input shaft on a t-18?/350 swap

[kingeno]

I am going to do a 350 swap but get the advanced adapter so i can keep my t-18, the adapter calls for the length of the input shaft seeing there are 4 different ones. I was wondering if the length would be the same on all 81 cherokee 4 speeds? If so does anyone have the length? I'm trying to order the adapter before i take the 360 out so i can have everything i need and dont have to wait for parts. Thanks

[Elliott]

You don't need any adaptor. If you have a long input T18 all you need is the Buick 350 bellhousing and they can still be found. It's ~1" deeper than an AMC T18 bell.

BTW, the input on the T18 that came behind the AMC V8 (has the spacer box between the bell and tranny) is the longest input of any of the T18's.

[threepiece188]

Are you sure you have a T-18? It was not available from the factory on the Cherokee in 1981.

[kingeno]

yea, it's gotta be. 4 speed, with the np208, driveshaft on the drivers side

[Elliott]

Better check the numbers on the tranny, likely a T176... The T18 in '80s rigs was almost exclusively a J20 thing unless it got swapped in... which would be cool.

[kingeno]

checked the tranny today but, the number on the tags were rusted off completely. I got these numbers though. G26 04206. The G could be a C.
And the tranny houseing itself is 10.1/2 inches, and with the spacer between the bellhoseing it is 14 inches. I'm hopeing someone knows what it would be or if i can look that number up somewhere.

[Elliott]

If the case is all aluminum it's T176, if it's iron it's T18:
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t176.htm
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t18_t19.htm

[kingeno]

alright thanks. It is the t-18 then.

[kingeno]

You don't need any adaptor. If you have a long input T18 all you need is the Buick 350 bellhousing.

I am gonna be doing a chevy 350. The buick 350 bell housing will work for that?

[Elliott]

As long as your T18 is the long input (has the ~5" spacer between the bell and the tranny) it will. If you can find the bell then try and buy the flywheel and starter from the same rig. This is how I'm setting up my Buick 455, no $$$ custom bell, no costly billet flywheel only I will use a .850 adaptor to my NV4500 but with the T18 you won't need one.

[tgreese]

I'd think the Chevy bell will only work with the Buick spacer, not the AMC spacer. I'm not sure the Buick 350 even used a spacer - it may have used a bell with a long snout instead. The bell used with the AMC engines and the T-18 is the T-15/T-14 bell, and the spacer adapts from the T-15 pattern to the Jeep T-18 pattern. The T-15 pattern is different from GM transmissions.

Note also that the Buick bellhousing pattern is different from the Chevy pattern - not compatible.

You really need to know what setup was installed in your truck, since the T-18 was only available in the J-20 in '81. Then you can get the AA bell that you need.

[Elliott]

The Buick bell Jeep used in front of the T18 came with ~5" spacer also, the bell itself is 9" deep, one inch deeper than the AMC bell.
http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10160/BuickT18_Bellhousing.JPG

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo53/65Gladiator/66%20Jeep%20Gladiator%20Dually/DCP_5286.jpg