Jeep Liberty Transfer Case Tech - Low, Low Liberty

Here you can see the funky driveshaft coupler at the front output of the NV242 transfer case. We'll replace both the front and rear driveshafts with new longer units from J.E. Reel fitted with 1310 yokes and U-joints up front and 1330s on the rear axle.

The '02 Liberty is a good choice for a conversion such as this because it's the only model year to use the 45RFE four-speed automatic transmission. This tranny has been used in Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram pickups behind 4.7L V-8 and 5.7L Hemi engines, so durability should not be an issue.

Rock-Tech owner Chris Johnson lined up the Klune-V and NP231 to determine proper placement of the thread-in studs in the built-in clocking ring. Chris arranged the studs in the same six-bolt pattern as the NP231.

The Klune-V reduction housing was then bolted up to the 45RFE transmission. No additional adapters are necessary.

The NP231 was then bolted to the Klune-V. The company provides a slug of metal that must be cut to the proper length and installed in the NP231 female input to set endplay for the output shaft in the reduction housing. The necessary length varies between applications; Chris set this length at 1/4 inch dead on.

With the Klune and NP231 in place, Chris bolted the stock transmission crossmember mount back up to the 45RFE trans.

The stock crossmember was then bolted back in place using the factory hardware.

It was necessary to trim the edges of the transfer case casting for proper clearance with the floorpan. Otherwise, the NP231 and Klune were a perfect fit.

The two gearboxes appear to hang a bit precariously beyond the stock crossmember but are otherwise an inch or more shorter than the factory transfer case alone. This has a lot to do with the JB Conversions Super Short SYE, which helps create ample rear driveshaft length, even in shorter wheelbase rigs such as TJs and YJs.

Since the 7-inch length of the Klune-V situates the transfer case 7 inches rearward, we'd have to do something about the transfer case cable-shift linkage.

Chris came up with a quick remedy for the linkage by fastening it farther rearward, mounted to an aluminum bracket. After determining that the T-case shifter was working properly in this location, Chris pulled off the aluminum bracket for some refinements.

The Klune-provided shifter cable was routed through a factory-punched hole in the tub floor and secured to the shifter beneath the driver seat. The shifter was then secured to the floorboard.