ITS NEVER GONNA END!!!!

[Brian]

Argh!!! This T-18 swap is turning in to a huge money pit!!! It went in for just a rebuild and install. Two months later the price is up to $2000 and climbing because of multiple custom fabbed parts that were needed!!! Can this get any worse? Will it ever end? I should have swaped in a auto, it probably would have been cheaper. I wanna drive my FSJ again dam*it. I miss it. http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/frown.gif Can anybody relate to this? Sorry, but I had to vent. Thanks for listening.

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Brian
66' J-3000 Custom Cab "Great White Ghost"
327AMC/T-18a/Dana20
Dana 44 front & rear
32x11.50 BFG A/T KO's
My FSJ (http://www.geocities.com/punkrock405/myfsj.html)

[Kris]

No problem on listening...
$2000 ??
Man,,, whos doing the swap?
Custom fabbed parts ? You mean like a cross member?
Explain... (if it does'nt hurt too much)
This is a swap that has interrested me for a while, but I did'nt think it would cost that much...
kris.


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89GW-360, 727, 208, d44x2/3.31, Warn Hubs, Flowmaster, MSD, Optima RedTop, Custom Engle Cam.
87yj-258,ba10,207,4.10,Detroit
00 Impreza Wagon

[porkchop]

Whoah! Why is it costing that much? You are going from a stick to a stick. I went from a stick to a new engine, tranny, t-case and axles and it only cost me about $140 for the price of the lube for all the gear boxes and some minor stuff. Go see what the shop is doing, Brian.

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'67/'79 Wagoneer mix
“Old Timer”
Body of a 33 year old
Heart and legs of a 21 year old (not mine the Jeeps)
Spirit of a 1 year old.
360, Holley 500,TH400,QT,D44's F&R
SOA, 2" AAL's 32X11.50's.
Soon to have 3" body lift with some 35's or 36's

"I have a dream that one day FSJ's will be equal at every parts store."

[Brian]

Ok here comes the explanation and prices, its gonna be lengthy, bear with me. Earlier this year I bought a T-18 from someone on the IFSJA. Paid about $500 to $600 including shiping it freight from the eastern part of the country. Bought a new bell housing(old one was cracked clean through) and tranny adapter plate from JW Jeep. That came close to $300. When I took it in to the local family run jeep shop I found out it needed:
(1) an overhaul $215
(2) a longer input shaft $70 used
(3) Synchro assembly low & reverse $100
(4) assorted bearings and small parts $52 (5) Grind flywheel and new clutch kit $222
(6) new countershaft not sure on price
(7) Tranny install $150
It's been sittin at the shop for almost 3 months by now(they really have a lot of jeeps to work on there hehe) and they said that they needed to get a custom made pilot bearing and some kind of sleeve that goes over the input shaft(sorry the name escapes me and I cant find it in the TSM) They had to cut off the crossmember mounts and weld them back on further up the frame. The X-case shifter and linkage had to be moved up and lengthened too. Also the drive shafts need to be shortened(rear) and lengthened(front). So far they have just given me a quote on this new stuff and teh new total seems to add up to $2000. This price also includes about $200 of work done on my steering system. They know thier stuff there, are friendly people, and I really appreciate the work they have done, but is the price right?


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Brian
66' J-3000 Custom Cab "Great White Ghost"
327AMC/T-18a/Dana20
Dana 44 front & rear
32x11.50 BFG A/T KO's
My FSJ (http://www.geocities.com/punkrock405/myfsj.html)

[This message has been edited by Brian (edited December 06, 2000).]