T-18 swap

[crazyguy]

friend of mine took the t-18 out of his 2WD F-150 and I be able to buy it from him but need to know if it would be usefull to me. my J-10 has a 258 with a T-5 behind it and an NP208 behind that, I know i'll probally have to get a different t-case if a t-case can be bolted up to a 2WD T-18 but I need to know if the Ford T-18 would have the correct input shaft length and pilot bearing size(doubtfull but if its just a matter of a different pilot bearing thats fine) for the bellhousing on my T-5. I understand the T-5 was a typical ford mustang tranny and am hoping they kept some kind of standarization for input shafts.

[Chero77]

Keep your T5 or swap it for a World Class T5 (T5s made after 1986 or so). The T5 has a good usable low for street driving and 30% overdrive in 5th. The T18 one very strong trans, but you don't need it with the 258 six, and with the 6.4 granny low for all practical purposes its just a 3 speed for street driving. The granny first is to low to be useable on the street. You will pretty much use 2nd (3:1) all the time for street driving and of course you give up overdrive. If you beef up the power output of the 258 or drop in the fuel injected 4 litre than just swap to the world class T5. Its more than strong enough for those applications. After all the T5 handled 5 litre Ford V8s with 225 hp and 285 ft-lbs of torque just fine. Now if your going to run 38s or larger with a built 360 or 401, thats different, for that you need a T18.

[Panther]

crazyguy,
I have the ford T18 in my scrambler. You need an aftermarket tail shaft and adapter to convert it to 4x4 and get the right spline shaft and bolt pattern for your tcase. You'll want to check with novak, advance adapters and others on who can make the adapter. The 208 is the same round bolt pattern and 23 splines as the jeep dana 300 so you don't have to limit yourself with looking for just 208 adapters. scotty pointed out that the ford input shaft has slightly different diameter so you need to get the ford clutch disk. The good thing about the T18 is it's like re-gearing in the tranny instead of the axles if you are going to a larger tire. You also get a stronger tranny. Can't agree with the world class T5 Dave, converted to 4x4 it's about 2000. But unless you have a larger tire the 1st gear is too low for street. Anyway, that all I have, good news - granny gear and more HD, bad news - 500 in adapters.
Lee

[crazyguy]

I was intending that I would be swapping out my 208 for a ford t-case that will bolt up to the ford T-18.

and my 258 is being built up. planning mild build, .030 over, mild cam, 4.0 head, 4.0 factory header(the newer ones though). staying with a carb though untill I come up with a wrecked cherokee to pull the 4.0HO fuelinjection out of.

[Mike N]

Couldn't you just get a T-18 from an IH that had a 258? Then you wouldn't need to change anything?

Just a thought..

[crazyguy]

if I could find them being parted out around here then yah I could do that

[UnkleMunky]

T5 bellhousing will be different than T176 bellhousing. T176 bellhousing will be a bolt up for a Ford T18 or Ford NP435. Only catch then is T-case setup. If you use a 2wd case, you gotta do yourself and adapter of some sort, which is always $$$! Even if you can get a 4wd Ford T18 or NP435, I don't think input on Jeep NP208 is same as Fords tranny output, so more problems there. Best to get a Ford tranny/t-case combo if you can.

You can probably find a T176 bellhousing on ebay fairly reasonably...or check boneyards for CJs! smile.gif Lots of them swapped out to something else!

BTW...personally, I don't see anything wrong with a T18 behind a 258; in fact, find it a perfect tranny setup. The one in my '78 is impressive and why I'd like a better setup for the '83 when I swap anyway. Sure, 1st gear is your grunt gear and not a road range, but it's there when you need it! OD isn't a necessity with a Jeep, especially if you've got 2.73s as many '80s Jeeps had, so a T5 might be worth replacing. A T18 is a good choice, but unless you're going adapters or find the right setup, you might want to keep looking.

[Panther]

Yeah Michael, forgot about the bellhousing but the T176 BH should work fine.

Also the Ford 4x4 T18 is pretty rare, so you would be fortunate if you can find the ford adapter and tail shaft. See : Ford T18 and NP208 post: http://www.ifsja.org/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=011992