Newbie here......

What's up to everyone in XJ land? Been scouring the stickies and search button trying to learn the ins and outs of my new-to-me rig. 2001 XJ Sport, RC 4.5", 33x12.5x15 BFG KM2s, AW4, NP231, D30/29 spline Chrysler 8.25. The front fenders were already done but, along with some moderate body work and rust abatement on lower doors and rocker panels, I got the rear fenders trimmed and rear quarters cut&folded thanks to threads on here ;-) !

I have a TnT Customs belly pan that I'm gonna combine with the unibody stiffeners but I have a question about the tcase/rear drive. The RC lift on it has a tcase drop (spacers between the crossmember and rails). The belly pan will eliminate this as it will replace the crossmember. After reading through the stickied 4wheel-parts articles it appears I'm lookin at a sye for the rear if I eliminate the tcase drop? This rig is gonna be a trail rig with very limited on-road use (couple miles at a time to work or store from time to time - not a dd by any means). My question is how critical is the elimination of the tcase drop for the belly pan install - will it cause the sye/rear shaft replacement to be a must right away?

Thanks for any help.

Uhhh..........lots of rubber-neckers but no comments or thoughts............?

Bueller.........Bueller............Bueller

it's kinda tough to tell without seeing the pinion angle or getting a measurement off of it. I would say you'll want to fit the SYE pretty soon, but for slow, short trips it'll probably be "o.k."

I know the '96+ transfer case slip yoke has a tendency to vibrate more than the older style, but not having one precludes me from giving any definite experience with them.

^^^ Thank you. That is pretty much what I've been coming up with over on JF and reading more. I did procure a stock front ds from a '00 XJ sport, AW4, 231 tcase just yesterday. So, I'm half way to the sye when I move forward with it. I'm just trying to get a gauge of whether it's a sooner than later or later than sooner type thing. Thanks for the input.