So the transfer case in my 2000 Dakota has been making funny sounds for a while. The u-joints in the front driveshaft were toast, so I took it to my mechanic last week for a fluid change and u-joint replacement, hoping that would make the tcase sound better.
He took it for a test drive and this is what happened. Wow. Dented frame, torn fuel and brake lines, dented floor boards, crushed clutch cylinder, blown up driveshaft.
Apparently the '00 uses a unique transfer case? Apparently rare here in BC, the only one the mechanic can find is from an automatic (my truck is manual). He *thinks it will work. Considering it's gotta be freighted from 14 hours away, is it worth pursuing the tcase from the auto. Or do we need to keep looking for a manual tcase?
Also, anything special about the fuel line? He says he can splice in a piece of high pressure hose with clamps. Is this gonna work or should I have the complete line replaced?
Any opinions on aftermarket clutch cylinders? Or is it worth the extra$$ for a mopar?
Such a bummer.

 

Happens more often than you think!

Guy must have been beating the **** out of it to get it to break, when you could have just dropped it out and done bearings and a new chain for a few hundred now you're looking at least a grand.

What engine do you have? 4.7/3.9 = NV231 which isn't too rare, and it is interchangeable through automatic/manual of that year if it's the electronically switching TC.

 

Did you look here for a replacement? http://www.car-part.com/

 

Thanks for the link. They're a little cheaper on the east coast, shipping could be killer though.
4x4 is engaged by stick, not electric. So the auto tcase won't work?

 

4.7 engine

 

Dang, that looks about what mine looked like when it blew apart going down the freeway at 75mph. Luckily for me it do a lot of damage under my truck. The front shaft was the cause of mine so I got it rebuilt at the same time. I would definitively make sure to get a case that has at least a year warranty on it.