Lesson learned.

[danray48]

Last week a guy had an ad on Craigslist, selling a CJ5 in pieces with a fiberglass tub, frame, with a T-18 Transmission , Dana 20 Transfer Case . He wanted $1200 for it all. I went and looked at it, and decided I didn't want it all. I only wanted the T-18 . He called me later, and said he would sell me the tranny, Transfer Case which he said someone else told him was a Dana 300 along with the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l on the frame for $600.00. I said I'd do that. I didn't really want the frame, which has been repaired, but it was all there. I quickly tried to research some numbers on the Novak site, but still wasn't sure about the T-18 , but thought I take the chance. I have a T-150 now in my 79 CJ7 and wanted a 4 speed. So I get it home, took my time, researched the numbers, checked and I know now I have a T-176 , with a Dana 300 TC. I guess I'm happy anyway. I'm gonna check out the Transmission , rebuild if needed, and rebuild the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l this winter. paint everything while I don't have to have my CJ down and out of commission. But lesson learned about really not taking anyones word on anything on CL. I really didn't need a T-18 , but wanted one just because they're hard to find. The T-176 will really meet my needs better anyway.

 

[gert]

ya a T-176 is def not a T-18

 

[Petescj]

That does bite when you thought you were getting a T-18 . The good news is you got the only decent 80s Transmission . And for $600 you didnt do too bad considering you got a Dana 300 and a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l with it. You'll need the bellhousing for the T-176 and the driveshafts as well. I have the driveshafts if you find you need them pm me.

 

[C dubya]

I wouldn't have known the difference myself, but now that I have both it's crazy. T-18 /19 is double the size of T-176 , and bear to move around too.

 

[Torxhead]

Two of the great things about the T-18 is a low first gear and its bulletproof. I don't think its a good street tranny due to the wide ratio spacing and no first gear synchromesh. It is awsome when you need it on the trail, but sometimes I would like more gear selection there also. The Dana 300 can be changed to a low 4 to 1 low gear which is great and the twin stick is another good add on. My $.02

 

[Petescj]

The Dana 300 can be changed to a low 4 to 1 low gear which is great and the twin stick is another good add on. My $.02

No offense to the original poster but this is one of the reasons this section of the forum was created:

- Jeep CJ Comprehensive Database at Jeep-CJ.com

The pictures of the different transmissions and t-cases along with the different engines as well wouldve helped you notice the difference easily.

 

[danray48]

Yep, as the poster I agree.....

 

[Hedgehog]

It is frequently said, but I simply don't understand why. The T-18 isn't a good road Transmission . The T-18 , especially the Ford version being a truck Transmission was made for the road or street. Having first unsyncronized is actually a GOOD thing. The compound first gear isn't meant to be a true first gear. If it were syncronized the driver would be tempted to shift into it while slowing down and that could easily turn into an over reving situation. It doesn't take many times where the driver grinds the T-18 first to learn not to use it. I ran my Ford T-18 for many years and never found it to fall short for a street situation. I'm not a hard core grinder when off road, given the fact that I'm in Arizona, I was off road for a large percentage of time my 231 V6/T-18 /Dana 300 never let me down. So, like I wrote before the T-18 worked and worked remarkably well in all situations.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

I had a similar experience as the OP I found an "AX15" on craigslist from a YJ for AMC 150 . Really good price so I jumped on it. Thing is I had never seen an Ax15 nor did I take the time to look up pictures before heading over. I bought it and brought it home and it turned out to be an AX5. The guy wouldnt take the tranny back

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I had a similar experience as the OP I found an "AX15" on craigslist from a YJ for AMC 150 . Really good price so I jumped on it. Thing is I had never seen an Ax15 nor did I take the time to look up pictures before heading over. I bought it and brought it home and it turned out to be an AX5. The guy wouldnt take the tranny back

I woul have dropped it off In The back seat of his car through the rear window..

 

[mtnwhlr]

I would love to have a T-176 you can drop it off to me but not tru the back window please

 

[danray48]

The more I thought about it, I'm happy with the T-176 . Actually glad I got it because it will suit my needs better. I'm not going to do any heavy rock crawling or crazy hill climbing with this jeep anyway. On the street, I always felt like I needed a fourth gear. I do know, that when you buy anything off CL you have to know what your buying and just figure the seller either is lying, or don't know what they have, and it's up to us to do the fact checking, which I didn't do enough of, but it turned out alright. I should have known better, and with the internet, and this site there is really no excuse to not do so.