208 T-case for an Eagle.

[Whuntmore]

El Matador and I ran into a long member of the AMCA, and he used to have a few eagles.

We got talking about T-cases, and he said a really good T-case for the eagle was the 208.  Now he did say I'd have to lengthen/shorten the drive shafts, but other wise a good swap/upgrade case.

I Have an '86 eagle with the infamous 128.  

I also had a '84 eagle NP129 case, which is probably gonna get rebuilt and put in my '86, but another member who lives close to me has a 208 case he's gonna chuck.  I told him I want it.

Now, besides both drive shafts having to be lengthened/shortened, and a hole in the floor for the shifter, is this a good idea, or a bad idea?  Probably no VC couplier...

any input?

I just thought I'd ask, but I'm probably gonna have the NP129 case rebuilt and put on if a 208 is more trouble then it's worth.  Plus, I'm not gonna do a lot of off-road.  mostly light trail, and snow driving.

[eaglefreek]

In my opinion it's not a good choice. It's a part time case unlike the factory Eagle's full time case. Couple that with the extra work required for the driveshafts and it doesn't make a whole lot of sense when a NP229 will go in with less work. For light trails the 129 will be fine. A low range will only be needed in extreme circumstances but would be nice to have just in case.

[Whuntmore]

So besides the 129 that I'm leaning towards anyways, a 229 is one of the best swap-overs for the eagle?   

it's not one of those big TC cases from an old wagoneer, (a full-sized jeep), Or am I mis-understanding what a FSJ is?

How hard are they to find, or are they next to impossible to find? 

Don't you have to change over the speedo cable?

[eaglefreek]

Yes they are from a FSJ, full size Jeep. The case size is identical to the 119/128/129. Yes you will have to do something so that the speedo cable doesn't hit the floor. You don't have to change the cable but have to reclock the tail shaft of the transfer case. Shouldn't be too difficult to find, they made tons of Grand Wagoneers. Another option is a NP242 but not sure what it would take to install one.

[mudkicker715]

As a guy that has done a 229 swap. No driveshaft mods are needed. Reclock the output housing and your cable should be fine

Also did the 242 to another. Never hooked a speedo to that

[Whuntmore]

Ok, I know this is gonna become information overload for me, and I've read several posts here (other places) on the subject, but there's still the fact of theory over hands on experience.

besides the 129:

What Transfer case is the best fit, least modding, or the least troublesome mods? 

I would consider taking a driveshaft into a pro shop to be altered less troublesome then Me going around and trying to find an odd cable to fit...

or converting this-or-that to fit in with this-or-that.
Or having to alter the bell housing,
or having to change over mounts and start welding new points,
or having to run new bunch of cables,
or modding or buying some kind of electronic conversion and tie it into the existing harness.

know what I mean?  I don't mean these exact things literally,  I mean to give examples on what I would consider not worth it.

I've been considering this since I got Flicker, but I really have no idea how much trouble over benefit it is.

I'm just hoping to pick a few brains here...

[mudkicker715]

As I said 229 is a perfect fit.minus the clocking. 242 takes a new rear shaft.

[Whuntmore]

As I said 229 is a perfect fit.minus the clocking. 242 takes a new rear shaft.

@Regal Wizard, thanks for that.  I knew you were gonna say that about the needing a low range   

@ mudkicker:  what do you mean (or point me to a topic) about re-clocking the output housing.  Does that mean you have to bolt it on at a slightly different angle? 

So I should keep my eye out for a 229 then.

[mudkicker715]

The very end of the case can the part the speedo screws into can be reclocked.

[eaglefreek]

I'm on my phone now. If I get home early enough, I'll pull my 128 and extra 229 and take some pics to explain. It takes some tapping and possibly drilling to reclock it.
 

[mudkicker715]

I'm on my phone now. If I get home early enough, I'll pull my 128 and extra 229 and take some pics to explain. It takes some tapping and possibly drilling to reclock it.
 

Pics please. Cannot see why? Mine is currently not reclocked. I need to sdo somthing when I get my clutch kit (its starting to chatter), but I just looked I don't see why all the extra work.

I gave surgery to the car it once was in to fit a speedo. That car now has a 242 and the 229 is now where the 242 was. Can't make up my mind I know. Hard to explain.

[Mechanic]

Alright,

When mudkicker715 means re-clock the t-case. He means splitting the case in half by removing those bolts around the middle of the case. Once you've done that, you have two options. One, you can carefully drill a new hole for the speedo cable, or you can swap on the old back end (tail end)from an NP128 or NP129. The cases exterior is almost identical except for that small issue with the speedo. The 229 is really just a 129 with a low range .

The other good part about the 229 is that it is a full time case, meaning that you could stick it in 4x4 and leave it there all year long if you felt like it. It's got a viscous coupling in the high range 4x4 just like the 129

The 208, as i've been reading here is a part time case. Meaning it has no viscous coupling in high range 4x4, so it can only be put in 4 hi if it's on slightly slippery ground, and they usually have a top speed of 80 kilometers. Not necessarily a bad thing, you just have to switch between 2wd and 4wd during the winter as you need it, like my 4runner.

Everything make sense now?

[ronnieonnie2000]

wut is worng with the 128?

[ronnieonnie2000]

my 86 has the 128 in it and it works good? it has just 98.345 miles on it

[Mechanic]

Nothing is wrong per say with the 128. But, simply put. 129 has a viscous coupling in it, which allows for slippage between the front wheels and the rear wheels, but locks up (i know, for explanation sake)when traction is required at all 4 wheels.

The 128 does not have a viscous coupling to limit and lock up the tires when traction is required. So, plainly put, if you were to jack up the front of an eagle with a 129 transfer case got in the car and stepped on the gas in 4x4, it would drive foreword off the jack. If you were to do the same thing to an eagle with a 128 it would just stay there spinning the front wheels.

128 is a fine t-case if you only spend time on the road.