NV242 in '98 Ram
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,181
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From: Battle Ground WA
There are many times I wish I had AWD, I can barely accelerate in the rain without spinning, it can be very annoying sometimes.
Get a driveshaft out of a Dak or something, it might actually be the correct length. Jeep XJs and 91-94 explorers and 90-97 Rangers use the same style dual cardan front driveshaft as well..
Well guys'n'gals, after day 1 of working on my truck, I have the NV231 out. The front output shaft on the NV231 is quite a bit smaller than on the NV242, plus it uses a u-joint yolk rather than a flat 4 bolt flange. I have come up with a few options to solve this
1.) have a custom driveshaft made that uses a u-joint at the transfercase end. I like this idea best
2.) have a machine shop make a new flange for the stock driveshaft to bolt up to
3.) hope that the front output shafts on the 231 and 242 are the same and have a transmission shop swap them out. I don't like this idea.
I'm thinking that tomorrow, i'll probably just put the transfercase and rear driveshaft in for the weekend, and then go to the driveline shop on monday.
and now for the answer to the big question that everybody seems to have: Why?
2 reasons, actually. First off, I bought the truck as reliable winter transportation. AWD (from my experience) is way better than 4WD on ice. Second, nobody seems to have ever done this swap. The only full time 4wd, fullsize dodge pickups that i've seen are the old power wagons. Nobody ever bothered to make an AWD Ram... until now! Ultimately, some might see it as a waste of money and time and a bad idea. But I really want to see how it works out, and since i have the means to give it a try, why not?
1.) have a custom driveshaft made that uses a u-joint at the transfercase end. I like this idea best
2.) have a machine shop make a new flange for the stock driveshaft to bolt up to
3.) hope that the front output shafts on the 231 and 242 are the same and have a transmission shop swap them out. I don't like this idea.
I'm thinking that tomorrow, i'll probably just put the transfercase and rear driveshaft in for the weekend, and then go to the driveline shop on monday.
and now for the answer to the big question that everybody seems to have: Why?
2 reasons, actually. First off, I bought the truck as reliable winter transportation. AWD (from my experience) is way better than 4WD on ice. Second, nobody seems to have ever done this swap. The only full time 4wd, fullsize dodge pickups that i've seen are the old power wagons. Nobody ever bothered to make an AWD Ram... until now! Ultimately, some might see it as a waste of money and time and a bad idea. But I really want to see how it works out, and since i have the means to give it a try, why not?
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Wisconsin
Well I did some reading about the NV242 operation on other sites and it seems that it would be a worthwhile swap. It seems it has sort of an open differential (equal torque-different speed) in the case for the AWD. I would be concerned with strength though. There is probably a reason that the fullsize trucks did not come with it. Probably not a good idea to use AWD when towing.
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Registered User
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Nooksack, WA
Well I did some reading about the NV242 operation on other sites and it seems that it would be a worthwhile swap. It seems it has sort of an open differential (equal torque-different speed) in the case for the AWD. I would be concerned with strength though. There is probably a reason that the fullsize trucks did not come with it. Probably not a good idea to use AWD when towing.
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Registered User
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Nooksack, WA
and btw, the durango that the nv242 came out of is actually rated at only a few hundred pounds less towing capacity. still, i'd probably never tow in AWD unless some sort of strange circumstances dictated it.
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Registered User
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From: Nooksack, WA
Results from Day 2: I got new seals for the transmission output and the transfercase input. I also got the NV242 installed. It's A LOT heavier than the transfercase that came out, so getting it lined up and onto the back of the tranny was pretty tricky. All that's left is reconnecting the shift linkage, putting the tranny crossmember back in, and getting the rear drive shaft back in.
I do have one question, though. On the top of the transfercase that came out is a vacuum hose and a 4-prong electrical plug. What is that plug for? on the nv242, it's only a 2-prong and the threads that go into the transfercase are much smaller. Is it for the speedometer or is it something unnecessary?
I do have one question, though. On the top of the transfercase that came out is a vacuum hose and a 4-prong electrical plug. What is that plug for? on the nv242, it's only a 2-prong and the threads that go into the transfercase are much smaller. Is it for the speedometer or is it something unnecessary?
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Registered User
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Nooksack, WA
so basically the unit that tells the front axle to engage? is there a way to bypass it? The one that came from the Ram will not fit in the NV242, so I'm going to have to come up with another option here.
Last edited by jg09; Nov 20, 2010 at 06:33 AM.
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From: Clayton MI
Well, since the CAD was not present on the vehicles that used that t-case, I don't think...... and you are wanting AWD..... You can either pull the CAD (central axle disconnect, which is what that four prong vacuum switch is supposed to control) and permanently lock the front axle, or, just run a vacuum line to the 4wd side, to keep it locked when the engine is running, install a posilock..... or, hook up a manual vacuum switch.