How can I tell if my t-18 is a OE or not

It's a 71 cj5 with the dauntless, and aside from talking to the original owner, which isn't possible can you tell from the bell housing or is it in the vin? Any other thoughts

 

not in the VIN
the trans tag # should be: T18: AS9-T18C
best way would be the floorboards IMO
factory floorboard/shift tower covers would all be bolted/screwed down
in other words, they would have that "factory" look
it would take exteme talent to fabricate some that duplicated factory style
(not that it couldn't be done)
I am guessing by stating that it should have 15-18 bolts/screws that secure it to the floor.

 

Uh, one indication would be a 4.02:1 1st gear instead of the 6.32:1 usually seen in Jeep and Ford truck T18s. Another would be if you have the factory floor pans that accomodate the larger T18 shift tower. I think Tim Harris has some pictures of those that are posted here somewhere.

Not sure what the bell and plate adapter would be. I would guess there would be the BOP-to-T14 bell with a plate adapter, but I can't say for sure. Probably your best indication is the fit and finish (ha!) of the parts used. A conversion usually looks cobbled together, where a factory installation should fit together well.

If your T18 has a Ford pattern to the front, I'd think that's a good indication that it's not factory. This T-150 has a ford pattern. http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t150.htm This T18 is a Jeep pattern: http://www.jeeptech.com/wiki/index.php/Image:T18f.jpg

There may be a tag on the top of the transmission (under one of the cover bolts) with a Jeep part number. They always came with a tag, but sometimes they are lost. Maybe someone here can look it up in the Jeep parts books.

There's no info in the VIN re transmissions till 1972 AFAIK.

<edit> Heh. I was typing while Jim was answering. Reassuring to me to see that my answer overlaps with the expert opinion so much.

 

thanks guys

I appreciate the info I'll have to have a look see now.

 

I'm no expert
at least we are thinking along the same lines though

like Tim said and I was trying to say, I think how it looks/appears will speak volumes on whether it is factory or not

 

I don't believe that a T18 was ever offered with the Dauntless. AFAIK it wasn't available until '72 with the straight 6.

 

Quick quote for Posimoto, and some information from Off-road.com
"The T-18 was optional on CJs from 1971-1979. The T-18A version used from 1977-1979 is the best transmission ever put in a CJ by the factory since it features a granny low first gear(6:32:1.) Earlier T-18s have the same great strength, but a 4.03:1 first. The T-98 is the predecessor to the T-18 that was an option for CJs from 1955-1970."

 

Expanding on this, as I understand it: the T-98 was only available with the F134, and has the 6.32:1 1st gear. These are in great demand today, but there are quite a few of them around.

The 4.03:1 T-18 behind a V6's existence was debated here, but I think we have seen pretty good evidence that it was available. We have (had) a member in near Lassen in NE California that had one. There's also good evidence from the Jeep parts books that they existed, as I understand. Maybe there are some first-hand claims that they existed too - though I came to Jeepin' a few years too late to support that claim. Assuming they were available, precious few of them were built.