I did this swap into a 7 once and just used the stock BH and tapped new holes for the tranny, per Advance Adapters instructions. I did keep the 300 case for it's better low range, and the new main shaft is not "that" hard to install, but get a pro if you are not comfortable. Good luck.
T-18 into an 83 w/258
- Thread starter CeeJay
- Start date
Most T-18s can be adapted to AMC and Chevy bellhousings without an adapter. It requires drilling and tapping the front face of the tranny, and elongating one or both of the trannies upper mounting ears. I have done this twice with Chevy bellihousings, with great results. I don't know the exact procedure for an AMC bellhousing. Refer to the Novak Adapters website, I believe you can obtain instructions from them. Hope this helps, hobbs
BIG_Mark
Old Skool
- City
- Snohomish
- State
- WA
When I did my T-18 swap I only had to purchse the Advance Adapters Tranny to Transfer case adapter(in my case Dana 300). A new Bellhousing was not needed since the bolt pattern is already on the stock AMC bellhousing and has guide holes hat need only to be tapped out. My CJ-8 is an 82 and had the crappy T-5 tranny in it, after the swap I didn't need new driveshafts or anything. The only modification needed was to drill two holes for the tranny mount in the skidplate. After a bunch of wheeling the weight from the tranny/transfer case my skidplate starts to crack. I have replaced it twice now and this time when it cracked I decided to weld up the crakcs, so far so good, wheel see how it lasts after this summer!
Good luck!
Good luck!
Panther
Scrambler Nut
- City
- Methuen
- State
- MA
Yeah, I always wondered why some people said you need the T176 or T150 bellhousing for the T18 swap. It doesn't really make sense because the T4/T5 bellhousing is basically the same, just different holes for the tranny. And like people are saying here, the pattern for each tranny is "notched" in the bell housing already so all you have to do is drill it out, no need to put the T18 on the bell housing to line up new holes, they're already notched.
I swapped the super rare T18a and NP208 combo in my cherokee recently and noticed that the FSJ T176 is the similar to the CJ version, it just has the longer input and bell housing adapter. This T18 has a different bolt pattern for the bell housing but again, the notches are there and just had to be drilled out.
I hated the T176 in the cherokee but mostly because I have 33's and 3.31 gears. So for me, the T18 swap was my way of "regearing" for larger tires without having to lose the highway speeds. I drive mostly on the street and plan to tow but often am in bumper to bumper traffic. Eventhough the T18 first is non-synchro, it's much better to crawl along than have to ride the clutch with the tall first in the T176. Also, I noticed the 2nd in the T18 is about the same gearing as the 1st gear in the T176. Just my thots....
I swapped the super rare T18a and NP208 combo in my cherokee recently and noticed that the FSJ T176 is the similar to the CJ version, it just has the longer input and bell housing adapter. This T18 has a different bolt pattern for the bell housing but again, the notches are there and just had to be drilled out.
I hated the T176 in the cherokee but mostly because I have 33's and 3.31 gears. So for me, the T18 swap was my way of "regearing" for larger tires without having to lose the highway speeds. I drive mostly on the street and plan to tow but often am in bumper to bumper traffic. Eventhough the T18 first is non-synchro, it's much better to crawl along than have to ride the clutch with the tall first in the T176. Also, I noticed the 2nd in the T18 is about the same gearing as the 1st gear in the T176. Just my thots....