On last Saturday I went for an off-roading trip just to test out the new front locker. I hit a bump too hard and I got some air. Once it came back down somehow the shock busted up the transfer-case in half. Transmission fluid spilling out everywhere. I had no choice but to drive it back home on a half busted transfer-case.

I went to my local U-Pullit and found a 97 Dodge Ram 1500 with a NP231. I've been looking for a NP241 but again nothing local and I'm strapped on cash. I got the NP231D for $80.

I took it back home opened her up to check on its internals. Turns out it appears to be recently rebuilt nice and tight chain to new looking fork bushings. I bought new seals and cleaned up the case and buttoned it back up.

The Ram's NP231 rear output shaft is much larger, it has a 31 spine output while the Dakotas is 27. I headed back to grab the yoke off of the drive-shaft to mate up to my drive-shaft. Also the Ram's front output yoke was a flange style, just a simple swap of the yokes. This one came with a short input shaft, my stock Dakota was the long version but it was not a problem it still fits.

Today I swapped the transfer-cases without to much problems. Just the one top bolt, it is much easier to get by removing the 4wd shifter and getting at it from inside the cab.

Here is a side by side of the new and old TC.


Here is close up of the large split.

 

Damn, man. I've never seen a TC split like that. I mean, I've seen em crack but nothing like that.

 

wow. luckily it was just a transfer caseand not something worse

 

Exactly, luckly it wasn't worse. New one is up and running no problems.

 

Ive seen that a few times.. 231s r very weak i guess.. I recently sheered off the rear out put shaft on my mud truck.. which I will be up grading to a 241d with a solid rear yoke.. from what ive read up their very strong, good tcases.. n simalir to the np208 in a way.. n the good part of the 241 is I can still use it when I do my 440 to 727 swap Sorry I still have to do a build thread yet.. ive been busy with work n working on the two dakotas.. Ill get her done one of these years promise.. by chance crazy what r u doing with the old tcase??? I may be intrested in the rear out putshaft so I can have a spare tcase for the little truck...if ur willing to mail/ship??

 

There was 1 np231 out of a Jeep GC which was destroyed similar to mine. The Np231 is strong but the case is weak due to the aluminum housing (along with all TC/w aluminum housings).

The NP241 is stronger (when talking about abuse on the case) due to it larger size, but not quite as strong as the old Np208/np205 due to cast steel (but wieghs a ton).

The old one would be saved as spare parts since the internals are still in great shape. It was rebuilt a few years ago. The main thing I want to save is the input shaft incase I need it once I do the np241 swap (some have a different spline count).

The Np231 is plentiful in most JY's. From Dodge Rams, Dakota, Durango, Ram Vans (if there are 4wd versions) to Jeep Wranglers to Cherokees or Grand Cherokees.