Will an NV242 transfercase bolt up in place of an NV231 in a '98 Ram? I've heard they're a direct swap. I'm picking an NV242 tomorrow to replace the bad transfercase that's in the truck now because i really want the AWD capability.

 

btw, the NV242 is from a '98 Dodge Durango, which I believe has a 23 spline transmission output shaft. From the research I've done, it appears that my Ram has a 23 spline output shaft of the same diameter. It also appears that the NV231 and the NV242 are the same length. Can someone confidently confirm this?

I'll also be pulling the shift bezel with the NV242 shift pattern and all the linkages out of a Durango, too. Just not necessarily the same one that the transfercase came out of.

I understand that the NV242 isn't the best transfercase for some uses, but I bought the truck as a 4wd rig that can get me through some of the snow we have up here in NW WA. Having AWD would be a HUGE benefit to me, so I'm really excited about this project.

 

Welcome to DF.

I will move this to the 2nd gen Ram section (1994-2001), get you some answers.

 

What do you expect to gain by using "AWD" versus the 4wd that you have? Do you mean that it will automatically switch from 2x4 to 4x4? I am having trouble understanding the purpose of this.

Also most AWD systems use the computer and ABS to provide the "benefits" of AWD so will the AWD even work?

I am actually curious about this but would like to know some details about the system.

 

I would assume the transfer case from the durango being all wheel drive would have some additional wiring/sensors for the clutches that engage the system? If it were my money and time i would stick with the NV231

 

Nope, purely mechanical, no clutches. basically, a selectable locking differential between the front, and rear output shafts. Seem to have a tendency to get stuck in locked mode though, and grenaded transfer case is the usual result.

 

The ranges I found for it are 2wd-4H full time-4H part time-N-4L part time

So in the part time modes does it go in and out of 4x4 automatically?

 

Actually, they named that REALLY strangely. For the part-time modes, the transfer case is locked. 50/50 power split front to rear, so, they only want you to USE it part-time.

Seemed REALLY counter-intuitive to me too.

 

I bet the average consumer understands it much better. It did seem odd to me that 4L would be a part time mode.

I don't really see the point of getting AWD though. Jeeps target a different market then fullsize trucks and it seems they only added the AWD mode to make 4wd idiot proof. If you understand 4x4 systems you can switch back and forth with little effort and do a better job then that system will do. My parents 99 GMC suburban had a similar AWD system and it was terrible. Its not like you are getting traction control (which I also hate).

To the OP it is your choice though and you can do what you want but I just don't see the benefit. Besides it seems that the NV242 has a tendency to fail.

 

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?