89 4x4 Comanche 4.0L Transfer Case?

[jrisner]

Hey everyone,

 

I’ve never had a Comanche but have always loved the look of them and I’m jeep guy in general. I have a few questions I’m hoping you all can help with. 
 

1st question:

If I buy this one is it a terrible deal? They’re asking 1,500 hundred. It has a bad transfer case, some body rust on the rockers but frame looks fine, tailgate dent and 175,000 miles. I’m not concerned about cosmetics really. 

 

2nd question: 

Do any of you know generically transfer case cost, availability or cost for mechanic work to do it?

 

3rd:

Are the parts interchangeable with xj’s from same years and engine size?

 

Thanks!

[Liketosmash]

Parts interchange with the XJ Cherokees so it should not be hard to find a transfer case.  The current one likely could be rebuilt too.    Typically you will have a NP 231 which is a very common transfer case.

 

These tend to have a lot of rust on the rockers and the floor pans so I would look closely at those areas.  Also be aware that there are several parts like the taillights that are no longer manufactured so they require some searching and can demand a premium. 

 

As for the price, hard to say without seeing it.  The state of the engine and the transmission would be big questions for me if you are not too concerned with the aesthetics. 

 

 

 

[thecodemonk]

If it were up here in WA, $1500 is a fair price for something like that, assuming it runs and drives otherwise.  Just know you're getting into a project and there's likely more wrong with it than you think.

- t-case replacement is easy.  Some bolts, some bloody knuckles, and a lot of grunting.  Any XJ t-case matted to a transmission of the same spline count as you have should bolt right up.  Bleepinjeep youtube has some good videos for pulling, installing, and even rebuilding a t-case that should steer you in the right direction and were useful for me and a NP231 t-case rebuild is about as easy as it gets for rebuilding anything on a vehicle.

- If there's body rust, I'm guessing there's floor rust...expect to replace/repair the floor pans.  

 

Almost everything from the back of the doors forward is interchangeable with XJs with only a few caveats.  B-pillar to the back is all unique though.