Jaredgt500

Hey every one I'm wondering if the wiring harness is the same from the 2wd to the 4wd zj really want to convert mine over. 2wd is just not doen it. i can get decent 96-98 zjs for about 400 bucks that run and drive that are 4wd for the parts. I'm fully willing to do the swap just wanted to know if the harness is the same to make my life easier ( reson why i want to do the swap and not just drive the 4wd one i get is because my body and interior are like new they are just about perfect). Thanks in advance for any help.

dave1123

As far as I know the only difference is the switch that tells you you're in 4wd and indicates this on the VIC. You'll need the console with the t/case shifter and the linkage. All this stuff you'll have on your 4wd purchase. If you're going to do this, make sure you buy one with the 242 because doing all this work for a stinking 249 is senseless.

Remember you'll need to convert your transmission to short-shaft to fit the t/case on it. V8 jeeps use the 44re and the 4.0s use the 42re which don't bolt in.

I hope you have something else to drive because this swap is going to take awhile.

Jaredgt500

Hey Dave thanks for the help. now you said i will need to convert my trans to a short shaft. i was just gonna put the entire trans/TC from the doner in. and also the 249 whats wrong with it?

dave1123

As long as the donor is a V8, you can just bolt in it's tranny, but the 4.0 jeeps use a different one that won't fit your 5.2. If you're going to use your trans, you'll have to remove the tailshaft housing and change output shaft to install the t/case on it. I haven't researched it, but I think the O/D unit needs to be changed because it will have the flange for the t/case on it.

The np249 is an full time 4wd unit that has a viscous clutch in it that becomes a major expense to repair. Chances are if the donor is cheap, the VC is already toast, especially if the front shaft is missing. Both the 242 or 231 are good mechanical t/cases but the 4wd in the 231 is part time only and shouldn't be run on dry pavement. There's a round red aluminum tag on the back of t/cases near the fill plug that tells you what it is.

V8 jeeps with the 242 are rarer than hen's teeth so you'll probably have to build your own. You'll also have to find driveshafts that fit or buy custom units. You can find the 231 in XJs, but they aren't V8s.

The 249 is a good unit, it's just expensive to change the VC. If you're going to keep it, I'd change the VC while doing the swap, just to be sure it will not fail later.