looking at buying a t-18

looking at buying a t-18 (6:32:1) this is supposedly a ford case with the right inards to use on a buick v6. comes with a AA adapter bell housing to go from buick v6 to ford t-18. also included is the cluth fork, luk clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing for said combo. i would need to get a pilot bushing. oh and it comes with the large hole adapter for the transfer case. this was supposedly all bolted together on a buick v6 in a cj 2b but never ran. how can i tell if this is going to work in my '71 cj and what do i need to look for to tell me this is the real deal? i was about to pull the trigger and get the novak kit for the sm465 i have but then stumbled across this deal. for what the novak kit will cost me i can get the t-18 set up for the same price

 

the unfortunate part is that the t-18 is 6 spline and my overdrive is the 10 spline and that is why i was leaning more towards the 465 swap but if this is the real deal i may need to get with herm and swap out bowl gears

 

I would first try and date the Tranny...........( a picture would be great) Ford cases all have the standard Ford pattern and if it has been made to accept a BOP housing the two bosses on the case will have been drilled and used.......take the cover off 17 teeth input shaft gear count will get you to a 6:32 low gear. Shift pattern Over and up for Reverse is early Over and down is later.........PTO cover on Pass side only...........Look at all the gears especially the first reverse slider and the counter shaft below.........that will give you and indication of how hard it's been beat............again some pictures.

 

here is a picture of the trans

 

it is the early t-18 with reverse being up and to the right not sure on the pto port

 

It does look like a Ford Tranny ,just based on the extra un-drilled bosses in the front case , and I seen now that he has an AA bell housing so that is OK to get the Buick and the tranny matched up.

I would again pull the cover off and look at the gears inside for condition and also that it is a 6:32........That adapter looks Cast Iron which would also date it to be early an early version.

 

Ford transmission case that is not modified on the front, stock Jeep adapter to the transfer case, appears to be missing the seal. Make sure the large spacer is on the output shaft. It should protrude through the adapter and the transfer case input gear should go against it. The adapter seal seals to that spacer. I don't see the bellhousing so can't comment on that other to say the unmodified Ford case leads me to say the bellhousing must be the adapter style with the right indexing hole diameter and bolt pattern. Make sure the release bearing fits the front bearing retainer or you will be doing machine work to the bearing retainer. Fords are larger/longer than GM so typically get machined down to fit the GM indexing hole and release bearing.
The pilot bushing is readily available from many sources like R&P, PartsMike, Summit Racing, Jeg's, etc.

 

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it comes with an even fire flywheel but would i be able to retain my odd fire flywheel? there is a small hole adapter as well in the bunch. is there some sort of picture of that spacer nick?

 

This looks like the standard BOP bell housing. If you decide to go with the AA housing, I'm in the market for a standard Buick bell housing...

 

That's an AA aftermarket Bell housing..........with two starter pockets which looks to have all of the correct holes..........
My AA on the left has just one starter pocket for the V6 on the passenger side only, the one on the right is a stock un-modified BOP housing.

 

wenaha my bell housing is a '71 with the adapter built in and looking to keep it to put in my other frame.

 

speaking of my '71 bell housing could't you use that with the longer stickout and not convert the t-18? i seen a picture of someone's '71 with the actual t-18 from the factory and i think they use that same bell

 

best picture yet of a V6 factory 4 speed
http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?107659-Late-1971-cj5-v-6-factory-4-speed-restore

 

here is the picture of the rear of the trans. the picture i posted earlier was with the small hole adapter laying next to the trans. the large hole adapter is attached to the trans. is this a IH or jeep adapter? it does not come with a bull gear on the rear of the trans so which one will i need that from. my current set up with the t-14 won't work because it's 10 spline. i'm wanting to keep my overdrive but that will need a different bowl gear.

 

that's the one i seen

 

Terry

Now I am confused. I was under the (mistaken?) impression that the STOCK BOP bell housing had pockets for the starter on both sides. Maybe the one in your photo does and I can't see it. The AA BHs on the AA website look like yours (the left in your photo). Is there another AA adaptor that has pockets on both sides? Could you explain the differences?

 

Thanks. My mistake -- thought it was stock BOP.

 

Don't worry about the confusion there is plenty to go around...........I believe there was some BOP housings with two starter pockets don't know what the application was.
The stock BOP housing that I have is the only one I'm familiar with. Starter pocket on the Pass side only......The AA bell housing I have is the #712583 Buick V6 to T-18, T-19 , NP 435 and various Jeep Trannys found in the CJ7............
Perhaps OddFire will post the housing number on his then will both know.