Ok so I have decided to maybe make the switch. Here is my thoughts I have a 98 Cherokee Right Hand Drive that I use to deliver mail with it has the 231. I know an owner of a junkyard and he has a 99 cherokee sitting out there and I have talked to him and he said I could have the NP242 and the Trans. and whatever I needed. So another words so far no money invested into it yet. This donor jeep was wrecked of course. It had roughly 120,000 miles. By looking underneath it it doesn't seem to be leaking any fluids. and trans fluid was not bad looking at all from dipstick. If I decide to make the swap should I go ahead and rebuild the 242 before switching? and the reason I mentioned the trans was mine is giving me fits with not shifting into OD and I am still in process of diagnosing that. So I figured if I would make the swap I would keep the trans and all together and I could get the both rebuilt and put in my jeep. Ideas on this would be nice. 242 is not a neccesity but would be easier on the mail route. And I do have access to a car lift and be able to get the thing in the air. Thanks Nathan

 

I thought the 231 was a better t-case than the 242? The only thing I like about my 242 is the fact my wife can drive it, and just keep it in Full Time 4wd instead of switching it when she hits dry road. She's used to the switch in the truck, haha.

 

well i am not sure its better or worse or the same. I just know I deliver mail on a 65 mile Rural Route and it slows me down when there is snow in some places and not others and having to take it in and out of 4wd as I have been told with the 231 NOT to leave it in 4wd if there is no snow or ice or anything to need extra traction. I live in Northeast Oklahoma so its not like we get road covered snow or ice for extended times. and usually it is patchy where I can go 3 miles with nothing on road and then 3 miles in snow 6'' deep or ice covered road. So I thought that maybe the 242 would be better but I would not know if its better or not. and My trans has 163,000 miles of stopping and going on a mail route so I know my trans is on its way to needing rebuilt if its not there already. So I figured since I would be doing that I might as well go ahead and do the 242 switch also. Thoughts on the better T case is helpful too. Thanks

 

Hell if that's the case, the 242 would probably be better. I heard it's just a bit weaker for wheelin since it has a diff or whatever. But if that's all your doing it would probably be a decent upgrade for ya.

Not sure if the linkage and all that is the same. But mine actually has. 2wd 4wdpart time 4wd full time Nuetral and 4 low. You might wanna look into the linkage.

 

well I know the linkage will most likely be different. The 231 has 2wd 4hi part time and 4low part time. the 242 has the 4 full time. so I know I will have to switch out the center console. But the donor jeep is a junkyard friend that said its all mine whatever I need off it. so Parts and linkage and all can be swapped at no cost the only thing is the parts on the donor jeep i have no idea condition so most likely will rebuild before installing on my jeep. I just kinda wanted to know difficulty level of switchin them and if all that is worth doing.

 

In your case i would definitely consider throwing the np242 under your jeep. It will definitely benefit you a lot. The np242 allows the tires to slip in the snow where as the np231 does not. The np231 is built for the dirt and rocks only! So when you drive the np231 on the streets it puts strain on the chain because the tires cannot slip. The reason the np242 tcase slips is to allow you to drive in the mud, snow, and street which it puts way less strain on the transfer case chain. I have seen first hand what happens when someone drives a np231 on the street in 4wd. It stretches and breaks the chain in time. Just turn the yoke and if it does not have a significant amount of play just do a service to it and you should be good to go.

 

my neighbor had a 231 out of an xj in 30 mins, but he works on stuff on the side a lot...
you can do it in about an hour or so (pull the case out)

the 242 is fine, i run one on 35s and its strong enough. dont listen to people saying oh its so weak blah blah blah because if it was that crappy then they wouldnt last 250k miles plus in stock jeeps.

 

the weak link in the 242 is the differential engagment system other than that it just gearsin a case with levers stickin out the side