YAYEEE ME TOO, I got the VC blues

[bryanbrutherford]

so i knew this was coming, but it was devistating to hear someone finally say it, time to replace the transfer case.

995 plus 150 labor to replace with a non vc transfer case
1195 plus 150 labor to replace with the same system

both with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty

can't find anybody near by to actually replace just the vc for a price substantially lower than the above quotes.

And screw the dealership they want like 10 billion spacebucks

plus just to rub it in they told me i needed a new cat, which i already knew and ordered.

so anybody with experience (i know there are a lot of you) should i save 200 hundred bucks and go with the primitive no vc, or just anty up and pay my jeep dues?

[JDPascal]

what I would consider is who drives it and how well they get along with vehicles and mechanical devices.

I do the service on my jeep with the 249 but my wife drives it the most, especially in the winter.

She doesn't need the extra hastle of shifting in and out of 4wd and deciding when to do it.

On mine then, I would keep the 249 but make sure that the vc is the upgraded (post 96) one - which it probably will be.

The newer design of VC is supposed to be more dependable. and how long did the first one last???
and how long do you plan to keep it???

if there are no other problems besides the VC, just replace it without pulling the transfer case. There are websites that explain and provide pictures of how to do it. That would save you even more.

That, of course, doesn't address the warrenty part of the question though.

Can't decide for you, just some things to consider.

Which ever one you choose, I would use a synthetic ATF as it will reduce the operating temp especially in the VC case - also extend chain life too.

JD

[bryanbrutherford]

Well the car is all me, my girlfriend is currently looking at new cars for herself as her altima decided that it needed a new transmission the same time my jeep decided to kick me in the nuts.

I do the basic service myself, but i am a designer/engineer, not a mechanic and i don't have a garage, and my driveway is not conducive to extensive projects so the more intense stuff will ultimately end up in a shop due to my lack of space, time, experience, and friends in the area.

I bought the car with 70k on it last november and hadn't intended on keeping it "forever" but i have really grown to enjoy it and could see keeping this thing for quite a while, considering that i intend to buy an old citroen 2cv at some point it would be nice to keep this thing around for when i might actually need a "real" car and not a glorified lawn mower that will rust at the mere mention of salt. Physically it is in beautiful shape and aside from a rusty exhaust which i decided to replace last week it has no problems.

So i just made the call and decided to go with a newer rebuilt 249, which their supplier has in stock, which is awesome because i need the car for a long trip tomorrow night.

thanks a lot,
i appreciate your comments

[artrageous]

Originally Posted by bryanbrutherford

so i knew this was coming, but it was devistating to hear someone finally say it, time to replace the transfer case.

995 plus 150 labor to replace with a non vc transfer case
1195 plus 150 labor to replace with the same system

both with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty

can't find anybody near by to actually replace just the vc for a price substantially lower than the above quotes.

And screw the dealership they want like 10 billion spacebucks

plus just to rub it in they told me i needed a new cat, which i already knew and ordered.

so anybody with experience (i know there are a lot of you) should i save 200 hundred bucks and go with the primitive no vc, or just anty up and pay my jeep dues?

Isn't this fun? (NOT!!)

Where did you call to get the prices for the transfer case? I called Rockland (which was recommended here) and got a better quote.

Ditto what you said about dealerships. And I also need a new cat.

And re: your girlfriend's transmission? We've got similar stuff going on--my son's car (Honda) is awaiting a new transmission, though it's still driveable. (Parts are ordered, shop has been alerted.) Last night he said it was over-heating and this morning there's a huge puddle underneath it--apparently the radiator is shot. The alternator is quirky, too.

I believe that you and your girlfriend and my son and I are all co-inhabitants of CAR HELL!!!

[artrageous]

Originally Posted by bryanbrutherford

plus just to rub it in they told me i needed a new cat, which i already knew and ordered.

Where'd you order your cat? What was the cost? The dealership said it would be $640. I KNOW I can do better than that!!

[bryanbrutherford]

I was pointed to the catco cats on ebay by our own MSRJEEP

for the 93 gc the catco universal go for between $30 and $50 and the original fit replacements go for around $100 from my uninformed point of view the difference seems to be that the universal has the same short 2.25" ID inlet and outlet tube and the more expensive version matches the original sizes i.e. one longer and slightly larger in diameter than the other.

the quote was from an aamco because no one else around here (northern NJ) wants to touch it for much less than the dealer wanted, there was a one car small local shop that said they could do it but not for like two weeks so didn't even get a quote.

[YtseJam454]

Hey people, if you're planning on a TC swap you can often find a whole jeep for cheaper than those prices and just yank the TC from the donor. I just bought a 91 cherokee with an NP242 for $200. Many other good spare parts then I'm junking it. Just another thought rather than buying a used resealed krylon one for a Gnote. Also I've posted it on here b4 the VC for $425 and it's easy to put in.

Anyone else ever notice the cat sits right next to the VC? I think that's what's been killing them. The stay so hot it's unbelievable. If you feel the TC near the VC and then on the other side it's an incredible difference.

[BillD]

That's a good point Jam, I about ready to go out to the garage to do my VC swap. (I think I'll have spent more time getting the access cover screws off that it'll take to do the job). I wonder if fabbing a heat shield between the cat and the TC would help?

BD

[bryanbrutherford]

i just picked mine up and i had to do a 47 point turn in the tiny parking lot to get out and at every turn i anticipated the bumpies but they weren't there it was a beautiful thing.

[BillD]

Bryan: What work and or parts did they do to it?
I just got back from a test drive after changing the VCoupler. Now I only get a very feint whine when I pull a sharp turn. A big improvement over what I had. I'll really warm it up tomorrow and see how she acts. Woo Hoo!

BD

[bryanbrutherford]

I had the whole transfer case replaced with a rebuilt 249

[artrageous]

Originally Posted by bryanbrutherford

I had the whole transfer case replaced with a rebuilt 249

Did the rebuilt come with any type of warranty? Glad to hear it's working!

(oops--just reread your first post!)