advance adapters intermediate shaft conversion

Has anyone used the Advance Adapters T-18 intermediate shaft conversion? any thoughts on same?
thanks

 

I assume you mean for the Dana 18 transfer case? A T--18 is a Borg-Warner built 4 speed transmission.

If this is for the D-18 transfer case Patrick I know has one. I've serviced lots of them. They are quieter than the stock shaft and loose needle bearings but typically must be shimmed for bearing clearance. The intermediate gear must be machined for the bearing races as well. The cost and machining is the down side. With the stock set up if you have a gear issue, you can find a gear pretty available. With the AA set up you have the down time and cost of machining the gear as well.

 

I've been wondering about this myself, as I'm gonna freshen up my transfer case when I do my 4 speed conversion this winter. Which is the better set up, AA's kit or the Novak kit, which uses the stock setup with a hardened shaft?

 

I can't compare the two, as I've only used the Novak kit with the hardened shaft. Actually, I bought the "master rebuild kit" with all the seals and bearings. Everything was good quality, and I've been pleased with the intermediate shaft so far ... I have a few hundred miles on it now. I do think the AA kit sounds good, but the extra work would have to be something you are willing to take on. May have more trouble getting parts for it down the road, as mentioned above also. Good luck with your choice; either one would be a significant improvement in durability over a worn-out stock shaft.

 

You're right it is a d-18 transfer case. Sometimes my brain and fingers do not communicate properly

 

With the AA kit, is it just a matter of machining the intermediate gear to accept the bearing races? That doesn't sound like too big of a problem. And I assume the shims are for settng the endplay on the bearings?

 

Oh how wrong you are!!
Patrick's gear was hard as he!!, I would do them again but they are really hard, had to sharpen the carbide boring bar after almost every cut.
If I do any more I will hunt up some ceramic inserts.

Easy isn't how I would describe it.R)

 

I have one that I have used in a few of my transfercases. I machined the gear and ceramic insert is the better cutter. As for spares and swaps I just kept a plain shaft and gear if I needed it (and I did). I never had a problem with the conversion, some other things did take out the intermediate gear though.
Overall I liked the conversion.

 

I'm on my second Novak shaft. Got about 30k miles on the first one. The one I just replaced was probably taken out by the broken teeth from the speedometer drive gear, not normal wear. The intermediate shaft can be replaced without pulling the t-case, although I've never tried it. For around $80 - $90 for the Novak kit I thinks it's well worth the money and a lot less aggravation. I guess "quiet" might be an issue if you actually use a full top on your Jeep. I can't hear my t-case for the wind blowing past my ears.