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Transfer case - 6-speed manual vs 8-speed automatic

sstuner

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I currently own a 2018 JLU Sahara with a 6-speed manual transmission, and I really enjoy it with all the modifications I have made throughout the years of ownership.

I am trying to locate a complete Rubicon transfer case (for a 6-speed) to replace the Sahara one, and I am having a difficult time.

I'm asking the experts: Should I be able to purchase a Rubicon transfer case from a model with an automatic transmission and swap the internals into my 6-speed's case? Is that correct?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Thanks in advance.
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Jeep Wick

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I currently own a 2018 JLU Sahara with a 6-speed manual transmission, and I really enjoy it with all the modifications I have made throughout the years of ownership.

I am trying to locate a complete Rubicon transfer case (for a 6-speed) to replace the Sahara one, and I am having a difficult time.

I'm asking the experts: Should I be able to purchase a Rubicon transfer case from a model with an automatic transmission and swap the internals into my 6-speed's case? Is that correct?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Thanks in advance.
I'm not an expert, but they are on eBay and still available new from the dealer last I checked. You'll just want to return the old one for core charge if you buy new.
 

gek

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I believe the main difference, if not the only difference, is input shaft spline count. Manual has more, Iirc it was 45 or so. I am not 100% but I think if you can get the correct input shaft it should work.

pic of the manual splines:
Jeep Wrangler JL Transfer case - 6-speed manual vs 8-speed automatic 1764164360489-2r

Jeep Wrangler JL Transfer case - 6-speed manual vs 8-speed automatic 1764164291495-i0


I'm not an expert, but they are on eBay and still available new from the dealer last I checked. You'll just want to return the old one for core charge if you buy new.
I am not sure they will accept a sport t-case as a core, that is assuming they check, but I never wanted to risk it for $1000 core charge.
 

Jeep Wick

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I believe the main difference, if not the only difference, is input shaft spline count. Manual has more, Iirc it was 45 or so. I am not 100% but I think if you can get the correct input shaft it should work.

pic of the manual splines:
1764164360489-2r.webp

1764164291495-i0.webp




I am not sure they will accept a sport t-case as a core, that is assuming they check, but I never wanted to risk it for $1000 core charge.
I realize that, but if the housing is the same I would assume they just go through the whole thing when they reman them. I don't know anyone that's done it but I may try next year.
 

gek

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I realize that, but if the housing is the same I would assume they just go through the whole thing when they reman them. I don't know anyone that's done it but I may try next year.
sport housing and rubi housing are quite different

Sport on the left, rubi on the right:
Jeep Wrangler JL Transfer case - 6-speed manual vs 8-speed automatic 1764167127887-tq
 

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Jeep Wick

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sport housing and rubi housing are quite different

Sport on the left, rubi on the right:
1764167127887-tq.webp
Oh. I was looking for my automatic and the housing was the same. I know the auto 4wd units are different from the part time ones.
 
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SadRobot

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I currently own a 2018 JLU Sahara with a 6-speed manual transmission, and I really enjoy it with all the modifications I have made throughout the years of ownership.

I am trying to locate a complete Rubicon transfer case (for a 6-speed) to replace the Sahara one, and I am having a difficult time.

I'm asking the experts: Should I be able to purchase a Rubicon transfer case from a model with an automatic transmission and swap the internals into my 6-speed's case? Is that correct?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Thanks in advance.
Second what @gek said that the cases are physically different. Rubi is bigger so you would not be able to take the insides out of a Rubi and put into a Sport. I also don't know how you would buy just the splines and swap that in either.

When looking on eBay just make sure the part # is correct. In looking just now I saw a listing that said "Rubicon transfer case JL./JT manual" and in the description it said 1:2.72. Or sometimes they will list it as for a manual and when you check the part # it's actually for an auto.

Some shopping advice from my t-case buying experience:

1. check pictures for a part # label - 68321888AC
2. check pictures to confirm the t case is made up of 2 parts bolted together (not 1 part like the Sport t-case)
3. if the price is 1k or less it's not for a manual. I'd expect about $1700-2500 used.
4. new from a Mopar online dealership front is going to be around $3700 + shipping + shipping to return core
5. If you buy from an online Mopar site keep in mind no one buys these so they usually don't know how to ship them. Verify with them first how they are shipping it (if they are using freight and how they are packing the item). Expect shipping to be around $400 to ship it safely
6. from a dealer you are looking around 5-6k for them to order one and sell it to you for local pickup


Keep checking your local Facebook Marketplace. They come up rarely but sometimes do come up. I found mine about 6 hours away up in the bay area and had a friend drive it down to me to Southern California.
 
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azjl#3

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Call and ask if they would take a sport forvrubicon?

Or, Atlas!!
 
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c20040215

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https://baseline4x4.com/

Try Baseline 4x4. They recycled and resale Jeep parts. For MT Rubicon Tcase, you need to be lucky to get one. They are in Northern Indiana about 45 mins from where I live but they can ship, too. When I was looking for one, I found it on their site and went to pick it up the same day.
 
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gek

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https://baseline4x4.com/

Try Baseline 4x4. They recycled and resale Jeep parts. For MT Rubicon Tcase, you need to be lucky to get one. They are in Northern Indiana about 45 mins from where I live but they can ship, too. When I was looking for one, I found it on their site and went to pick it up the same day.
It is hit or miss if any are available, I ended up getting mine off ebay. I was selling a rubi rear axle and you could see a t-case in the pic, I got more messages about if it was a manual rubi t-case than I did about the axle.
 
 







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