[loganlexow]

This is making me antsy to install my 233. I have been doing a bunch of work on the van, and was going to install it while I had it all apart, but other problems kept creeping up so I put it off for now. Plus, I have spent all my money on maintenance and can't afford the Journey's kit right now. Ugh

 

[Leeann_93]

Winnie - I'd love to take credit for that, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't me. At least, I don't remember ever saying that :lol:

I do have a Jeep Liberty with an NP-231J transfer case and the pictured shifter and cable and I just replaced the transfer case bushing/snappy thing not that long ago, but I don't recall saying that about our vans.

This is how it's mounted in the Jeep:

 

[WinnieVan]

Why not the Jeep KJ lever? That's installed flat, not on an angle.

I'm not familiar with the KJ. I've owned an XJ and a YJ. I'm going to stick with what I have for now. It's functional and will look alright when I'm done, it's just more work than it's worth.

Oh but you did!! It's a good tip. I think the transfer case side bracket is going to be a hang-up though. I'm still waiting on my 231c to come in, so I'll fiddle when I get it.

If the Jeep bracket can mount to the 231C, it'll be plug-n-play, otherwise, it might be a total PITA.

 

[Leeann_93]

I stand corrected

I don't remember that at all, though.

 

[WinnieVan]

The basis for this swap is the transfer case from 95-97 S-10s and Blazers with manual shifted 4x4.

Hey Gavio -- do you remember what year your TC came off of? It seems there is a slight difference between the 95 and 96-97 versions of the TCs... one has a "flat input shaft seal" and one has a "raised input shaft seal"... I suppose the differences can be seen in these pictures:

1995:

1996:

Looks like the 233 that journey's swaps in has a "raised input shaft seal" and by the looks of it your TC had the "flat input shaft seal"... so it appears either type of TC should work, but I just wanted to flag this in case it matters and someone else has more information about why this does (or doesn't) matter.

Here's the 233 from Journey:

And here's the input shaft from the NP136:

And a nice shot of the rear of the transmission from journey's:

Frankly -- my guess is that if the "raised input shaft seal" works then the "flat input shaft seal" should work too -- but probably not the other way around.

In fact, based on your pictures, it looks like you got one of a '95 -- so my guess is both styles work just fine.

 

[Mmusicman]

I don't see the different input shaft seals making any difference.
Nothing touches the outside side of the shaft.

...can't afford the Journey's kit right now. Ugh

Neither could I.. that's one reason I made my own.
Shifter cable cost about $50... shifter lever cost me about $10 (parts from Home Depot)
I also bought a JY Liberty shifter for $20 which I wound up not using... didn't want to lose floor space.

I've seen a lot of home-brew variations.. all which work.

 

[WinnieVan]

:thumbup:

Thanks 3M. I was thinking that must be the case, but who knows!

 

[gavio]

Hey Gavio -- do you remember what year your TC came off of? It seems there is a slight difference between the 95 and 96-97 versions of the TCs... one has a "flat input shaft seal" and one has a "raised input shaft seal"...

Interesting, I'd never even noticed it...... Yeah, mine obviously has the flat one as seen in the picture, but I'd not paid attention to it, and it definitely didn't make any difference in installation that I could tell..... Except one, which is that the flat seal plate is held in with flat head screws that use a ridiculously large allen bit, while it appears the raised seal just uses bolts..... Because of that allen bit issue (not having one in the location where I was working) I gave up on replacing that front seal, but it hasn't given me any trouble.....

I don't remember what year my case came off of, though.....

 

[WinnieVan]

Musta been the '95 is my guess as it appears the 96-97 use the raised seal.

Finally scored my 231C.. it's coming off a '95 w/ 98K that got sent to the crusher for body damage. It's good to know it'll work! Now I just need to decide if I want to use the blazer shifter or the Jeep KJ (Liberty) shifter. Decisions, decisions.

 

[zGerman]

Awesome work! I just sourced the needed parts to duplicate your install. I will skip the lighted panel but otherwise follow the path you worked out. Thank you!

 

[gavio]

You're welcome..... I look forward to seeing your install....

 

[markmitch]

This site sells shifter boots:

https://www.americanshifter.com/catalog ... fter-boots