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T18 swap

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by LarryD, Oct 26, 2008.

  1. Oct 29, 2008
    CJ-X

    CJ-X Member

    Ohio
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    OK, So basically you have run into all the same problems that I solved back when I did my last swap. I just solved them a little differently. I am just glad to know that I was on track, and that there wasn't an obvious easier way. I appreciate your response. I have always been curious because I never knew anyone else who did the swap with the same components.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Nov 2, 2008
    LarryD

    LarryD Member

    Gallup NM/ 4 Corners
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    After &5.00 of quarters I discovered it was not a T18 since it had PTO ports on both sides so i decided to get it for the TC since I would like to do the D18 gear swap at some point. Can you help with the TC identification. It looks different from the D20, Could it be a D300. The Novak site doesn't give any casting numbers but the aluminum tag has the numbers 301060-3 and 457719-c92. The shifter looks a lot like the shifter on the Novak site for the Dana 300.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2009
  3. Nov 2, 2008
    jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Oklahoma City, USA
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    Dana 20, or an '80 Scout 300.
     
  4. Nov 2, 2008
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Pretty sure that's a Dana 20. The case looks like a 20, and a D300 will have an aluminum output housing.

    If it has dual PTO ports, it's a T-19.
     
  5. Nov 3, 2008
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Yup. T-19 and 20 transfer case. IH Scout 20 by the linkage. 20's and 18's have a deep pan whereas the 300 pan is almost flat and like was mentioned, the output housings on a 300 are aluminum. Hard to see from the pics but if you look careful at the back of the trans you can see where the case and the shifter top flare out at the back. Dead giveaway for a T-19 as are the two pto ports.
     
  6. Mar 19, 2018
    MoGas

    MoGas New Member

    Flagstaff,...
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    I'm preparing to do a similar swap. I currently have a T-150 in my Jeep.

    Parts I have:
    Jeep 4:1 T-18 with iron adapter plate.
    Ford T-18.
    Clutch kit that was earmarked for my T-150.
    T-150 bellhousing

    Parts I need:
    AMC/Ford pilot bushing
    New transmission mount
    New Torque Arm bushing
    New or modified drive shafts

    Things I need to research:
    Dana 20 linkage; do I move it? Should I just get a twin stick?
     
  7. Mar 19, 2018
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Twin stick and save some grief.. I installed a 4 speed in mine years ago. It was out of a Jeep truck, don't remember much about the actual swap. BUT, the transfer case moved back just a bit. Enough so the the Rube Goldberg tcase shifter was touching the floor in 4-lo on my 75. It was always difficult to get in the right gear or out of gear. Sometimes the Xfer case shifter would slip up a bit and put me in 2-lo. So I got a twin stick kit from JB fab. It is the same one Novak has so I believe they are made by JB.. Works like a charm now..

    As for the tranny mount I adapted the OEM cross member. But it hangs down so low, it got pretty beat up as well as hanging me up from time to time. I fabbed a new cross member and mount. Used the OEM stuff to mount to tranny. Damn bushing affair kept tearing up.. I eventually bought a universal mount kit from Dave's in AZ and installed it.. End of problem
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2018
  8. Mar 20, 2018
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    On the linkage, depends on what you have. '72-'79 CJ linkage is pretty easy to modify if yours is in good shape and you want to keep single stick. If you have the goofy Jeepster/PU/Wagoneer sloppy shifter, ditch it and go twin stick. The JB unit is a well made unit but it is made by application so the rods and mount tube may need modified depending on what you have now. I have one in my shop right now going on a 20 with a 3.15-1 gear set going in a Jeepster with auto trans. I'm also doing some shift rail mods for more positive engagement.
     
    Danefraz likes this.
  9. Mar 20, 2018
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    MoGas, I have not done this swap - Nick is the authority. If you have questions about how to fit the Jeep adapter to the Ford case, he may be able to answer. My understanding is that you line it up as best you can - I imagine some of the holes will match - drill and tap new holes in the Ford case where there are empty adapter holes, then tap and fill with set screws or such any holes in the Ford case that are left exposed. The length of the Ford and Jeep cases is the same, so the long axis alignment should be fine if you swap in the Jeep main shaft and use the rest of the Ford transmission. The front of the case will be like a T-150... Novak covers this end on their web page, IIRC.

    I expect it would also be possible to use the Ford gears in the Jeep case and do no adapting at the transfer case end. However, you would have to make the T-150 bell work with the Jeep case. I recall three of the bell housing holes will line up, but you'll need to weld/drill/tap the T-150 bell as needed to make the 4th hole fit. Again, Nick has years of hands-on experience with these transmissions, much more than me. He could best advise which option is easier, turns out better, or both.

