
* can be used in 4wd at high speed on slippery tarmac
* its all you need for 4wd, unless fully off-road
* if others use your vehicle, somewhat less chance of wrecking Tcase

Having said that, I wouldnt change without a reason, on the other hand $60 is cheap, if you have room for spares laying around

SteveMongr

What my experience has proven is that Full-Time 4x4 of the 242 is great for faster terrain like forest trails, sand, dunes, and rally style driving. But useless in mud pits, when rock crawling or attempting to climb over an obstacle, due to center differential. Trying to drive fast forest trails in Part-Time is difficult and have to limit speed, too much understeer and lack of control, especially when attempting to power around turns.

cruiser54

242 for the win. best of both worlds.

00t444e

You can drive a np231 in the snow in 4x4 just switch to 2wd when you get to a hard surface where the roads have been cleared, it's not that difficult. That's what I do now with my 242 because I am used to part time only transfer cases, and what I have found out is if you are in a situation where you actually need 4x4 the full time is useless.

cruiser54

That's wonderful. Here we go again.......
What's good for you is not necessarily what is good for everyone else. It's not what others may desire or need.
Give it a break.

firebane

You can do all of that with a 231 in 4hi. 4hi is only not to be used on surfaces where it may cause binding of the front end. Dirt roads, sand dunes, rally style driving is fine for the 231 and I've done lots of any of those with a part time case.

cruiser54

Sure, you CAN do all that. But high speed in the 242 gives better stability and handling at higher speeds.