dana 18 girdle

i'm wondering if you would be able to run the warn overdrive with a aftermarket girdle on the dana 18? i would think not but you never know.

 

I would think that the part of the girdle that encompasses the PTO/OD output area would prohibit the use of either. The girdles are like 1/4" thick, at least, and would likely create issues with engaging either option, OD or PTO. Herm would know for sure, though. I plan on using just the lower part of the girdle in the hopes that it, alone, will help a little bit, anyway. I could be wasting time but, I'm gonna give it a whirl.

 

The girdle that encompasses the pan rail does help. This is where the case typically cracks anyway. From the intermediate shaft bore down to the pan rail. Usually through the middle bolt hole for the pan. I've seen several like this. The girdle for the pto area will not allow the use of a pto or overdrive.

 

I have been told by Jack O'brien that the girdle does no good unless it is setup to fit perfectly. Any slop in the bolt holes makes it ineffective.
another choice might be to look for large hole dana20 cases. There are 3 different ones. the dana 18 large hole is the smallest/weakest. There are 2 others that weigh as much as 5 lbs more than the one I have, these are dana 20s. The ID is the filler plug is in the back.
Just my $.02.

 

The MOST important bolt on a Jeep is the side torque mount on a model 18 transfer case. Cracks and breaks are almost always a result of a missing or severely worn out torque mount.

 

2x on the torque mount. As far as a girdle, save your money and just use one of the D20 cases and Novak's super beefy pan.

 

so with mine being a '71 it has the weakest t-case? i thought basically it was the same as a dana 20 (same casting)? i do have a dana 20 out of a j-truck would that be better than what i have now?
for the longest time my jeep had no torque mount. that was before i bought it. after i bought it i made some sort of mount that attached to the frame with a rubber mount from an earlier year jeep. for some reason parts places like 4wd hardware don't offer much for '71's and didn't see it listed for a t-case mount. which i thought was strange. same with the clutch boot.

 

i didn't think it would work with an od or pto but wanted to make sure. i had read that tri-county made one for using an od with their girdle and one that didn't. you never know until you ask. as i always say "the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask"

 

If you have the big index D18, a 231, and 33" tires, why do you feel you would need a girdle? If you do install the torque mount, I doubt you will ever have a problem splitting the case. The rigid Novak pan would add a little strength and would be an easy install, but that's about as far as I would take it unless racing/air-time is in your future.

 

I have to agree with Duffer on this one. I abuse the snot out of my 18's with a warmed up 231 and 33" tires and never broke one. I used to race it too. I wear them out, but never break them. The broken ones I've seen were with bigger tires, V-8 power, and very heavy right footed drivers.


Sent from my iPhone

 

I went back through my notes on dana 18/20 large hole transmission cases. The large hole cases will do 18 or 20.
the casting number xx-xx-24 5 is the lightest case. the last number 5, 6, 7 and 8 (I think it goes that far) show the thickness of the case and weight.
bigger the number the heavier the case. Again, the filler plug is on the back.
The bigger ones came out of Scouts and Blazers as dana 20s.
I am 90% sure I got this right.
I went looking for a thicker case and could not find one, so I got a dana20 the same as mine, in case I made a fatal mistake.

Your torque mount sounds like the one in my 70 cj5. A thick piece of metal bolted to the case, bolted to a rubber mount, bolted to the frame in 2 places.

I will see if I can get pictures.

 

I've blown out the gears a couple times, but have yet to split a case using an IH Scout 20 case that came out of a turbo diesel. Its got a fairly spicy, balanced, fuel injected, .040 over 231 in front of it. I also swapped over to the Novak deep pan because when it blew the first time the gears are so close to the stamped cover pieces punched a hole in it. Oddly enough both blow ups were on the dunes. The second 'boom' I attribute 100% to the low quality "Made in India" Omix Ada main gear.

 

ok. i was freaking out about nothing on the case then. i wasnt sure if the girdle was a good thing or not. or if i really needed one. i found one for sale and thought i could use it.