My question is my son's 95 grand cherokee has the 6 cyl with the 249 transfer case. He doesn't go wheeling at all. He bought the jeep cause he liked the look and so he could have 4wd in the snow for the winters here in NY. His viscous coupling seems to have gone, and I've seen a whole bunch of threads here about swapping the 231 or 242 in place of the 249, but I really dont know what's wrong with just doing a direct replacement of a 249 with a 249. Why does everyone seem to replace the 249's with the 242 or 231 ?

It just seems like more work to do the swap rather than the direct replacement

Please shed some light on this for me

thanks

Sab

 

Hey Sab. Not everyone wants or needs the option of using 2WD on occasion. Lots of people either replace their 249's viscous coupler , or go the cheaper route and get another used 249 and install it.

 

The viscous coupler in the 249 is expensive to replace (approx.$400). Finding a good used one is always a gamble because you don't know when it harden up and fail. 242's and 231's are cheap and plentiful. They can be found where I live for around $40. that's the main reason people swap them out. A proper working 249 is a great piece of equipment. I wouldn't have replaced mine if it hadn't failed.

 

Thanks for the replys guys...I just think the hassle of "altering" the others to fit where my son has his 249 wouldn't be worth it. Maybe I'm making more out of the swap than need be. Aren't there things that I need to get or replace when doing a swap of the 249 with one of the others ?

Also there is a guy here on Long Island that is advertising a VC on craigslist for $200 and he said its new. Said he bought it for his 249 and never did the work but instead sold the jeep. I figure if I look at it I would be able to see if it is new or if he is just jerking around.

 

I'd be afraid of buying that VC because I can't tell what I'm getting and there'd be no guarantee.
Here's a good write-up about the swap, including useful info and pics. >->http://www.nagca.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39318