will a transfer case from a donor Cherokee with a inline 6 and automatic tranny have 21 splines or 23 like the ax 15 on the input shaft and it is a np 231 transfer case

I will guess 23w/ 4.0Ll. Most XJ's have the 231.. some have the 242(?) or 241 full time case so be careful.

what about a 231 off a ax 5 that should be a direct replacement right thanks ahead of time

I believe all of the AX-5's were 21 spline.

All xj's are 21 spline unless they were a AX15 5 speed. All pougeot BA10 5 speeds were 21, autos were 21, everything but 5 speed AX15, which would be 90 or newer for sure is 21 spline. Some had a 242 case, in which case they may be a 23 spline, but it still bet on 21 if its behind a AW4. I dont beleive any xj's came with a 241. grand cherokee zj's came with a 249 fulltime case behind the v8 and some 4.0s. all AX5 are 21 spline as well.

im in a dillema too... forgot the BA10 was 21 spline, so i did a sye on it and when i went to put it in my yj... oops, no fitty.

thanks for the info so how hard is it to change the input shaft and what will i need besides the obvious