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T-14 To T-18 Upgrade

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by dbender, Apr 28, 2020.

  1. Apr 28, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    257
    Hello All:
    Glad to see this site up and running, I lost it a few years back (don't know what happened)
    any way, doing another 74 frame up,
    originally there was a T-14 in it and I am putting a T-18 in its place. before I go to the lengths of fabricating the Trans mount brackets and T/C torque bushing that differ from the 3 speed, does anyone have access to these parts or know where I can get them
    thanks
    Dave
     
  2. Apr 28, 2020
    zila

    zila I throw poop

    Rock Springs,...
    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2003
    Messages:
    1,201
    I had to move my stuff and add some iron to get the OEM to work. Then I spent the next 5 years fixing the torque arm thingy and tranny mount all the time.. Eventually I found an after market affair that I installed .. There's another thread here that I posted pix on..
     
  3. Apr 28, 2020
    4wealn

    4wealn Member

    Ontario, Canada
    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Messages:
    137
    I did it to mine. I had a T14 and broke that and then put in a T15 and then swapped that out for a T18. I didn't have to get anything extra. Intermediates came with a T18. The clutch is different, the bellhousing is a bit shorter since the tranny is a bit longer. It all bolts into the factory trans cross member. All you have to do is move the cross member one set of boltholes towards the rear of the jeep. You will also need the Dana 18 shifter as it is a bit longer due to the tranny being longer, that way it will come out at the same spot in the tub. If my memory serves me correct you might also have to change the bushing in the motor that the input shaft of the tranny goes into. You will more than likely get that with the clutch. I was lucky and kept all the spare parts and just swapped it out (after a small mod cause I am running a 98 TJ 4.0L) It is a really straight forward swap
     
  4. Apr 29, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    257
    Roger
    I have places the cross member back in the aft holes. but as I remember the T-14 sets up directly over the cross member>
    I also have two other 74s with the 4 speed in them. When I checked out how they made up to the cross member, it seems that there is a bracket that bolts up to the aft edge of the cross member. also there is a torque pad on the passenger side that fits up to the Dana-20 TC.
    When reviewing the thread from ZILA, Tim provided a diagram that shows these parts.
    The T-18 I am putting in this frame up restore is a ford tranny that NOVAK set up for me.
    So it is those brackets that I am looking for.
    If I can figure out how to get a pic up I will show you what I have so far
     
  5. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    257
    hmmmm
    ok
    removed the parts from one of my other 74s with the t-18 in it
    can't get the pics up on the thread. any input on that is appreciated
    dropped the pic in the file and it is rejected saying file is to big.
    anyway i will be building a jig to fabricate the needed brackets, as I have another build to do this as well.
    I would like to post the pics if possible during the process
    thx
    Dave
     
  6. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    257
  7. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    257
  8. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    257
  9. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
    Messages:
    257
    that's one of the parts unique to the t-18 set up in a 74. i will post the others
     
  10. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
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    257
  11. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
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    these are all the parts that make up the t-18 option in the 74 cj with a I6 258
     
  12. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
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    257
  13. Aug 23, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
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    257
    you can see the L bracket that has been broken and reworded. I plan to fabricate that part with 1/2" instead of 1/4" stock
     
  14. Aug 23, 2020
    bigjohn

    bigjohn Active Member

    Kelso Wa
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2010
    Messages:
    1,054
    I had issues with my mount as well . I ended up installing MORE motor mounts. No more issues. It's a bit different approach but it worked well for me. I feel like much of the movement is from rubber motor mounts. The down side is hardware throughout the jeep sometimes loosens up due to more motor vibrations transmitted to the rear of the jeep I think.
     
  15. Aug 23, 2020
    dsrt4

    dsrt4 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2009
    Messages:
    555
    I ended up just using a ford t18 input shaft and a t150 bell housing. For the rear mounts on the factory crossmember I used just two wide spaced studs in the factory holes where the factory style runner mount would mount and 1" body bushings as mounts and bolted it to through the crossmember. I have had it like that for over 25years and its worked fine. I had to notch the factory crossmember for the studs but other than that its been outstanding and really eliminated the slop and rock the factory setup had. Also helped to keep the factory 304 mounts from pulling apart after a few years. Little more vibes but not very much.
     
  16. Aug 24, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
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    257
    IMG_3853.jpg
    The input shaft concept is an option but I am to far along for that route now. the Trans is already made up to the block and is ready to drop in place. so I think I am stuck with fabricating parts unless someone know where I can get the cross member bracket. I need two of them.
     
  17. Aug 25, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    I would say it's very unlikely that you will find these parts that are not installed in a complete Jeep. In the day, only the bushings, rubber mount and maybe the L-bracket (if it's known to break) would be stocked at even the largest, most complete Jeep parts department. the rest would be ordered as needed. Any swap like this will involve some fabrication.

    There is so little demand for these parts today that no aftermarket source would reproduce them. Since they were never a stocking part, availability as NOS would be minuscule to zero, especially today nearly 50 years later. If you found a wrecked '72-75 Jeep in a yard or private-party with the T-18 that has not been stripped already, you might find them that way. You could start with a search at www.car-part.com for the T-18, though that won't tell you if the transmission is in the Jeep or not. Quite unlikely - I would not bother, and instead find a shop that could make work-alike parts if I could not make them myself.

    Are you using the same bell as the T-14 and the factory plate adapter? That's what an intermediate came with, when equipped with the close-ratio T-18 (4.02:1 1st). The wide-ratio T-18 was not available in those years of the CJ, but the J-truck with a 258 and T-18 is the same setup in close ratio (6.32:1 1st). As suggested, the T-150 bell is shorter than the T-14 bell, and can be used with the Ford input shaft (wide ratio only). The '76 came with the close-ratio and a new unique bell and mount, and then the '77 introduced the wide-ratio in the CJ with its own new parts that continued until the end of the CJ T-18 at the end of 1979.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2020
  18. Aug 25, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Looking at the parts book, the big insulator (mount) is a 1370910. The small round insulator is a 941400. NB this setup was used in the CJ with a T-18 through 1979, so you could extend your search to those years ... if you were to search for a donor. The same picture is used, so they should be close to the same if not identical. If you want to search for NOS in this category, I suggest you purchase the '74-80 Jeep factory parts book and search by part number.
     
  19. Sep 1, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
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    Thanks Tim:
    I decided to just make the parts, I believe you are correct in that chances of finding one bracket is not likely let alone two.
    Novak built the t-18 for me, it is a close ration ford and they fit it up to their bell housing.
    this is what I built starting with 1/2 x 3" angle iron.
     
  20. Sep 1, 2020
    dbender

    dbender 1974 CJ5 I6 258

    San Pedro California
    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2010
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    257
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