What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

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rlrobinhood
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What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by rlrobinhood »

Hi all,

I'm gathering parts for a 5.3 swap. I bought a complete 2003 Avalanche with a 5.3, 4L60E, and NP246 transfercase. The rig will be my wife's daily driver with only mild 4x4 trail use on occasion. Would you ditch the NP246 for something else? What would you go with?

Thanks!
1985 Grand Wagoneer, 360 and automatic transmission, currently stock and a work in progress

1969 Ford Bronco, 5.0, NV4500, Atlas, D44 and Ford 9, 3.5" suspension, 2" body
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XJChad
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by XJChad »

Np241 is basically the manual shift version of the np246. They are easy to find, fairly cheap, easy and cheap to rebuild if needed, and are pretty decent strength wise.
This is what I used in my swap and several others have used as well. One thing to watch for is the spline count on the main shaft. One has 27 splines, another version of the np241 has 32 splines. If it came from behind a 4L60e then it will be a 27 spline. If it came from behind a 4L80e or a manual 5 speed trans it will be a 32 spline.
1989 Grand Wagoneer, 4" Rusty's Lift, LS 5.3L swap (in progress), 4L60e, NP241c.
1991 Grand Wagoneer, all stock, a work in progress, for sale soon.
1982 Cherokee Laredo, 360ci, aluminum intake, Edelbrock carb, HEI, w/32x11.50x15, warn 8000, Dana 44/AMC 20
2001 Cherokee Sport, Old Man Emu lift (worn out), front/rear C4x4 bumpers, Smittybuilt 10,000 winch, 31x10.50x15, Edge Tuner kit w/throttle body & AFE cold air, Gibson exhaust-my daily driver until the '89 is finished.
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derf
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by derf »

XJChad wrote:Np241 is basically the manual shift version of the np246. They are easy to find, fairly cheap, easy and cheap to rebuild if needed, and are pretty decent strength wise.
This is what I used in my swap and several others have used as well. One thing to watch for is the spline count on the main shaft. One has 27 splines, another version of the np241 has 32 splines. If it came from behind a 4L60e then it will be a 27 spline. If it came from behind a 4L80e or a manual 5 speed trans it will be a 32 spline.
Don't forget the bolt pattern. Each manufacturer clocks the NP2xx differently.

It's cheapest and easiest to stick with a Chevy/GMC transfer case that came out of a 1/2 ton pickup or SUV. Going to a different brand truck, you're going to have to deal with adapters.

I would personally not use the 246 because it's used in conjunction with a computer that applies torque biasing based on constant monitoring of the wheel speeds. Sure, you can make it work but there's a lot involved.

The 241 manual shift would be my first choice. The 243 is like the 241 but it has an electric shift motor that is far less complicated than the 246.

The 241 would be most commonly found in base model pickup trucks and less likely to be found as the trim level goes up.
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Jeff from Iowa
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by Jeff from Iowa »

90 Fsj. 5.3, 4l65,241. 4" lift, Custom valved Bilstien 5125 Shocks, Dakota Digital Dash, Bjs Radiator, Bjs aluminum tank,Viper remote start, power door locks, one touch rear window. Ac, Cruise, tow haul all work as they should. Fully restored oem wheels.

Topic author
rlrobinhood
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by rlrobinhood »

Thanks all for the info. It does seem the 241-c is the most common/favored.
1985 Grand Wagoneer, 360 and automatic transmission, currently stock and a work in progress

1969 Ford Bronco, 5.0, NV4500, Atlas, D44 and Ford 9, 3.5" suspension, 2" body

Topic author
rlrobinhood
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:27 am
Location: Montana

Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by rlrobinhood »

in researching the NP246, I came across this article. This says the 246 isn't even a viable transfercase with solid axles. What do you guys think?

http://www.performancetrucks.net/forums ... ap-456553/
1985 Grand Wagoneer, 360 and automatic transmission, currently stock and a work in progress

1969 Ford Bronco, 5.0, NV4500, Atlas, D44 and Ford 9, 3.5" suspension, 2" body
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XJChad
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Re: RE: Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by XJChad »

rlrobinhood wrote:in researching the NP246, I came across this article. This says the 246 isn't even a viable transfercase with solid axles. What do you guys think?

