More T18 Discussion...

I've got one factory spacer on each side, but it's kind of meaningless since the mount isn't the same height at the T-14 one, and we sunk mounting surface down into the crossframe:


A better reference is that the final driveline angle is within 0.2 degrees from the original T-14 setup with it's two factory spacers: The transfer case outputs are essentially the stock height.

With the T-14:


With the T-18 in the final location:

 

When I called Tom Woods while laying under my Jeep with angle finder and tape measure he only wanted the length. I pressed about all these issues, he asked about the lift etc. and after getting the description told me to quit worrying about it.
Been wheeling and driving on that shaft and single joints 3+ years.

 

We probably all over-engineer our modifications!
Those are some cool angle measurement displays with Fireball's effort!

 

Interesting. I haven't seen that done before...more than one way to skin a cat. A T-86 I had used three spacers with stock springs from the factory.
For the SM420/AA, I added 1" to that cross member to make it work. No shims.

 

No the cardan cross does not bind upon itself. BUT the cardan cross can and will make contact with the D18’s companion flange yoke.
In fact Willys redesigned the original companion flange yoke in order to gain additional articulation.
Early rear flange yoke = A-950
Late rear flange yoke = 807784
Let me see if I can dig up some old pics showing the difference.

Coild not access my old Photobucket pics but luckily I still have both for a new pic.

As you would expect the taller yoke allows greater articulation.
By the way this later .32” taller companion yoke dates back to when Dana changed from 2.43 to become the 2.46 transfer case.

 

Being the forgetful person I am I forgot I have a T18 with factory adapters that I got a couple of years ago. I can measure the driveshaft length when I get home. There were two spacer blocks between the frame and cross member iirc

 

Stock rear drive shaft from the factory t18 setup is 14.5” CL to CL of joints fwiw