NP 229

[Mo'Gas]

Are these t-cases worth a darn or not?
I would like to put a rear locker / front trac-loc
in my 87 GW but I don't know if the 229 case will handle it.

[Kimbrough]

These cases are getting a bad rap for being vac-actuated. I've had no probs with mine and i hear you can weld the VC to get a more reliable case.

[dnixon]

Well i just wrote a long opinion on these t/c but my computer messed up and erased it.. but what I was saying was that the 229 is supposed to be a pretty strong t/c.. but not as strong as the 208... I am planning on swapping for a 208 just because I don't like the shifter and the vaccum on my 229.. but I don't plan on doing this until i can get a deal on the 208 or I blow up my 229.. so I would say keep it til you break it...

[ November 06, 2002, 11:54 AM: Message edited by: dnixon ]

[Gladi8r]

Originally posted by Kimbrough:
These cases are getting a bad rap for being vac-actuated. I've had no probs with mine and i hear you can weld the VC to get a more reliable case.I'd like to hear more on this welding of the viscous coupler....first I'm hearing of it smile.gif

[fulsizjeep]

Never had vacumn problems with mine. The one thing I am not too crazy about in the 229 is no lock in 4hi. The VC is shuddering in 4hi at speeds over 30 mph, so I reckon the VC is about gone. So, I don't look forward to a whole lotta snow driving until I get a 208 replacement. We only have about 210k miles on it. ;) Runs great in 4lo tho. I have worked it hard for over 100k miles, so I have been happy with it.

I also have a Lockright in the back and have not noticed any problems with this combination. :D

[ November 06, 2002, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: Flint ]

[reddog]

I don't think that adding the diffs will affect the 229. It really depends on how hard you wheel it. The advantage with the 229 is that you can drive on the pavement with it. A number of people here think this is a plus for winter driving as you just leave it in 4-hi. The 208 is a stronger case but you lose the ability to drive on pavement in 4-wheel. I am one of the group that will let the 229 stay until it breaks then go with the 208 as I don't do much driving in the snow living in LA. :D

Kerry

[ November 06, 2002, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: reddog ]

[Horny Toad]

I ran an EZ-locker in the rear of mine w/229 for awhile, no problems at all. It was when I had a vac. leak and blew out my 229, I switched to a 208. Best swap I ever did! You should have no problems.

HT

[rockjeep44]

I went to a 208 but mainly because of the no vacuum and the fact that it'll lock up in 4hi as well as 4lo and you can run 2lo with it too. But, the 229 isn't a bad case. 32 spline outputs front and rear isn't anything to scoff out when you think D20s have 10 spline and D300s have 26 spline. Also, I ran my 229 for about year behind 39in tires, dana 60s, and detroit lockers front and rear and I never broke it. I finally cracked the aluminum housing but that was because of a rock and a shot mount. Anotherwords, don't worry, throw those lockers in there.
-Andrew

[RWC]

I've been very happy with mine. I scavenged an extra (along with an extra 727) from my parts rig just in case, but I'll probably end up selling both!

RWC

[shadowfax101]

Well my 229 just went out. I bought another 229 form Crazy today. How much work do you have to do to switch over to a 208...howevere I am going to stick with the 229 since I bought it, but was just wondering what would have to be done..
thanks

[Peter Matusov]

manual front hubs and (probably) longer rear driveshaft.

peter

[dnixon]

Originally posted by shadowfax101:
Well my 229 just went out. I bought another 229 form Crazy today. How much work do you have to do to switch over to a 208...howevere I am going to stick with the 229 since I bought it, but was just wondering what would have to be done..
thanksyeah for your year i believe you will have to do the hubs (if yours was a little older like mine you would have the vaccum disconnect on the axle as well) and if you get if from a manual transmission rig you will have to use different shift linkage... They are shorter so a longer rear driveshaft and other then that you should just bolt it right up... I am planning on doing it soon.......

[rockjeep44]

Yea it's an easy swap and really cleans up the underside of your Jeep. The 229 has a ton of linkages and vacuum lines and vacuum pods and all that junk and the 208 has basically nothing. A shifter and one linkage. Plus it's shorter. You won't believe how much crap you get rid of. It bolts straight up and all you need is a longer driveshaft for the rear and cut a hole in your floor for the shifter. The swap took me a couple hours at most and I did it in a gravel driveway. Ouch!
-Andrew

[rockjeep44]

Shadowfax, if you want get yourself a 208, a 12 pack of beer (make that a case), and drive here to Chattanooga and we'll do the swap in my shop. Bama can't be that far away smile.gif Later
-Andrew

[Ernzo]

Got a 229, luv it. THe VC is actually real neat, especially on ice. Some here in Denver have done the 208 swap, then switched back. I almost did a 208 swap, but declined as I did not want to screw around that much, and I got a real good 229 for 80 bux...

Anyway, on the CFSJA site, there is/was a lively discussion on this by those who had done both.

Frankly, I am a jeep dummy, I just have one and, sadly, like working on it....

I have one simple goal. Change the oil without getting ANY oil of grease on my hands or arms. Today, I was close, until the filter popped out and splashed on me. Maybe next time??

My old 229 exploded on the way back from Ouray last summer. Seems that the vacuum disconect was not completely functioning..Seems like a 208 would not have that problem.

Anyway, luck!