    Seems a shame to discard a good close ratio T-18. I'd suggest you offer the gears, adapter and case individually on eBay for whatever you can get for them. Certainly the input and cluster are unique to that transmission, but I'd have to do some research to see which - if any - of the other gears overlap with the wide ratio T-18.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2018
  10. Mar 20, 2018
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    agreed - somebody like me might be interested for the right price. When you say iron adapter - what is that for - mount to the AMC bell? As its a jeep t18 - is should have tx pattern for D20 (which is the same as the D18). Is a short input T18 (cj) or long input from a Jtruck or similar?
     
  11. Mar 20, 2018
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    These Jeep T-18s use a plate adapter between the AMC/T-15 bell and the transmission. All the AMC Jeep manual transmission applications from 1971 through 1979 - except the CJ 1976 on - use this AMC/T-15 bell. The short input Jeep T-18 using this bell and the plate has an input that sticks out about 7". The 1976 CJ model is different and close ratio, and the 1977-79 CJ is different, and wide ratio. The '71-79 Wagons and J-trucks with a 258 have the same external dimensions as the '(71? not sure about the 225 input)-75 CJ close ratio transmission, but are wide ratio. The V8 Wagons and J-trucks use the long input with a thick adapter and the AMC/T-15 bell.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2018
  12. Mar 20, 2018
    MoGas

    MoGas New Member

    Flagstaff,...
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    The factory adapter from the Jeep T-18 to the Dana 20 is cast Iron. The aftermarket adapters are typically Aluminum.

    It is a short shaft out of a CJ5. I don't have the tag right here, but I seem to recall that it decoded to a '75 or '76. No front adapter plate like the earlier ones. As far as the 4:1 T-18s go, it's the desirable version.

    If someone has an adapter and good T-18 6 spline main shaft, I'll trade this transmission off to them, as that's really all I'm using it for.
     
  13. Mar 20, 2018
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    If there's no transmission adapter plate and close ratio, it's a '76.
     
  14. Mar 20, 2018
    MoGas

    MoGas New Member

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    That sounds right.
    For certain, It had a bellhousing with the stud on the driver's side directly mounted to the input face of the transmission, It was on there when I was looking at the trans, but the guy wanted to keep that, so we took it off.

    For certain, it is a 4:1 first, with reverse to the right of 3rd.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2018
  15. Mar 20, 2018
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    I don't need a CR T18 myself but do know where you can source those 2 parts.
    Message me and I'll send you a link for the used OEM parts.
     
  16. Mar 6, 2020
    MoGas

    MoGas New Member

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    Was the Close ratio with a long input used in non-CJ applications or were all the non-CJ applications, with the long input, wide ratio?
     
  17. Mar 6, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    The 258 Commando '72-73 and maybe 225 '71 got the close ratio T-18 like the 225 and 258 CJ-5. '76 258 CJ-7 got the close ratio T-18. These are not long inputs - about an inch longer than the Ford input, but not "long."

    The Jeep long input T-18 is really long, like 12"-13", and was only used in the V8 Wagoneers and J-trucks. These are all wide ratio. Jeep used the long input with a correspondingly long bell or adapter, which moved the V8 engine forward in the engine compartment to clear the firewall.

    This is from a '68-70 Wagoneer with a Buick 350:

    upload_2020-3-6_17-15-22.png

    The bellhousing for the Buick does not have a separate adapter.

    upload_2020-3-6_17-15-55.png

    The AMC version used the regular AMC bellhousing (same as used with the T-14 and T-15 CJ) and a long, separate adapter.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2020
  18. Mar 10, 2020
    MoGas

    MoGas New Member

    Flagstaff,...
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    What is this Dave's you speak of?
     
  19. Mar 10, 2020
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
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    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020
  20. Aug 12, 2021
    MoGas

    MoGas New Member

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    Well, here we are, more than 3 years since this post...

    I'm finally moving on this, but a slightly different direction. Here are all the accumulated parts:

    1986 Ford Bronco T18A
    Rebuild kit for T18A
    Jeep factory Iron adapter plate from donor CR T-18
    Main Shaft from donor CR T-18
    Scout Dana 300
    Rebuild kit for T/C

    I've spent about a year rebuilding a 360 for my Jeep and it has all taken more time than I wanted to spend, but it's getting there...
     
    Fireball likes this.
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