T14 Transmission?

I have a 153 cubic inch, inline chevy four, with a T14 and dana 20 TC in my 48Cj2a. I have a chance to install a ford T18 four speed, which I have and was wondering if it was worth the cost of the adapter. I drive this jeep mainly on the road and the T14 is in perfect shape, but I was wondering if I should change it out. I guess I am looking for input on how T14s hold up and are they a good transmission and are parts easy to get if it fails or breaks a gear. I thinking about it now, because I'm in the middle of installing saginaw steering in in, and the jeep is in the garage. Thanks for an input!

 

With the Chev 153 the T-14 should hold up just fine for mainly street driving. The T-18 is a much stronger trans but being a truck tranny, it shifts like one. It's first gear is low enough where it is mostly useful when hauling heavy loads or driving off-road. Normally you'd take off in second anyway so it's normally just like driving a 3 speed anyway. It's gonna be kind of expensive to adapt and will require disassembly of the trans if you need to change the output shaft. I'd stick with the T-14 if in good working condition and you drively mainly on the road. Where the T-18 shines is off-road. Nickmil.

 

I agree with Nickmil, T-14 for cruising/street driving. T-18 for the off road scene.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but the only situation needing the low first in a short wheelbase non load hauling vehicle is rocks. For a trail or hunting jeep the T14 and low in the transfercase are all that should be needed.

 

along with general annoying people behind you in traffic R)

 

Not necessarily. Lots of times I've been on really tight or washed out trails and needed to go real slow with not a rock in sight. Everybody seems to have this idea that low gears are just for rock crawling and it just isn't the case depending on terrain in the area you run. Nickmil.

 

Personally, I think the Borg-Warner 3-speeds don't get their due. Truck 4-speeds are popular now, and it's neat to have that 1st gear when you need it. However, the 4-speeds are heavy, require a significant investment in time and money (for most people), and are a pain to row in stop-and-go traffic (well, they are fun at first, but it gets old fast).

For most people, the original 3-speed is strong, practical, easy and inexpensive to service, and simple to drive. Especially with the lower stock gearing (5.38s, 4.88s, 4.27s, 4.10s) and "normal" tire size, most drivers will rarely if ever encounter a situation where they need lower gearing than the 3-speed will provide. Those that need (or can make good use of) the truck 4-speeds are really beyond the upper sigma point of the distribution of owners, at least IMO.