1998 explorer 4.0 A/T broke down out of town

[nc4x4]

Fist off I apologize for the long explanation, but this info is comming from my
wife over the phone(it broke down @ 350 miles from home)
OK it is a stock 98 explorer 4x4 auto w/elect hi-lo range & 97000 miles
she was cruising along about 65 mph and briefly heard a "whirring" noise
but it quickly went away,a few miles later it did it again, she turned off
the cruise,no change, went to accelerate & it didnt pull,but the rpm's did go up,then it started pulling again noise went away(felt like a clutch slipping,)
got off at the next exit, while sitting in D the noise came back,she put it in
N noise stops.she put it in D no noise,pulled away fine for @ 50 feet then the
noise was back,she pulled to the side,put it in P no noise puts in back into
Drive,the noise is louder and it will not move! in any gear or hi-lo
it is quiet in P and N but makes the noise in any gear, had it towed (ouch)
and it rolled freely in Park,does this sound like a transfer case problem?
the transmission fluid is clean,no metal,& does'nt smell burnt so I dont think
it is a transmission problem. Any HELP would be greatly appreciated!
I think the transfer caes is a Borg Warner 13-54

 

[XplodeThis]

If its rolling freely in park, and it was wirring and rpms where shooting up but it wasn't going anywhere i'd say it's the transmission, you should tow it to a shop and have it inspected.

 

[Glacier991]

My money is on the T-Case.