NP 231 vs NP 242
- Thread starter MinotJeep
- Start date
- Location
- Terra Firma
Finding a 242 might be more difficult than doing the swap.
Get the driveshaft with the 242 -- not certain but I think the overall length is different from the 231.
Get the driveshaft with the 242 -- not certain but I think the overall length is different from the 231.
Çrestfa||en
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
I'm almost thinking of doing the exact opposite since there is a bigger availability of 3rd party stuff for the np231. Wana swap transfere cases? 
Neil
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Oakhurst, CA
Eagle is right 242's are hard to come by. If you find one snatch it up quick. I keep a spare in my garage "just in case" The 231's do have more aftermarket options available, such as 4:1 low range kits and HD SYE kits. Tom Woods does offer a semi-HD SYE kit for the 242 that shortens the tail shaft on the t-case and gives you a beter driveline angle. I have 6.5" of lift and 35" tires and my 242 works fine for me. The full time option works great in the snow and mud.
- Location
- NC Sandhills
I swapped a POS 242 out of my 89 XJ trail rig for a 231... after swapping in ANOTHER POS 242 that grenaded instantly. LOL it was a bolt in swap, and I was good at it by the end of that afternoon.
That said, two of our other XJs have 242s that work fine...I used the full-time mode during our recent ice storm, but I probably would have been just as well served with a 231 in 4w high-range. The 242 Jeeps have never been off road, and have no plans to start doing that now.
That said, two of our other XJs have 242s that work fine...I used the full-time mode during our recent ice storm, but I probably would have been just as well served with a 231 in 4w high-range. The 242 Jeeps have never been off road, and have no plans to start doing that now.
Çrestfa||en
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Snohomish, WA
My 242 has seen tons of 4wheeling and never given me any problems.
242's are not hard to come by at all. That is the t-case that is standard on Grands. There should be a bazillion of them out there. When mine went out I had a replacement sent from an east coast yard to my door in 3 days. It had 65K on it and it was $350 shipped. Go to www.car-parts.com and search for a 242 for your year Jeep. It should do the cross reference for you and list anything available.
I personally believe the 242 is a great t-case. Mine wore out some pads on the range mode forks and that was the only reason it went bad (231's use the same pads). I've seen lots of people wheel with 242's for easy to extreme with no problems at all. They are a very good t-case.
That being said, there are a few things to know about the 242. First it is quite a bit larger than the 231. Thus it hangs down a couple more inches. Also, though they hold up very well, they are not as strong as a 231. Those are really the only two issues. I think that is a small price to pay for being able to keep it in 4wd on the road in varied road conditions. But if your jeep is mostly off road a 242 just isn't needed. For off road that 2~3 inches the 242 hang down could make all the difference. When my Jeep was my daily driver I wouldn't have traded my 242 for the world. Now that it's my trail machine if this 242 goes out some day something else will be going in. I would love an Atlas but will likely go with a 231.
HTH,
B-loose
I personally believe the 242 is a great t-case. Mine wore out some pads on the range mode forks and that was the only reason it went bad (231's use the same pads). I've seen lots of people wheel with 242's for easy to extreme with no problems at all. They are a very good t-case.
That being said, there are a few things to know about the 242. First it is quite a bit larger than the 231. Thus it hangs down a couple more inches. Also, though they hold up very well, they are not as strong as a 231. Those are really the only two issues. I think that is a small price to pay for being able to keep it in 4wd on the road in varied road conditions. But if your jeep is mostly off road a 242 just isn't needed. For off road that 2~3 inches the 242 hang down could make all the difference. When my Jeep was my daily driver I wouldn't have traded my 242 for the world. Now that it's my trail machine if this 242 goes out some day something else will be going in. I would love an Atlas but will likely go with a 231.
HTH,
B-loose
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