Hi everyone!

I'm pretty new to jeep stuff. I recently got 96 XJ. Due to unknown reason my transmission died, so I decided to get one from a pick-n-pull. I haven't checked number on mine before I pulled one from a donor car. However, when I installed transmission and was trying to put transfer case, I found out that output shaft on my old one was thinner than one from a donor. Mine was measured 27 mm and replacement one had 30 mm. Then I compared labels. Mine was saying 30-40 LE and the other one was 30-43 LE. So I thought that somehow I got wrong one. I decided to fix it by pulling off a different one. Unfortunately to me, when I got another one, but that one had 30 mm output shaft. I tried to contact dealer, so they would told me what model should I have. Dealer was useless. Then I decided to buy transmission with transfer case to make sure that it fits. I installed it and it works fine, however mine had more options like "4 High Part Time". After all I want to find out if it is possible that 30-40 LE could be my original transmission or somebody replaced it? Is possible that 96 cherokee had so called NP242 transfer case? Later I found out that the one I'd installed was NP231. I would like to know if it's worth to swap it back? Any advice is highly appreciated!

 

If its a daily driver that sees snow i would rather have the np242,If its more off road or normal 4x4 use the np231 is better to have.

 

The NP242 lets you drive in 4wd full time, aka AWD. It is also said to be a slight bit tougher than the NP231.

The NP231 does not allow full time 4wd, but is much more common and has much better aftermarket support...important if you plan on lifting your Jeep.

The rear output shafts are different and I think you need a different rear drive shaft for either.

 

Ok, if I ever decide to go back, what kind of transmission should I look for?

By the way, output shafts are the same on both TCs, so drive shaft I had with my NP242 worked really well with new NP231.

Thanks for your advice!

 

Andrew is correct it depends on your usage my 99 is an NP231 and AW4 trans. It works well for me both off road and on the highway but buy all means best for off road use. I personally would not care for an NP242.

 

Hi everyone.

Now I'm trying to sell my old transfer case. I posted it as NP 242, but the first guy who checked it, is saying that it's NP231 from a 1987 model. Below is a label that I have on it.

 

You posted it and didn't even know what you had?

 

231-AMC right on the label, top line

 

you have a 231




This is a 242

 

I guess you guys are nicer than me.

I never would have posted something for sale if I had NO IDEA what I was selling. Call me crazy.

 

No I feel the same.. I just posted that for the next person that comes along..

 

Good looking out

 

Crazy.

LOL