Remanufactured Jasper NP241 or let local shop rebuild?

[Kirth Gersen]

1994 K1500 Blazer, 250K miles, led a very gentle life. No towing, no offroading, stock suspension.
Last night, truck started making horrible, "grinding gear" noises when I slowly accelerate from a stop.

A local mechanic has traced problem to the NP241 transfer case. No external cracks or leaks, something FUBAR internally.

What are common internal problems withe NP241 transfer cases?

The local mechanic has quoted an $1800-2400 price range if he rebuilds it, depending on what he finds inside. But, I'm concerned because the shop doesn't do this very often -- he's a general mechanic, not a 4WD drivetrain specialist -- and it's my belief that you have to do medium-to-high volumes of something to be really good at it.

Alternative he proposed, after some pushing from me, was a remanufactured transfer case from
Jasper Engines ( https://www.jasperengines.com/transfer-cases ) at about $2700 for parts+ labor.

Anyone have experiences w/ Jasper reman cases? Jasper's internet reviews for engines and trannies are mixed -- but it's human nature to only write when you have something to complain about.

Frustrating to need a $2000+ repair, since I was only planning to keep truck another few months.
(BTW, I live in the Manhattan-Hermosa-Redondo beach cities area of LA County.)

 

[Elroy]

i rebuilt my own NP246 and it was easy, found a seller that had everything as a kit not too expensive

 

[99BurbK15]

Kirth, personally I would rebuild your own or find a low mileage used one...the reason I say this is because at work we often don't rebuild big drivetrain parts like this so we end up replacing with Jasper products and 9 times out of 10 they come back and have to be replaced again because of a bad bearing or something really silly that should have been fine. Also I have personally put a NP246 Transfer case in my burb from them and didn't last but 15k miles so I put a used unit in with low miles still without issues after 55k miles...in the meantime I rebuilt my original case so I have a back up. Granted a Jasper unit comes with a warranty however you could have to pay for labor depending on how its set up. Just my 2 cents

 

[shamrock246]

The kits are pretty cheap or grab one out of a junk yard but that could be a crap shoot.

http://www.drivetrain.com/parts_catalog/transfer_case_replacements_and_parts/np241.html

 

[Steve A]

Check out this website, they have instructions you can view for Slip Yoke Eliminator kits which show the transfer case apart. They have rebuild kits also. Not a lot to a transfer case, definitely not enough for a rebuild to cost $2,000+.

https://www.jbconversions.com/

 

[tom joyce]

The grinding noise is probably caused by failed bushings inside. They fail because of other drive line issues, OR a stretched drive chain. Being that you are getting rid of it, I would find a junkyard unit and have it installed by the mechanic. Spending $2000+ on a tcase is for a person who wants to keep the it...
Rebuilding it isn't as simple as it may seem; being that there is grinding already going on. The kits are reasonably cheap, but the other parts that may be affected (grinding) rack up the bill quick.

Here is a pretty good article for you

http://www.nationalnewstoday.com/au...roblems-rebuild-or-replace-ask-and-expert.php

 

[Oldblue98]

1994 K1500 Blazer, 250K miles, led a very gentle life. No towing, no offroading, stock suspension.
Last night, truck started making horrible, "grinding gear" noises when I slowly accelerate from a stop.

A local mechanic has traced problem to the NP241 transfer case. No external cracks or leaks, something FUBAR internally.

What are common internal problems withe NP241 transfer cases?

The local mechanic has quoted an $1800-2400 price range if he rebuilds it, depending on what he finds inside. But, I'm concerned because the shop doesn't do this very often -- he's a general mechanic, not a 4WD drivetrain specialist -- and it's my belief that you have to do medium-to-high volumes of something to be really good at it.

Alternative he proposed, after some pushing from me, was a remanufactured transfer case from
Jasper Engines ( https://www.jasperengines.com/transfer-cases ) at about $2700 for parts+ labor.

Anyone have experiences w/ Jasper reman cases? Jasper's internet reviews for engines and trannies are mixed -- but it's human nature to only write when you have something to complain about.

Frustrating to need a $2000+ repair, since I was only planning to keep truck another few months.
(BTW, I live in the Manhattan-Hermosa-Redondo beach cities area of LA County.)

Do some serious reading on Jasper rebuilds and even more so on them honoring their warranty's ! Beware many horror stories to be read. Jasper use to be top notch years ago. Not so much these days.

 

[Kirth Gersen]

Thanks for all the advice.
I decided to install a used transfer case, the total labor + parts is mid-$1100s , and the local shop provides a 90-day parts & labor warranty. The mileage isn't known, but w/ 90-day warranty it shouldn't be too bad.
I will keep the old case (no core charge), just in case the replacement used case fails prematurely, or the truck's next owner is ambitious & wants to rebuild it.

 

[mistaake]

Just put in a used one from a wrecked truck or something. Jasper stuff is trash - I've heard soooo many horror stories.