Swap BorgWarner transfercase

FROM AWD'S TO 2-SPEED MANUAL SHIFT, IF IT LINKS THE REAR AXLE TO THE FRONT AXLE, POST IT HERE.

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

Hello
I want to swap my BorgWarner transfercase in my 95er Astro with a two speed from a Chevy Blazer. I have read a lot of treats here but I still not sure, which transfercase I need for a bolt on swap.
Can some one from the experts out there please tell me what is the best transfercase for my mod?

The BorgWarner transfercase has a flange with four bolts on the front output.
What doner car should I organize Blazer? Year?

Thank you for your help

Daniel
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather
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Drummernaut
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Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by Drummernaut »

http://www.manualtransmissionpart.com/T ... Model.html

Scroll down to the Chevrolet section.

photo_van
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Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by photo_van »

I'm pretty confident you will not find a "direct bolt up" to replace the borg warner. You will need to at a minimum have a front drive shaft built. There are no NP transfer cases with the flange that will bolt to your driveshaft.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
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doyoulikeithere
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Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by doyoulikeithere »

bluesea wrote:Hello
I want to swap my BorgWarner transfercase in my 95er Astro with a two speed from a Chevy Blazer. I have read a lot of treats here but I still not sure, which transfercase I need for a bolt on swap.
Can some one from the experts out there please tell me what is the best transfercase for my mod?

The BorgWarner transfercase has a flange with four bolts on the front output.
What doner car should I organize Blazer? Year?

Thank you for your help

Daniel
Being a 1995 van is a bit of luck.
The transfer case is not computer controlled.
An NP231C from a S10/blazer/jimmy of the same year (or a year or two earlier), should work well.
You might need to adjust the driveshaft length a wee bit is all.
If you can, get and swap in the unlockable front axle from the same donor truck and maybe even the driveshaft.
After 1996 things got a bit more computer dependent..
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

Thank you for the answers. Very useful link. Now it’s clear why people talk from a bolt on. That’s just for the 1999+ Vans with NP136.
So the challenge for me is to rebuild the drive shafts.

@photo_van
Saw you have converted a NP242j. I have a NP242j store in my garage from my Jeep times. Do you think it’s worth to convert this one?
Think the drive shaft issue is the same…
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather

photo_van
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by photo_van »

bluesea wrote:Thank you for the answers. Very useful link. Now it’s clear why people talk from a bolt on. That’s just for the 1999+ Vans with NP136.
So the challenge for me is to rebuild the drive shafts.

@photo_van
Saw you have converted a NP242j. I have a NP242j store in my garage from my Jeep times. Do you think it’s worth to convert this one?
Think the drive shaft issue is the same…
Quite a long write up on that here viewtopic.php?f=58&t=7844 For me it was worth it as I live in snow country and the van is a daily driver, so AWD is really nice to have. It was a lot of work and I only would recommend it to someone living somewhere they might use it a lot; like, say, Switzerland! (btw my grandparents were from canton Uri!).

Also, the 242 is quite a bother (takes finesse) to shift, but if you have had that transfer case before, then you probably know how to use it!
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

The 242 conversion looks a lot of work. We had not so much snow the last view years where I life. In canton Uri they have probably lot more.
For me the main reason is to have a low range. I think I will go with a 231 or 233 depend what I will find. Maybe include the front axle.
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

Hello
I Bought a cheap 1996er Blazer today. As I was at home I saw that it has the NP233C installed. Is that a issue to swap this to my 1995er Astro?

Daniel
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

Just saw that is the electric shift. So will continue to disassemble...
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

Hi guys
Sorry for asking again, but I am struggling a little bit. I have now all mechanical parts out of the Blazer. As far I can see, I have an Issue with the front drive shaft.
My Astro has flanges on both sides. The Blazer has a u-joint on the diff side and a slip-yoke on the transfer case side.
I don’t realy want to change the whole front as well. What can I do?
Thank you for your support.
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather

photo_van
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by photo_van »

You will need to change out the front pinion flange with the yoke (watch the pre load if you do) or have a front driveshaft built.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

Will do that, thank you.
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

Short update:
Got all the parts out include the whole front diff. Finished the wiring so far. It shift elecrical to all positions.
Waiting now for better weather to finish the mechanical part.
Is it possible to change the whole diff and use the original drive shafts? What about the ratio? I plan to use the posi-lok system to engage the front.
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather

photo_van
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by photo_van »

I don't see why not, but you will need to verify that the ratios are the same.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710

Topic author
bluesea
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:27 am
Location: Switzerland

Re: Swap BorgWarner transfercase

Post by bluesea »

I got finally the time to start with the swap. It was looking good, since I want to mount the 231 to the transmission. It does not fit :cry: . Then I realized, that I forgot an important part from the Blazer. I have not dissembled the adapter plate. #-o Unfortunately the Blazer is already gone. Does anyone know where I can get an adapter plate?
I already checked the junkyards near to me. There are a view in ebay but not the right ones.
__________________________________
1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD 2" lift
camper/expedition vehicle conversion
2nd battery, 230W solarpower on roof
compressor fridge
Eberspaecher air heather
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