Hello all, my name is Mike. I currently in the middle of ordering a bunch of fun parts for my 1999 XJ. I was about to order a SYE and thought It would be wise to physically look at my transfer case before I place my order. Looks like I have a NP242. Here in Arizona (phoenix) the NP321 is a better option for me and my goals for my XJ. I search many forums and google, but it seems to leave with some confusion. Looks like people seem to swap the NP231 for an NP242, but Im doing the exact opposite

I scored a NP231 from a 2000 XJ. I know the big factor in doing this swap is spline count. My questions for you guys is: Can I just swap the input shaft from my stock NP242 into the new NP231 if is run into an issue?

Can I retain my stock transfer case shift leaver and mate it to the new NP231? I know when people do the NP231 to NP242 they swap the TC shifter.

Does anyone have any info on getting the speedo to work when making a swap from an NP242 to a NP231? Is it pretty simple to wire up?

Thank you in advance -Mike

 

Assuming both were mated to the same tranny, that 231 will swap right into your XJ without having to do anything with the input shaft. The speedo is the same, just unplug from the 242 and plug in the 231. I made this same swap in my last XJ. I swapped the shift linkage because the 231 I picked up came with it. However I kept the same shift lever. There were no issues with shifting once I had the linkage adjusted properly.

 

Thank you seems like I maybe over thinking this swap

 

Better to plan for the worst and be pleasantly surprised! One thing I will mention is the 242 is about 20 lbs heavier than the 231, so be ready for it once you crack it loose. It helps to have a friend but I managed to do mine solo, and I'm not Mr Olympia. Just don't underestimate it cause it could cause some damage.

 

^ Yea, the 242 is 80 pounds. Place a piece of plywood on your chest if you are dropping it by-yourself. I cannot stress this enough. If your hand slips off or something unexpected happens, that plywood can save you from cracked ribs or worse.

The top bolts (9/16") can be tricky to reach, and there are tricks to reach them.

 

I did the swap from 242 to 231 and I had the spline problem. I was able to take the input spline out of the 242 and it fit perfect in the 231

 

thank you all for the replies. Im in the middle of a pretty big build. So when I checked and seen a 242 it put all my focus on getting the right TC for my needs. Reading up on Novak's site and lots of other forum posts left me with some confusion (so it seemed). However it did help locate what I think is the right NP231 that fits into my year range.

I will for sure give the plywood tip a try. 80lbs is something I dont want falling in my chest when I'm under the jeep.

 

I used one of these when I installed my Atlas.
http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ack-61232.html