Swap Started Today

[red89yj]

Yeah, so while dropping the motor, transmission and tcase today, i managed to crack the housing of my np231...

anyone have one lying around with a 23-spline input shaft (to mate up to the AW4) and looking to get rid of it?


all in all, the swap is off to a decent start. ill keep posted to all those interested.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

If it's just cracked you can have the case welded if you can find someone who can weld the aluminum.

 

[Snitty]

just what bounty said... the case is not under any pressure really so it would be safe to weld it... you MIGHT be able to get away with some epoxy based or similar metal repair... but I would suggest welding

 

[red89yj]

y'all are right. ive never welded aluminum before, but i do have tons of aluminum lacrosse stick shafts that i can practice on. Between me and my brother (in the BOCES welding program, like paul jr. went to), we can make steel cringe when it hears our names, but aluminum is a whole new ball game. do i need to use shield gas for aluminum or can i get by without it?

 

[jps4jeep]

100% argon, but to weld aluminum, you need a special gun, were the wire spool is on the gun. The wire is way too soft to go through the accual welder, and hose.

 

[red89yj]

gottcha. my brother found that out for me today. im just gonna take it in and have his teacher do it. its a little caved in too, with some hairline cracks in it. ill get the cracks welded then put a 1/8" or 1/4" plate over that.

 

[jps4jeep]

What part exactly is cracked, I have a complete Slip yoke tail shaft if you want it!

 

[redrooster]

I don't believe the part about there not being any stress on the case. I mean you have several shafts mounted to the case via bearings and when you gas on it the chain will inherently tighten and try to pull the shafts together. Sounds like stress to me.
Hell try to weld it, you'll be out nothing but time. My guess is that you will be replacing it at some point though.

 

[red89yj]

All i did was but a jack under the tcase after i removed the skid. Nothing crazy happened... but before i know it, it starts pissin on the tarp like a scared pup. Internally its fine. Nothing loose, no noise and shifts fine. its just a housing problem.