so i've killed another transfer case. Wasn't a bang and it was stuffed but a gradual wearing out. the 2wd/4wd sliding gear wasnt engaging 4wd properly and it would skip drive to the font wheels. anyway.....
I pulled it out and sized it up against my spare i kept fron a V6Auto and they were different. went to the wreckers and the 4cly transfer was also different...
the input into the transfer from gearbox is different lengths and the transfer to gearbox is different. (J20a Manual and V6 Auto look similar). but thats it.
Now here's the good news....the inputs can be swapped over between the transfer cases.
have to remove from the car to do it tho.