Jeep Cherokee - All Wheel Drive Swap, 4x4 to AWD [NP231 to NP242] ['96-'01 XJ] Transfer Case Upgrade

Operation 242: Complete
2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ Sport.
I have decided to upgrade my NP231 Command-Trac Part Time transfer case to an NP242 Selec-Trac Full Time transfer case. I have spent hours gathering research on ancient forums from 2007 and have compiled it all here.

YOU NEED:
-An NP242 Transfer Case from your year or spline count
-The NP242's Shaft Gate and Bezel
-The NP242's Indicator Sensor pigtail (Optional - this only activates the dashboard lights)

The NP242 swap can also be done on 1988-1995 Wrangler YJs and 1997-2006 Wrangler TJs, but they never offered the NP242 from the factory and thus more fabrication work may be needed.
This also works on 1988-1996 XJs and MJs, the shift gate and bezel is different but the same concept applies.
I'm not sure about the 1987 Model year, because the NP242 wasn't put in any Jeeps until 1988 from my sources.

There’s actually quite a hostile force of people out there with a burning hatred for the dashboard lights. I was surprised to find such…. “Enthusiasm” from people explaining why you don’t need them.
“If YoU nEeD tHe DaShBoArD LIgHt tO kNoW yOu’Re in 4Wd, yOu ShOuLn’T bE dRiViNg A jEeP!!!1!!1”
Well, some of us seasoned nobles have more respect for our Jeeps than “Eh those minor electronic accessories have never worked so I never bothered to fix them and have learned to live without them”

True, the original Willys MB from 1941 did not have a dashboard light for the 4wd. In fact it didn’t even have a dashboard. However, the Cherokee does, and although I agree that someone stupid enough to not know when they’re in 4 wheel drive shouldn’t be driving a Jeep, I also think that having a fully functioning XJ is becoming more and more of a rare claim.

I’m not saying everyone should wire the dashboard light, I’m just showing you how to, in case you want to. It’s your Jeep, do with it what you want. I preofer factory functionality.

I’m not sure how this swap differs on Renix or HO years. The NP242 was first introduced in 1988, so although it’ll probably work on 1987’s, I don’t know. 1984-1986 used different transfer cases and transmissions so none of this will work for the earliest years.

If you discover something I missed, let me know. I’ll add it to the description or pin the comment or whatever.

00:00 Video Start
00:15 Transfer Case Options
02:35 Everything you Need
05:53 Shift Gate
12:25 Dashboard Indicator
20:40 Indicator Switch
22:08 After Install

I dub this new 4wd full time: Subaru Mode

[TheArcticFoxxo]

I can feel the pent up anger while trying to remove that shift gate

[stevenbrown]

Throwing part's across the driveway is epic!!! Lol been there a few time's ✌🤛🏁

[iNViTBL]

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much! I have a 2003 5MT JeepKJ with the NV3550 -- bought for $1800 to use for plowing and light hauling (like garden tractors and dirt). It's a workhorse. It came with the NP231 of course because of the NV3550. Just bought a NP242 for the same reasons you did (as well as a NP231 in case the NP242 doesn't work out) which is how I landed on your video. You quickly helped me realize that I'll still need a couple parts from the junkyard to do the NP242 swap. Thank you so much for the info about the manual transmission compatibility and the wiring, seriously, the sharing of information like this saves folks so much time, thank you.

[jlsgarage]

If I remember correctly I believe it was 96 that was the wiring hell year, haven't ever heard that about the 97, from everything I know its compatible with 97-01

[dougskyta]

I got so fed up with that gas tank skid plate on my xj I just sent it with 3/4 bolts. I hear your pain but it's just another day in the life

[marquis]

Awesome video!! So if I do exactly what u did in your video i shouldn’t have to run an extra wire from the connector into the engine bay ?

[Deadbuck]

Like all your vids… great job and entertaining!

[israelmarquez]

just finished the swap and i am now getting vibs at 30-40 mph, rewatched the video to find that the same drive shaft can be used, my first thought was the driveshaft but now i am not sure

[camaroguy]

I’m confused, my 98ZJ has the 231 T-case and it is AWD. I am swapping in a 242 from junkyard that shows to be a 4WD. Completely opposite of your saying???

[marquis]

Fucking awesome!! Thanks for the quick response.

[beargibson]

lol, subaru mode. Are you still running the u-joint front axles, if so do you notice any binding aka scooting in turning in awd? Or, did you change to cv style front axles?

[TheAngryCamper]

How many times did you have to edit out "Fuck" in this video??

[ky]

So orginally my 99 xj had a np231 in it. Which I thought it was as well because of the bezel plate. When I went to have a sye installed it turned out that it was actually np242 so i couldnt get it installed. Now that I know its a np242 i noticed it wont go into fulltime only part time. What would be the reasoning for that?

[MyGreatCreation]

How did you fix the azzy design works shift linkage from locking up when you're in 4lo. With mine the articulating nuts linkage gets parallel with the transfer case side link and I can't get out of 4lo without going under and pushing it out.

[Thundarr]

I wouldn't really consider swapping out a 231 for a 242 an upgrade. It really depends on what you're planning on doing with your XJ/ZJ. I swapped out the 249 for a 242 in my 96 ZJ. The reason I did it is, it was cheaper to buy a good used 242, and put a heavy duty chain and sprockets in it. Than it was to just replace the fluid coupler in the 249.I did all the work myself, except shortening the driveshaft. Yes, I had to shorten the driveshaft. I installed a 98 XJ 242 and it has an external slip yoke. The 96 249 had an internal slip yoke on the output shaft. I had to get the drive shaft shortened by about 3 - 4 inches.

[coachgeo]

got any hints on swapping an 2003 NP242 from Grand Cherokee (WJ) to a NV3550 TJ. my confusion is the input shaft side. The 231 appears to be long input gear shaft to mate with 5speed?? while the WJ is short and mated with an auto (42RE)??

sorta confused... not finding actual measurements of what long and short is. NP231 pulled off my 5speed has input shaft of about 1 3/8 inches coming out front of it. All things in this situation appear to be 23 spline

[mortenjohansen]

I had this done recently, but I still lack the dash lights. The connector in the NP242 is defect (21:15) Where can I find one?

[shnobi]

Does your Jeep have locking differentials?

[gersonruiz]

How does the gauge cluster look when you don’t do the wiring? Do the part time lights still work?

[dethdeks]

can i ask why you would go from the stronger np 231 to the np242 which is a weaker transfer case?