zj 249 problems & mods in the works

[phi564]

i've been have'n some problems with my 249 t-case for a month or so now. but a year ago i bought a 231 with good intentions of swaping the two. well now is the time. the 249 finally went out. i cant hardly get it to stay in gear. i've adjusted the linkage and done everything i could think of. i've finally had enough. since my bro is in the marines and has no use for his car i will be borrowing it so i wont be out a ride during the zj's down time.

so here are my up in comeing mods to the zj:
1) 231 w/ novak shifter kit (http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/kit_sk2x.htm)

t-case should be in within the next two weeks......hopefully.

2) if everything goes well, i will be the new proud owner of a d30 w/ 4.56 gears, detroit tru-trac locker and a ford 8.8 w/ 4.56 gears, full detroit c-clip locker both axles ready to bolt in.

these will hopefully be in by mid to late april

anywho big plans, hopefully things will go as planned.

take it easy,
chris

[Don]

Chris: Where did you find these axles? Esp. the 8.8.. is it a Mustang, or Explorer diff? Are you having to weld new brackets to the 8.8? Please take lots of photos and do a write up on this axle swap when completed as I want to replace my D35 with a Ford 8.8 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[mawardjr]

Did you try shifting the case from under the Jeep? If so, would it stay in gear or pop out?

Either way, I think you'll like that 231 better than the 249 any day of the week.

[Marlon_JBT]

What problems are you Grand people having with the 249?

<-- 231 person. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[phi564]

don - i found these axles from someone who already had them underneath a zj. so i dont have to do any of the fab work. if you go to mallcrawlin.com under FAQ there is a thread on an 8.8 swap, pirate4x4 & nagca both have info on 8.8 swaps. i wish i was doing the swap myself, i usually try to do everything i can my self but at this point, the lack of garage, welding skills (even though i am working on them by taking a welding class at my univ), time, and other things, make it difficult. these just seemed like a good solution. definately next time i will be doing my own work.

mike - yes i've pretty much tried it all. i even disconected the shifter linkage from the case, think'n the shifter was cause'n the case to pop out of gear and it still poped out. i'm open to other suggestions but whats the point in waste'n effort on a 249. i've been need'n to do this swap now i just have the reason.

marlon - 249's suck! not strong, viscous coupling, no 2 hi, um........i could probably think of some more but thats probably enough to sum it up.

i still haven't finished up my sliders, they are on but, some finish stuff needs to get done. why do things like school and work have to get in the way of my jeep? hahaha

take it easy,
chris

[phi564]

finally some progress.

last night i got the 231 underneath the zj and got it move'n. still need to adjust the linkage, had some problems shift'n around, but other than that everything feels good.

[Don]

Chris: Thanks for the information. I'll check it out. However, my furnance and AC just took a dive and has to be replaced, so there goes my 8.8 money /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/furious.gif

My Daughter's BF is going thru school to be a certifided welder. If I had the $$$, I would do same as I have always wanted to know how to weld.