Thanks for weighing in Scott - yours (and other) input is how I hope to clarify this for the future masses...
OK - been back over your post a couple of times. Maybe my error is this - is the TOD controller UNDER the carpet? Do you need to pull the carpet up to see/remove it? Maybe my whole problem is confusing the ECM with the TOD controller...(I was assuming - likely incorrectly - that the TOD function was also controlled via the same computer).
So for a moment I'm going to assume that this is correct and the TOD controller is UNDER the carpet (and thus, I have not yet seen it.) So it drives the TOD system via the transfer case that we are MAINTAINING in this swap. The ECM, (perhaps PCM is a better term - "Powertrain Control Module") however, is being exchanged, as we are removing the 4L30E which is an electronically driven transmission (via the PCM), and so we need to switch to a NON-4L30E PCM in order not to flag a whole bunch of system errors for the absent electronic transmission.
That sound about right? That would make a WHOLE lot more sense to me...
So really, to sum it up, any standard transmission 98/99/2000 Trooper "3.5 MAN" PCM would do the trick, then...right? (Located in the center console, with three plug connectors - not the engine bay).
Interesting to me that they would have a SEPARATE controller for the transfer case/TOD, and a combined controller for the engine/transmission. I'm a big fan of plug and play - "LEGO" - why not have a separate controller for each? I know - I'm sure it saves dollars somewhere in there...