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**2000XJ** · 10-01-2009, 07:39 PM

Alright everyone, I'm stumped. My trail rig as you most know is a 2000 XJ Limited, 4.0L, NP242 (Selec-Trac) tcase, AW-4 trans - those are the key components in what is necessary to answer the following question....

I recently swapped my original NP242 for one out of a '98 or '99 XJ Limited. Everything has bolted on extremely smoothly so far. Monday I bolted on the original crossmember. Tuesday I took it out for a spin and noticed that the tcase is sitting so high that it's tucked up against the trans tunnel and I can hear it inside of the cab - not good, and certainly not in the factory location

.

I get "new" crossmember from the same donor XJ Limited and bolt it on - it's too damn low. It's so low that I can't even get the trans to droop down enough to mount the 4 bolts in the center that hold the crossmember to the trans mount.

Virgin '01 XJ and Trail Rig '00 both have the same original crossmember design, however the Trail Rig XJ crossmember is bent.

I look at my virgin '01 XJ Limited with the same engine, trans, tcase setup. "New" crossmember doesn't look like the one on the virgin '01 XJ.

What crossmember was on that '98 or '99 XJ Limited that donated the NP242 to me?? It was the factory OEM crossmember I know that for a fact, but why isn't it the same as my two crossmembers on my '00 and '01. Did they change the crossmember design for '00 and '01 (I wouldn't be surprised)??

**muddeprived** · 10-01-2009, 08:07 PM

Are both tranny mounts the same? All I can think of is that the rubber mounts may be different.

How about some pictures of the difference?

Do you have protection for your crossmember, like a skid? If you can't get em bolted up, then it would be a good time to upgrade to an aftermarket cross-skid as I call em.

**2000XJ** · 10-01-2009, 11:21 PM

Both trans mounts are the same on the '00 and '01.

I'll try to snap some pics of the differences if I can remember and have time to post them up. The main difference is on the angle of the mounting surfaces of the crossmember where they mount to the frame rails. The two on the '00 and '01 XJ are not at as steep of an angle as the one that I got from the donor vehicle to speak.... if that even makes any sense

I have Rusty's Engine/Trans skid and Skid Rows tcase skid - both of which mount to the OEM crossmember and create a pretty much flat surface. I have beaten on my rig ALOT - to the point where the Skid Row Tcase skid has a 1" crack in it, and the Engine/Trans Skid is bent up in the middle about 3" or so.... both are 3/16" steel.

**CT99XJ** · 10-02-2009, 12:10 AM

i have a '99 and my buddys got a 2000- tomorrow ill get up under them and see if theres a difference.

**muddeprived** · 10-02-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000XJ

Both trans mounts are the same on the '00 and '01.

I'll try to snap some pics of the differences if I can remember and have time to post them up. The main difference is on the angle of the mounting surfaces of the crossmember where they mount to the frame rails. The two on the '00 and '01 XJ are not at as steep of an angle as the one that I got from the donor vehicle to speak.... if that even makes any sense

I have Rusty's Engine/Trans skid and Skid Rows tcase skid - both of which mount to the OEM crossmember and create a pretty much flat surface. I have beaten on my rig ALOT - to the point where the Skid Row Tcase skid has a 1" crack in it, and the Engine/Trans Skid is bent up in the middle about 3" or so.... both are 3/16" steel.

If the donar 98/99 vehicle has the same tranny mount as your 00, then all I can think of is the crossmember is bent. I can't think of anything else.

I don't understand jeep and the 00+ models. I had a 2000 TJ and OMG was it a pain to get parts for. It was always hard to find the right part because some of the parts were different in 99 and 01 so there was a mixture of parts changed in 00. Parts would sometimes be listed as 97-99 and then 01-06. Now I have a 01 and sometimes this model isn't even listed for some parts and weird things are going on with it. I think i'm gonna stick with 99's or older jeeps from now on.

89xjgrey · 10-02-2009, 07:44 AM

That is really strange. I've never had any issues with swapping crossmembers at all. I'm curious to know what it is.

**2000XJ** · 10-02-2009, 09:26 AM

This would be the fourth time I'm swapping crossmembers on the trail rig, and the first time I'm actually having a problem as well.

**ZackXJ** · 10-02-2009, 09:31 AM

weird....

**2000XJ** · 10-05-2009, 05:45 PM

Well I made the donor crossmember work. Everything is bolted up, and it's driving great. Even wheeled it a bit yesterday for abotu 15 min.

flawlesslydisturbed · 10-05-2009, 06:56 PM

Good to hear.

**muddeprived** · 10-05-2009, 07:24 PM

What was the problem? How did ya make it work?

**2000XJ** · 10-05-2009, 09:06 PM

I let the trans completely hang down as much as it'd come down. Then I got the 4 trans mount bolts through the four holes in the center of the crossmember, and was able to get each nut threaded on to 1 or 2 threads. Once those four were somewhat threaded on, I lined the crossmember up with the studs that hang down from the frame rail, and bolted those two nuts on. Once those two were bolted on, I tightened the nuts that mount the crossmember to the trans mount.

With the other crossmembers that I've had, I've had no problem fully mounting the four middle nuts to the transmount, and then lifting the trans up with the floor jack and lining it up with the studs. This one was just more work, and the tcase hangs .5" lower than it was in the past. I can live with it for now, it'll get covered with a skid anyway.

**mcatald** · 10-06-2009, 12:32 PM

Sounds pretty wierd at least you got her together.
I'm thinking you got a one off hand built cherokee....just like a fine Italian sports car.

**2000XJ** · 10-06-2009, 01:40 PM

It could just also be one of those '00-'01 XJ things

**muddeprived** · 10-06-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000XJ

It could just also be one of those '00-'01 XJ things

yeah things like that happen with our 00-01's. for instance, my steering column bolts came loose for whatever reason. I NEVER seen them come loose before nor ever heard of them loosening up. Weird years.....