http://www.performancetrucks&#4 ... ap-456553/
I wouldn't use the 246. Ive had Chevy trucks with that tcase. They are great for winter driving in snow and ice, but when you get stuck and need the power to all wheels it will crap out on you and leave you stuck. (As mentioned above).
My LS swap donor came with a 246. I sold it on craigs for $300. Then I bought two 241c tcases and a rebuild kit and had money leftover.
1989 Grand Wagoneer, 4" Rusty's Lift, LS 5.3L swap (in progress), 4L60e, NP241c.
1991 Grand Wagoneer, all stock, a work in progress, for sale soon.
1982 Cherokee Laredo, 360ci, aluminum intake, Edelbrock carb, HEI, w/32x11.50x15, warn 8000, Dana 44/AMC 20
2001 Cherokee Sport, Old Man Emu lift (worn out), front/rear C4x4 bumpers, Smittybuilt 10,000 winch, 31x10.50x15, Edge Tuner kit w/throttle body & AFE cold air, Gibson exhaust-my daily driver until the '89 is finished.
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MadMax78
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by MadMax78 »

Atlas! For you when you drive it. [THUMBS UP SIGN][FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]


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78 Cherokee S, Wide Track, 360, TH400, Quadra Trac, TAD's SOA, 35" BFG KM2, Edelbrock Carb & Intake, MSD Coil & Ignition
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Jeff from Iowa
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by Jeff from Iowa »

Atlas isn't a good case for a driver. It has to be moving to get into gear. So if your stuck you cant switch to 4x4, its too late. That's the nice thing about oem type transfer cases.
90 Fsj. 5.3, 4l65,241. 4" lift, Custom valved Bilstien 5125 Shocks, Dakota Digital Dash, Bjs Radiator, Bjs aluminum tank,Viper remote start, power door locks, one touch rear window. Ac, Cruise, tow haul all work as they should. Fully restored oem wheels.

miltos68wgoneer
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by miltos68wgoneer »

I ran a 241c.
68 WAGONEER / 5.3l, DIY ported heads, long tube headers, lingenfelter cam, griffin rad, trans cooler, E fan /4l70e, front discs,2003 grand cherokee seats front and rear, super wagoneer center console,hydroboost.
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Transman4
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by Transman4 »

Iv had good luck with a np208c on my chief had to swap the rear to a chevy 10 bolt rearend
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COLORADOCRAWLER
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by COLORADOCRAWLER »

I ran a NP241C. They are plentiful and cheap at the savage yards. Make sure and take all of the shifter parts too. You just have to cut a new hole in the floor to make it fit but it looks like it belongs there.
-Rick
87' GW 5.3/4l60E/NP241C, Dakota Digital dash, high steer, 31's, still needs a bigfoot gas pedal to tie it all together.
90' YJ 3 link coils front, 4 link double triangulated coils rear, D44s, ARBs, 4.56, 35's

GaJeep94YJ
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by GaJeep94YJ »

I had a Dana 300. Wouldn't recommend it, adapter makes it too close to the transmission oil pan

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Mavitr
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by Mavitr »

sorry for bumping...but thanks for this thread!
Last edited by Mavitr on Thu Feb 06, 2020 1:17 am, edited 2 times in total.

2500HD
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by 2500HD »

rlrobinhood wrote:Hi all,

I'm gathering parts for a 5.3 swap. I bought a complete 2003 Avalanche with a 5.3, 4L60E, and NP246 transfercase. The rig will be my wife's daily driver with only mild 4x4 trail use on occasion. Would you ditch the NP246 for something else? What would you go with?

Thanks!
Did you get the push button switch and tccm?
I pulled those from my donor and plan to use the 246 that came with it. as long as you don't use the automatic 4wd function it should act as a normal push button fwd. The weak point is the encoder motor which could potentially die at any point. I'll run mine until it does and then decide what to switch to.
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tgreese
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Re: What's the best transfercase behind a 5.3 and 4L60E

Post by tgreese »

Original post is from 2014, and the poster has not visited since 2016. Unlikely you will get a response.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
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Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
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