1981 Jeep Wagoneer Front Drive Shaft Removed

[sissabagama]

My front drive shaft needs repairs/replacement, so I had it removed. Worked fine for about a mile , but then I had no power. Seems like it is in neutral now. Moving the 4H/4L lever it seems like gears start to grind slightly but will not engage. There was only a slight whirring sound before losing power, no bangs or pops.
Can this thing work with the front drive shaft removed? How can I get it back in "gear"?

[will e]

Hey, do you know what transfer case you have? What are the options on the floor shifter? And welcome to the board!

If you have a 'full time' transfer case it's not going to like no having a front drive shaft.

[Stuka]

We need to know what model Jeep you have, and what t-case you have.

The transfer case should have a round tag on the back which will say something like 208AM or 219AM.

If it says 219, this is unfortunately a full-time case, and driving it without a front drive shaft can destroy the viscous coupler inside it.

[sissabagama]

4H/4L only, QT

[Stuka]

Ah, ok. If the Jeep says quadra-trac on it, and its an 81, that means it has an NP219. These cannot be used with only one drive shaft, or the viscous coupler will destroy itself.

Sadly, it means pulling out the transfer case and doing at least a partial rebuild to replace it. The other option is to replace it with a different model, such as an NP229, but there is some work that has to be done there for the shifter.

[sissabagama]

Bummer. Thanks so much for the info.
Is that part hard/expensive to fix?

[candymancan]

The part isnt made anymore and its sealed. Sucks you learned the hardway without asking us first. All full time transfercases with viscous couplers will blow themselves up if you drive with no driveshaft or if you have odd shaped tires itll burn it out.

The 229 is an odd beast it has a viscous coupler but its a select tract so it can go to 2 and 4wd.. 2wd disingages the viscous coupler.

So youll need to find another 219 or find a used viscous coupler thats working and thatll be hard to find. Itll be expensive unless you get lucky and find another 219 case for 100-200$.

Stuka will a coupler from a 229 work in a 219 ?

[Stuka]

Stuka will a coupler from a 229 work in a 219 ?

The part number is different, but that doesn't mean they won't swap. I have never had them side by side to check.

[SJTD]

Isn't there a 4-lock so he can drive in the meantime? Without the front shaft, of course.

[Stuka]

Isn't there a 4-lock so he can drive in the meantime? Without the front shaft, of course.

Only in low range. It does not have a high range lock.

[fulsizjeep]

The VC is probably shot now. The NP219 does have separate 4Hi and 4Hi Lock features. It should show on the flag shifter handle unless it is worn off.

[Stuka]

The VC is probably shot now. The NP219 does have separate 4Hi and 4Hi Lock features. It should show on the flag shifter handle unless it is worn off.

Guess I am thinking of the 229 not having the 4-hi lock. I had thought the 219 was the same, but the shifter clearly states otherwise

[will e]

He does have the option of swapping in a 208. Might require some changes in the drive shaft lengths and preferably a swap of the front hubs to manual.

[sissabagama]

Yes, that is what my lever shows. Thought it was in 4H lk.
Could some linkage be messed up? Or is it probably just shot?

[Stuka]

Yes, that is what my lever shows. Thought it was in 4H lk.
Could some linkage be messed up? Or is it probably just shot?

Very possible the linkage is worn out and its not going far enough to get into 4-Hi Lock.

Its possible you had it in 4 Hi Lock, and it popped out into regular 4 Hi, and thats the sound that you heard.

[sissabagama]

Also, it is in park, but rolls freely

[Stuka]

Sounds like the t-case is in neutral, or stuck between gears.

[sissabagama]

So, maybe it just popped out of gear. perhaps that is best case.
Put the driveshaft back it, get it in gear is what I'm thinking.
See if it works.
Fix driveshaft.

Or just buy a running/working '79 for $500 and park this one... ?

[candymancan]

The VC is probably shot now. The NP219 does have separate 4Hi and 4Hi Lock features. It should show on the flag shifter handle unless it is worn off.

Guess I am thinking of the 229 not having the 4-hi lock. I had thought the 219 was the same, but the shifter clearly states otherwise

Onlyl transfercase with a 4 high lock i know of is the later year 249s in the Grand Cherokees. The 97-98s all had a 4hi lock and 4 low lock. The earlier 93-96 didnt only 4 low lock.. but thats only what i know

[threepiece]

I have a transfer case that may fit your Wagoneer here in the Detroit area. You can have it for free if you want to pick it up.