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looking at buying a t-18

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by oddfirejeeper, Jan 18, 2015.

  1. Jan 20, 2015
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Buick, starter pocket on passenger side, Olds and Pontiac, starter on driver side. I can't remember which side Cadillac had the starter on but same bellhousing bolt pattern (472 and 500). That bellhousing looks to be an AA unit but not Buick specific. If you look close it's thicker in the transmission mounting area, i.e. no recesses and support webs. Also block mounting flange is thicker than standard BOP bellhousing.
    Technically if the bellhousing has only the passenger side starter pocket it is Buick only, not BOP.
     
  2. Jan 20, 2015
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Actually, you'll need the planetary unit...it's the part with the splines in it. You can remove the planetary unit from the bowl gear pretty easily.
     
  3. Jan 20, 2015
    Wenaha

    Wenaha Member

    West Coast
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    Terry and Nick. Thanks. Now I am slightly less confused. I have spent some time trying to sort this out when considering the T18 as a possibility behind my V6.

    Now the $64,000 question… where can I find an inspection cover for same?
     
  4. Jan 20, 2015
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Oddfire - as stated - its easy enough to change out the spline unit on an OD for it to match. The 6 are a much better option for that, and your other option is an SM465 as you can get an adapter (Novak I believe) that fits either 10 or 6 spline ODs and Bull Gears.

    Wenaha - Inspection covers come up time to time and can be made with a pattern - I have several I can make patterns of. One day I'll get a roller and make a few for folks (ya - in my 'spare time').
     
  5. Jan 20, 2015
    Wenaha

    Wenaha Member

    West Coast
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    Spare time can be hard to come by.

    I'll keep my eyes open for the inspection cover. Are there different designs, or are they all the same? I expect that a cover for an AA BH would be different that one for a BH with two starter pockets? Seems like I have a lot to learn to get this thing ready for installation/use.
     
  6. Jan 20, 2015
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    I imagine you will have to custom fab an inspection cover to fit up to an AA bellhousing.
     
  7. Jan 20, 2015
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    My AA bell for the SM465 didn't need a special cover - it only had the one starter opening and the stock fit it fine.
     
  8. Jan 20, 2015
    oddfirejeeper

    oddfirejeeper Active Member

    Hamilton, MI
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    so should i pull the trigger on this set up or continue with the 465? what snags will i encounter with the t-18 versus sm465. like i said i was going to purchase the adapter from novak and found this for sale. it's a couple hours drive one way to pick it up. the guy said it was all bolted together in the cj2 but never ran. i can pick this up for the same cost as the novak adapter. i know the gearing is deeper in the 465 but not by much if this is in fact a 6:32:1 trans.
     
  9. Jan 20, 2015
    Wenaha

    Wenaha Member

    West Coast
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    If I were you, I'd buy it - provided it checks out OK. I have been round and round on the tranny question, and if it has all the parts and they all work(together) you saves a bunch of money and time.

    I ran a T18 in a Diesel F250 HD for many years. Tough transmission and never a bit of trouble with it.
     
  10. Jan 21, 2015
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    I put my pros and cons between the two on the other thread, but having done them both, here is a quick hit from my view.

    T-18 - more complex in the many variations available for usage. May need mix and match parts for the 'cleanest' or even 'workable' fit. It can all be overcome with Nick's help ;) I would also recommend getting parts from R&P for any 'gotchas' you may run into.

    SM465 - Bigger, simpler install - very straight forward and clean install. More expensive in adapters (depending on what you find with the T-18 ). Personally, I prefer the splits better on the SM465 and that is what is in my main rig.
     
  11. Jan 21, 2015
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    For me the Difference between the 465 (175 lbs.) and the B&W T-18 ( 145 lbs) is really not much!..............everything Chuck mentioned above...yes. It will bolt up to a GM or BOP housing , but the large hole in the BOP housing has to be cut larger via a mill to accept it ............ratios 6.55 , 3.58, 1.57 & 1.0-1..........
    .
    The T-18's are in my eyes not more complex as long as you either stay with the Borg Warner "Jeep" version or the Borg Warner "Ford" version..........The Ford version is the much more acceptable version with an industry standard 6.5" input shaft stickout length.........ratios 6.32 , 3.09 , 1.69, & 1.0-1 The Ford version bearing collar has to be turned down a little on the OD but can be done on just about any lathe and perhaps a matching of two holes in the case to the type of housing being used.
    It's when folks try to mix those two versions together that they have all the problems........There are some parts that do interchange, but no reason to even go there.
    On Parts the Ford version T-18 is still fully supported.......the Jeep version is not , so some parts are scarce.
     
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