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Rebuilding A 1980 Ford T18 In Hopes Of Hooking Up To Dana 20 Tc

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by turbogus, Aug 7, 2017.

  1. Aug 7, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
    Joined:
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    Well, time has gone past since my thread of asking how practical it was to rebuild this Ford T18 that I got a few years ago. http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/ho...parts-2640026/

    Got started on it last week and here's my progress thus far;

    Got the mainshaft gear assembly out of the case and the input shaft which was a small PITA on account of the length of the mainshaft and case clearances;
    [​IMG]

    The input gear (that matches the length of the AMC 360 input) seem to be in good shape;

    [​IMG]

    But the reverse idler gears look to be compromised as does the 2nd synchro sleeve. I may have to go all the way with this rebuild.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I have all of the main gears, sleeves synchronizers and snap rings oriented on this dowel I got from the hardware store.
    [​IMG]

    I have struggled with the dang Reverse Idler Gear shaft using a 3/4" x 8" brass drift but didn't check clearances before purchasing that drift, I also purchased a shorter one but even coupled together that shaft at best only moved 1 or 2mm. The countershaft came right out by contrast for lacking a pilot shaft a few roller bearings slipped out but as these come in the rebuild kit I'm not too concerned at this point.

    The Tremec service book mentions an angle drift to push that Reverse Idler Gear shaft, but no one around here has ever seen one. From another website I saw a mention that a straight drift was all they needed to get this dingus out. I still may have the option to take the case to a transmission shop where they pulled the front and rear bearings for me for free. But I'd rather do it myself, any ideas?
     
  2. Aug 7, 2017
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    I don't recall using a special bent drift to get mine out but, it's been a while and my memory is terrible. If you look in the General forums, "Tech Index", there is my thread when I rebuilt my T18......with tons of great help from experienced forum members and all my first timer questions. Also a T98 rebuild thread that may also be of help as they are almost identical transmissions.

    I still have extra parts here somewhere from the IH T18. Not sure what may or may not work for you. Start a conversation with me if you are interested in any of it. Good luck. I'll help where I can but, like I said, it's been a while and memory bad.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2017
  3. Aug 7, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    Thanks so much Wheelie, I saw this from another site and it seems plausible, what does everyone think?
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Aug 7, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    I just had a look at your pages Wheelie, but the photos seem to be corrupt for the most part.
     
  5. Aug 7, 2017
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Every once in a while you find one of those reverse idler gear shafts really stuck in place and can be a bear to remove. What is shown in your pic can work. I've done similar in the past. For production work I heated and bent a long, thick, steel rod with a dog-leg in it for driving those shafts out.
     
  6. Aug 7, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    I can dig that nick, that dog leg is just like the "angled drift" the Tremec manual mentions.


    eidt: hmmm now if I can just clean up those drifts I just bought I can return 'em and....
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2017
  7. Aug 8, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    Well, it's decision time I got a response from the Craigslist guy with some photos of the innards of his '68 T18 and the Reverse Idler Gear and 2nd & Low Synchronizer ring gear look a damnsight better'n mine. I may have to gunney sack this transpmission and go with his.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Aug 8, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    Okay the CL transmission is mine. I'll compare the gears on the mainshaft when I get it home and choose the best for the conversion.
     
  9. Aug 8, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Those photos look great ...
     
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  10. Aug 8, 2017
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Wow, a lot of that trans looks like new replacement gears. Reverse idler is obviously worn but the rest looks newish.
     
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  11. Aug 10, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    Glad to see you chime in timger, I've noticed your posts over the years and like wheelie I really do value your opinions.

    I brought the case of my 1980 T18 to work, going to use some engine degreaser on it and see if I can get that dang Reverse Idler Shaft out at AAMCO. They were kind enough to get me started on this by pulling the front and rear bearings for me for free. That is turning out to be less of a challenge than this dang shaft it is IN there. I'm doing this just in case the deal on that 1968 T18 goes south.


    Here's a side by side (rather top to bottom) comparison of my 1980 and that 1968

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Aug 10, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    I am a little dubious about swapping in an older design of the venerable T18 into my 1978 CJ5, not to say that newer is always better but I am a little concerned.
     
  13. Aug 10, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    The 1st & Reverse Large sliding gear in the rear , the reverse Idler and the cluster below is the only gears you normally need to be concerned with in a T-18......all of which are straight cut and have no syncro.........chipped and worn gears even if massaged by grinding and polishing the tooth faces will continue to deteriorate , chip further & fail or jump out of gear. The other gears that were shown all look great as Dave mentioned.
     
  14. Aug 10, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    I cleaned up the case inside and out with engine degreaser before taking it over to our local AAMCO to get that dang shaft out. They said they'll hot tank it for me too. Be ready in a couple of days, in case that CL T18 in Portland is no good.
     
  15. Aug 10, 2017
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    I wouldn't be too concerned. These things are tough as nails. If they survived in dump trucks and plow trucks, etc., I doubt a JEEP will ever hurt one. I don't think they ever built a bad one or a "weaker" one. I would, however, be concerned by aftermarket replacement gears, should they appear somewhere. I like NOS stuff when I can get it and will often postpone projects until I gather the factory parts I want or need.

    And, uhhhh, don't go trustin' me too much. I'm no pro when it comes to this stuff. I rely heavily on the knowledgeable and experienced professionals here. And I forget a lot of stuff. I thought I knew JEEPs pretty well until I found this website many years ago. But, I do appreciate the kind words.
     
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  16. Aug 11, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    Since this is my first transmission I've ever worked with in my many years of wrenching, notwithstanding your remarks wheelie any information I find helpful of late and as I did on the Ford Contour E fan conversion I compile the findings in the work and then post as a 'how to' in other forums.

    The local AAMCO shop did me right again, they were able to get that dang shaft out by pushing it in ?!? Apparently on this T18 the Reverse Idler Shaft is not tapered, but they pulled it for free!.

    Headed to Portland tomorrow to take a look at a '68 T18 that looks prettry clean. May be the answer as some of the gears in mine are compromised.
     
  17. Aug 13, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    I had agreed to purchase it from the seller if it all checked out, and it did.

    A lift of the lynch lid to whomever it was that spotted this tranmission on CL for me.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2017
  18. Aug 14, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    Got the transmission down from Portland and it's languishing in my truck for the time being, I hurt my back last night (unrelated to transmission) going to wait to move it to where I'll be doing the teardown in the next couple of days. Going to see if Gary's shop has a clamshell bearing remover tool I can borrow. Can't see buying one for this one time go, and I think I've used up favors at Aamco, so I don't want to pester them again.
     
  19. Aug 18, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    I got the '68 T18 up on the freight cart and verified the shift pattern it IS and early one judging by the shift pattern) but with the somewhat fresh rebuild (except the reverse idler) the conversion may go well.
     
  20. Aug 30, 2017
    turbogus

    turbogus Member

    Albany, Oregon
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    So far I've removed the shifter, keeping the pin safe in a ziplock, the top cover off and the bearing retainer and first snap ring, went easier on this '68 than on the '80. I hope the bearings are likewise, I brought my two brass drifts and my 5 lb. cross pien hammer and see if I can get 'em to budge. Most auto parts stores don't have or even know what a clamshell bearing puller is.
     
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