Is it 229? You decide . . .

[ExpandingMan]

'83 Jeep Cherokee purchased years ago. Never could figure out 4wd, so I started saving. Bought jackstands, vacuum pump, factory manual ('82 + important '83 addendum), etc., took the weekend off, jacked her up and learned the following:
-could lock the front end to the xcase output shaft with vacuum applied.
-couldn't find the shift motor on the xcase ANYWHERE, even after removing the access cover on the floorboard.
-vacuum lines (x3) terminated above the xcase with one ('green' from dash) plugged into another, and the 3rd left free.
-after accidentally pulling up the range lever (HI-N-LO) a little bit off the floor during carpet removal, I actually engaged the xcase..."HOORAY". (Goes into iffy Neutral and also LO!)
-Therefore, with a manual vacuum to the axle, and a slight tug on the range lever (in that order), I watched my Steely beaut engage 4wd. "HOORAY again!" I even put resistance to each spinning wheel to watch to power shift to the other.

Now, the problem is that the range lever won't go far enough into the floor. As I drive forward 2wd and let off the gas, the xcase begins to rachet and pulls the lever up a bit until the output shaft begins to spin (still disengaged from the front diff, tho). Now that she's tasted 4wd, she's not happy unless the xcase is engaged. I cannot adjust the range selection towards the floor because on the xcase, it won't go any farther.

Possible problem: The knucklehead before me replaced a factory 229 with something else (208, 228?) and rigged the vacuum lines to only control front end engagement. Is there a xcase with shift pattern (2wd-4wdHI-N-4wdLO)? I will be going to J&J's 4wd in Chattanooga to see what they say.

This forum is excellent and has been very helpful. I have learned much from responses to similar queries.

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ExpandingMan:
'83 Jeep Cherokee purchased years ago.
Is there a xcase with shift pattern (2wd-4wdHI-N-4wdLO)? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If that pattern is from front to rear it's the pattern of a NP208 part-time x-case used in a manual tranny FSJ. The 208's w/AT is opposite that but also used a separate H/L range lever where as the manual tranny 208's just used one lever for 2WD/4WD and H/L.

[Kimbrough]

Just swapped 229s last week so let's see if I can help...
"-vacuum lines (x3) terminated above the xcase with one ('green' from dash) plugged into another, and the 3rd left free." - wow. sounds like NP229 lines - one vac would've gone to the front of the vac motor, the other to the rear and one empty. Dunno, sounds like you had a 229 with a vac disconnect front axle. Pretty cool.
You can adjust the flag shfter to be closer to the floor by tightening the threaded linkage on the side of the t-case.

[Snakeyes_Tx]

Its the linkage of the "Flag shifter" A couple clips, and you can take the whole thing out to adjust its length. I think its supposed to be 5.9 inches according to my Chilton.

[ExpandingMan]

Yeah! Turns out it was a 208 for sure. I was so bummed, thinking it would never shift fully into 2wd. I had called the shop, and they were going to send a wrecker. After waiting a couple of hours, I got up the nerve to try my last ditch effort. The shift lever innards were attached to a teardrop shaped piece that rotated the square bolt coming out of the 208. Since the square hole on the teardrop was offset about 10 degrees, I simply flipped it around, reattached, and gained an extra 20 degrees rotation. Now the shifter rests about 2 inches off the floor, and she stays in 2wd no prob. The vacuum switch operates hubs only, the lever engages 4wd Hi & Lo. About an hour after I was done, the shop called to get directions to the Jeep, and I said:

"NO THANKS! I FIGURED IT OUT MYSELF!!!"

What would have been a very expensive house call (and they probably would have tried to sell me a new/remanuf. case $500-1000) was fixed with rig-of-the-rig-job for free.

Thanks everyone for your help. As payback, I have a factory manual for 1982 (w/1983 supplement) models. (This would have answered my question if I had known it was a NP208). If there's something you need me to look up, just email.

Jeep On!!!

[reddog]

Good deal ya got it figured out and working. I for one am jealous!! Wish I had the 208 instead of the 229!!

Kerry

[ExpandingMan]

That's what others say, Reddog. I'm going to post a new topic "NP208 vs 229", because I'm unclear on the difference.