Automatic Swap Feasible?

Soooooo my clutch just took a dump in the middle of a busy intersection of course lol.

my options are either take it apart, new clutch, resurface flywheel, and I might need to rebuild the T18 transmission. I believe I was quoted $1300 minus a trans rebuild.

Or an automatic swap. Good idea? Bad idea? I’ve done some loose measurements for a TH350 and it is within a few inches of my current configuration. Will the cost far outweigh that of keeping the manual? 90% of my driving is street since I daily the Jeep and the T18 shifts like a dump truck.
What all goes into the swap other than the obvious like trans, flywheel, torque converter, trans tunnel, new driveshafts?, adapters, kick down cable, and new flywheel?

I’ve done some research into the swap but I’d like to know what the masses think.

Thanks for your help everyone

 

Its a lot of work. If you can't do a clutch job and a transmission rebuild by yourself, an auto transmission will be a tough project.

 

Changing a clutch is simple. I wouldn’t resurface the flywheel unless it needs it.

 

It is indeed a lot of work and expensive but it can be done. In addition to the new components you mentioned you’ll also need a shifter, trans cooler and possibly a custom cross member.

 

A while back you posted about a disappearing clutch pedal. I say pull it apart and fix it right.....

 

There's some discussion on the Novak site about automatic swaps for the CJ. Note that Jeep never offered the CJ-5 with an automatic, since they considered it impractical. The CJ-7 was introduced specifically to provide the longer wheelbase needed for an automatic transmission.

Why do you think the T-18 needs rebuilding? They are strong - originally meant for medium trucks like dump trucks and buses. They are also noisier than passenger car transmissions, and I would not touch it unless it's making an epic whine or clashing gears on normal shifts. Plus transmissions are easy to R&R in CJ-5s, and there's not a lot of effort lost by just putting it back ... you going to do the work yourself? It's hard to own an old car like this unless you can work on it yourself, or you have deep pockets and a reliable mechanic. JMO.

 

I can do the smaller stuff but I don’t yet trust my teenage self to do a clutch job. Plus my input shaft bearing is making noise.

 

Replacing the front main bearing of a T-18 does not require a rebuild. Here's a link to a thread about me replacing the front main bearing on my J20's T-18. Not exactly the same, but should give you an idea of what's involved. T-18 in the driveway - Full Size Jeep Network

 

Thanks

 

put a clutch in . be happy

 

We were all once teenagers with broken stuff to fix. How do you think we learned?

 

I rebuilt my T18 in my parents garage in my early 20s with zero transmission experience and basic hand tools. Still going strong after 25 years. If your not afraid to take things apart and with the new parts on hand a clutch job should be fairly simple.

 

I question the need to rebuild the t18. Pull the jeep apart and check things out. Unless there is a ton of miles on it..... or is was abused in some way..... its a heavy truck trans that came stock in a 3K lbs jeep.
I'd be willing to bet that the input bearing noise is actually the release bearing noise stemming from your clutch issues way back here...Clutch Linkage Pedal Height Disappearing?

Not trying to pick on you.... but the auto swap is way more complicated than this lil clutch job. Clutch kit is $100, Get a machine/engine shop to surface the flywheel... prob $40. Then get your clutch release issues straightened out. You will understand it more once you've torn it apart and should be able to get it functioning properly.

 

I learn the mechanic working on my cj5....before that i didnt even knew how clutch work. It's all simple mechanic....search forum and tutorial and it will be an easy job