Rockhead

What I'm going to try to do is post the day to day progress on the installation of my new Atlas 2 transfer case. I'm a couple of days into the project now, my Cherokee is nosed up to my garage with wheel chocks on one of the back tires.
Day 1- Got the Atlas out of its packaging; it comes encased in expandable foam and a heavy cardboard box. Put it on the workbench (heavy, 110 lbs) and smiled (inspected it) for a while. I ordered the Cherokee shift kit too, all the parts were there and in good shape.
Read all of the included literature.
Application guide.
XJ AW4 shifter assembly instructions.
Atlas Transfer Case installation instructions.
On Advance Adapters web site, tech vault for the XJ and TJ Wrangler.

Went to Harbor Freight to get some tools.
Pittsburgh 450 lb. Low lift transmission jack.
Heavy duty jack stands 12 ton, because of their height range.
Electric cut off/grinder tool.

That's it for day one.

Rogue4x4

All I can say is



Subbed.

XJwonders

So awesome that I ll sub now

98XJ40K

Subscribed, can't wait to see this.

Rockhead

Day 2.
Ok. I'm following the directions here, they say to put the shift unit together. And then take it apart again except for the twin stick base. This exercise is to familiarize one with the XJ shift unit which is funky. All of the pieces went together just fine. Because the Atlas is mounted at about a 20 degree angle, the shift levers are at about a 110 degree angle from horizontal. The design of the XJ shift kit allows for the centering of the shift levers through the floor no matter what rotation you go with. So I put the shift kit together and played with which stick did what. Cool. Then took it apart.
Next was to put the site tube on. This is a clear tube attached on the rear of the case connecting an upper and lower fitting so the oil level can be seen. A little pipe tape on the threads and no problem.
Time to start taking things apart.
First problem, the center console has to come out so you can remove the existing transfer case lever. My Cherokee is a 2000, standard trans, and the only way I could see to get the console out around the shifters and the e break handle was to cut the center console in half. After that, I started working on the removal of the transfer case shift unit and linkages.
That was it for day two. Moving forward.

98XJ40K

I believe removing the center console in the manual is the same as the auto. Remove shift **** (t handle for auto), t case lever up (in 4lo), and e brake handle up. Then lift the rear of the console, slide forward, lift off. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
You could probably pick up a complete console from the JY to replace yours if it doesn't go back together well. Just a thought.

XJwonders

Yeah and u gotta remove the trim off the radio/hvac area.

I took my center console out and in multiple times, never once I had to chop it in half, haha

Rockhead

Here are a couple of more pics. I think that the way to get the console out without cutting it would have been to remove the e break, just didn't want to get into that. For awhile now I've been thinking about removing the console to have that industrial look to the interior; my son's 1996 cherokee has that look.
The other pic shows some of the XJ shift kit. The twin stick base, shift rod ends, two buttons and two all thread links are left on the Atlas during installation.
NP231 removal coming up.

XJwonders

No I didn't need to remove the e brake lever. I pulled it as far as I could and the console slid off.

xjpettit99

Subscribed this is going to be good to see

Aljay

This , And I had never worked on a xj inside .......... oh yeah I wish i had replaced the plastic console bracket .
Subed bad *** T case .

Rockhead

I don't get it, not that it maters much now though. Like you guys, I consider myself a fairly accomplished backyard mechanic. Here is a pic that I took with the front half of the console put back in where it mounted. You can see that it's already up against the front frame with the rear seat heating duct under it. My Haynes book says to do what you guys said. Oh well, that's water under the bridge. I'm planning on putting the rear half of the console back in, need those cup holders.

98XJ40K

I know that feeling well. Do what I have to do and later find out it wasn't as hard as I ended up making it. But, at least it's easy to replace if you decide to do it.
I have been tossing around the idea of the TeraLow or the Atlas for the future... Can't wait to see how this turns out!

sreeb

I need those cup holders too. Where did you get them?

Rockhead

Take a look at the pic six posts ago, they came with the Cherokee. I plan on trimming the edge to try to make it look ok and to put the rear half of the center console back in.