How Practical? Building a T18A from parts

[Turbogus]

That pretty well sums it up. Sorry if this question seems silly. I've flirted with the idea of retro fitting a T-18 into my '78 CJ but like other expensive projects I have to work this out in slow stages as funds and time allow. With this in mind is it worth buying a case and building from the ground up (mind you I'm a novice on transmissions) or just saving for a $800-1200 rebuilt unit.

I've located one for a FSJ 90 miles from me but I wonder what kind of can-o-worms it'd be to convert for my CJ

 

[IOPort51]

I think I would pass on the FSJ, too long, and pick up a ford. you will need an adapter for the ford to TC or an input shaft for the FSJ. I do not know the price of the input shaft or where to find one so I can not compare the cost.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Your best bet to piecemeal a T-18 together may be a Ford 2 wheel drive version. As you have a 1978 CJ with a T-150 a Ford T-18 will bolt to your bell housing and a Ford version may be had for as little as $AMC 150 to $300 however the Ford version has a shorter front shaft stick out length which requires a special pilot bushing that can be had for around $80 or $90. The bad news is that an adaptor/rear output shaft will also be needed in order to marry the Transmission to your Dana 20 Transfer Case and that kit costs about $500. A small parts rebuild kit will add another $200 so as you can see it starts to add up quick. If lucky enough to find a CJ version it too will bolt up to your existing bell housing. The 1978 CJ skid plate will work as well for either flavor, just slide the plate towards the back set of bolt holes in the bottom of the frame and you are good. The clutch fork will need to be notched for the reversed bolt head and the drive shafts will need to be altered but this is an easy swap.

(PS: The FSJ front shaft is too long and would need to be replaced as mentioned before)

 

[Turbogus]

I'm hip that I'd have to deal with driveline alterations as well as the input/output shafts but since this is a slow bench build (the T-150 is working fine) I can take my time with it as funds allow. If the weather holds I'm hoping to have enough energy to head out to the Albany boneyard for some picking on Saturday.
Once Mack passed away a couple of years ago Macks' Jeeparts company went with him, (Rest in Peace, Mack) this being the exclusive Jeep boneyard in Oregon

 

[tarry99]

Time is Money..........I have a near New Borg / Ford 6.5" input 6:32 low that I will be selling soon, I'm going 700r4 on my next project.....

Over the years I have rat-holed New OEM gears, cluster,1st-Rev.gear & slider, reverse idler,input shaft, bearings ETC ETC.........Also New Advanced Adapter main shaft and aluminum adapter.....Never ran yet. ...............PM me if anyone has interest.

 

[Turbogus]

I just got back from the downtown yard and they've got a rusty crusty 1980 T-18 with a case no. of 13 01 065 007. The PTO port is on the right side and while we couldn't move the stick to see what gear it was in, turning the input shaft 6 times yielded about 110 degrees turn at the output shaft. Their first offer was $AMC 150 but I'm going to haggle. This has a long tailshaft on it. Am I barking up the right tree?

 

[Posi]

Sounds like a ford T-18 2 wheel drive. pics would help.

 

[Turbogus]

By the yard's log it is a 1980 2wd

 

[Hedgehog]

The wya I seeit is you've got two ways to go here. You can buy pieces and parts, where you get the T-18 ford truck Transmission and addiional parts, but the NOVAK kit is the way to go. Or you can wait and watch parts places and buy a proper T-18 CJ Transmission in expensively, but who really knows how long you'll have to wait.

The Ford T-18 with an adaptor kit was a clean and easy job for me, especially considering the fact that I'd never worked on a Transmission in my life. Dollar wise I bet they will both work out to be about the same.

 

[Turbogus]

I can dig that Hedgehog, I've been watching EBay, Craigslist and other even passed up a rebuilt T-18 from Mack Jeeparts before he closed on account of being short cash at the time ($800).
Since the T-150 is working fine, this is just a workbench project for me and I like gainful experience in learning new things kind of like the electrical stuff I did last year as a part of the Contour/Mystique efan project I did. Also despite this being my first Transmission build the T-18 is reputed as being easy to rebuild from what I've read so I'm thinking I can handle it, being a motorhead since '81. (Dam I'm getting old)

 

[Turbogus]

Here's the critter;







Top Cover

 

[Posi]

Sounds like a ford T-18 2 wheel drive. pics would help.

^this

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Turbogus- Just sent you a PM on a T-18 lead.

 

[hole]

$AMC 150 isnt a bad price, but whichever Transmission you buy, pull the top cover so you can put eyes on the gears (most of them anyways) Some of the gears can be pretty pricey if you need to replace one. I just went through a T19 for my 8 and the reverse gear had some small chips, so I called Novak, and they informed me that they couldn't get that particular gear anymore. They didnt even have a used one to sell me either, so they told me (after seeing pics of the gear) to lightly round the leading edge over with a dremel tool and run it.

 

[Turbogus]

Thanks hole, that's a good tip. Magazines continue to proclaim all parts are readily available for these T18s perhaps the T19 is unique, but that info about the chipped gear is good to know. I'm planning on hitting another yard tomorrow and see what they may have, I'll bring my sockets, not just the camera this go.

 

[tarry99]

Pull the top cover..............The case casting numbers are of no help to tell whether it is a wide or close ratio.
Count the teeth on the input shaft up front that meshes with the counter shaft below........17 teeth is what you want for a wide ratio 6:32 low gear.......anything else is a waste of time.

Although some parts are still available , there is allot of gears that are not. These Jeep re-builders have been hitting the wrecking yards for years grabbing 20-30 transmissions at a time just to get parts but mostly gears to use in there rebuilt trannys.......I had a well known re-builder tell me once it's now taking 4-5 used trannys to find enough good gears to stick one good one back together.

Grinding or smoothing off chipped corners will add some life to a gear......but it will eventually chip there again do to the lack of gear mesh & contact.

 

[Turbogus]

Thanks Tarry,
So I reckon Novak may have gotten it wrong, Novak's site says;
"The T-18 is a top loaded, top shifting truck style Transmission . The Ford and some Jeep T18s enjoys a very low compound gear at 6.32:1 and as such it is a popular choice for those wanting a very low crawling gear".

This made me think I was in the clear.

 

[Posi]

All fords except the very early ones were all 6.32 first gear.
Jeep CJ's from 72-ealry 76 were 4.02

 

[Turbogus]

By their records at the wrecking yard (and evidence by the photos) this is a Ford Transmission
(note the PTO port on the right side)

...not that I'm anyone's expert


ckrap I think I see a crack on the right side of the cover...

 

[IOPort51]

I would be interested in if the reverst shift is forward or back. I think yours will be forward but I would not bet my life on it. this would make it an earlier model T-18 . I think?