drivetrain question: t5 vs. t18 + d300

so i currently have a amc 304, connected to a t5, connected to a d300, connected to the knee bone...

my first off road trip a few years back was a success, then i dumped the clutch on the road and busted my t5 to hell-broken 1st gear and cluster gear. so i payed and got it fixed. they told me the benifit of that tranny is that it is 5 speed (whatever, it is a trail only rig, i don't need to be going 80 on the freeway), but it is weak as hell.

so i want to put in a tough t18 with that sweet granny gear. who can tell me if this will be a fairly easy swap or not? i obviously want to keep my d300...

:? will i need to get a different bell housing?
:? will it bolt up to my d300?
:? will i need any adapters to do this?

:? i was also thinking of clocking my d300 up and out of harms way a little bit, would that help with the mating of my t18 to d300?


thanks all

 

If you get a Ford T-18A it should bolt right up to your present bell housing. You will need a transfer case adapter and probably adjustment to drive shaft lengths. See Novak Enterprises for adapter.

 

As was said, the Ford T-18 will work with your bellhousing. You will need to drill and tap a few holes but the bosses are there in the bellhousing for this. You will need a different pilot bushing. You will need an adapter and output shaft kit. Novak is a good source for that. That combination is the same length as your T-5 so no driveshaft mods are necessary. Crossmember modifications will be necessary. Nickmil

 

ok, thanks for the help guys. i'll start trying to locate this transmission, and also start looking into novak for parts and help.

thanks guys

 

The T18 is a cool tranny. However, you may need to TIG weld in a couple of your bellhousing holes since the T5 and Ford T18 holes are very close to each other. Jeep used the same bellhousing for both during the Dana 300 era and just drilled and tapped them for either the T176 (T18 pattern) or SR4/T4/T5. You can then tap the holes to match - AMC may have already piloted them.

The SM465 is another choice for a T5 bellhousing. Still requires some mods, but that trans is worth it, too. The SM465 would allow you to keep your existing clutch disc as the splines are the same spec as the T5 splines.

A tech writeup on the T18 is found here:
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/ford_to_amc.htm

Likewise for the SM465:
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/465_to_amc.htm

Eric

 

i hadn't even thought about the sm465... is that a strong 4 speed? is it much longer than the t5? and does it have the nice granny 1st like the t18?
thanks for the help guys.

 

The SM465 is natively shorter than the T5, but would be about the same length with the 300 adapter. It is a tough transmission - as strong or moreso than the T18 - of course they are both so tough that for the discussion of a Jeep, it is nearly irrelevant. The 465 also has a lower first gear... if you are seeking that.

 

Something you should know before you swap, the T5 shifts like a car trans, the SM465 shifts like a truck trans. Don't expect to be able to shift it quick. It's the only downfall, I wouldn't hesitate to swap it. Depending on your gearing you shouldn't need overdrive anyway.

 

why go for a t18, I have and np435, and love it, easy to rebuild
and was a matter of drilling and tapping 2 holes in the jeep bellhousing to get it to work, no drive shaft alterations either (in my old cj 8 ), I have the same setup in my cj6

 

order some parts and when the UPS guy delivers them have someone keep him occupied and steal his tranny!! If its a gas job UPS truck its either a NP435 or a SM465(might be the 420). Novaks kits are also usually drilled to allow you to clock the transfer case.

 

I believe that the T-18 transmissions shift much better than the SM465. Or, better put, the shifters are less sloppy.

 

so i have an opportunity to swap my t5 with a t18 with someone here on the forum...
i think we're both for it, but the only question is how much work is involved for the swap (for each of us), and also, the cost of shipping from san diego to victoria canada...
i think if i can work it out and it is not too much trouble i may go for it.

 

Note that a Jeep T-18 only came with a Dana 20, which won't bolt up in place of the Dana 300, and vice-versa. You're probably looking at an additional $500-600 for an adapter kit for both of you. IMO you'll be better off to locally source a T-18 or T-19 and adapt it - unless you plan to swap transfer cases too.

Check the prices to ship via Forward Air. You'd need to strap the transmission (and transfer case?) onto a pallet, and take it to and pick it up from a local airport truck terminal. Shipping to your door will be more expensive. Forward Air is the cheapest. If you ship to a residence, you'll need lift gate service (ca $100) to set the pallet on the ground. And, check the duties into Canada - shipping to Canada is a pain IME.

Sorry to be so negative - but I think swapping at that distance isn't realistic.

 

The 435 is a good one too. It shifts just great.

One way to get these truck trannies to shift a bit better is to run a 50wt mineral oil - I know of no ill effects of doing this and some of the manuals recommended it. Also, the SM465 can be made to shift pretty nicely by swapping the factory, two-piece fingered stick to an updated one-piece fingered stick.

Eric

 

so, to swap in a sm465, is that going to bolt to the bell housing and d300?

 

You've seen this?

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/465_to_amc.htm

 

thanks