Cos, i see Frank already posted links but i'll add anyway.

If the 231 or 242 is NOT from a ZJ you'll need to swap the input. If it IS from a ZJ it will have the proper input and be a direct swap. This doesnt include the early 93 ZJ's which had an AW-4.. that will share the XJ input gear. Thats how i understand it anyway. I have a ZJ with 5.2 and 249, figure i'll need to do the 242 swap someday and did a lil reading.

His trans is the 46RH behind the 5.2L.

 

Thanks Overland, that clarifies things a bit!! I was wondering about that, actually. I have been told that all of the ZJs that came with the V8 are AWD, is this true?? If so, then I can swap a 231/242 from a ZJ with a 4.0, as long as it doesn't have the AW4 trans, AKA, after the 1993 run??

 

Correct, if you pull a 231/242 from a ZJ it's a direct bolt in behind the 46RH. There were three 242's in the local upull last time i stopped in... check your C4C stash. Dont forget the shifter and bezel.

Dont be intimidated by an input swap, it's not difficult. Add a new chain (100) and a rebuild kit (80) while your in there if this is a daily.

Search for username Sudz at Mallcrawlin, he posted pics and part numbers on a 242 rebuild.

 

Why not?.........hahahaha. A little flame is good for everyone

 

that is awesome. My buddy has a 93 ZJ with a bad trans and I am going to get the 94 ZJ limited today. So now I can chuck him 100 bucks and take the 242 tc from his ZJ and put it in the 94. DIRECT BOLT IN SWAP RIGHT? Then I don't even have to worry about if the tc in it right now even works.

 

I tried to install a 231 out of a 93 ZJ with a 42re and the input shaft that goes into the trans is too short. So I just spent 2 hours pulling apart the 249 and the 231 and then re-assembling the 231 with the 249s input shaft. The 231 shaft is actually long enough to "work" but it is not long enough to seal in the trans seal. So it was leaking like crazy and that was with out starting it up. So I should get this thing finished tomorrow and will update as to whether or not you need the shifter or the linkage or do you need just the bezel with the 2wd, 4hi N and 4lo.

 

Sounds like that 231 has the same length input as a XJ.. you sure it's behind a 42re and not an AW-4?

What year is yours?

 

mine is a 94 with a 46rh. his is a 93 with the 42re. he also has a 91 cherokee with a aw4. that is how I could tell the 93 zj has a 42re. His is a mid 93 just after the switch. tag in the door jamb shows the build date as 6 93. only other thing I can think of is that some fool swapped in an older 231 from a cherokee into the 93. He bought it for 100 bucks with a bad trans. turned out the transfer case was actually bad too. links on the chain were broke.
o but now that i remembered, the bezel shows 2wd, 4hi n and 4lo. so I know it must of came with a 231, but yeah, maybe a XJ 231 some how found it's way in it.

 

I think i may have posted some inaccurate info earlier.. i'll have to go back and check it.

Yeah, considering your original and replacement are both pre 95 you dont have to worry about issues with the input gear planetaries and the sun gear having a different pitch. If that were the case you could have used the 249's front case half with the donors back half and internals.


There are guys who didnt switch the shifter, the detents are different but they said it works for them. I havent dont it yet so i'm unsure..

Happen to take pics during your swap?

 

I am done but my speedo doesn't work. I am trying to figure out the proper way to install the speed sensor. both trucks use the same speed sensor but I must be putting it in wrong because I tried both..
Only thing I had to change on the shift linkage was the part the bolts to the trans case. the 249 one is too long and the slot is not the same as the 231. I have a pic of the two on my camera phone. I'll post that later once I get the speedo working.

 

here is the piece I used.

the bottom one is for the 231. I used nothing else but that part. Not the arm, just the part that bolts to the transfercase. The rest of the linkage that I used is what was on my ZJ.