Ford T18

I am thinking of using a T18 when I put in the Ford 2.3 later this year. For the guys that have one, what needs to be done to the tunnel and that sort? I have the adapter covered, just wondering about the tunnel and shift linkage.

A little off subject but does anyone else have problems with the search function on this forum? About 99% of the time I can put in anything in the search box and it will return nothing. For instance today I tried "
T18" and got nothing so just to check I tried "Tires", "Transmission", "Tunnel", "T18 transmission" and all of that returned nothing. I know all of that has been talked about

 

Second question first - use Google. "site:earlycj5.net <your search terms>"

The Ford T-18 needs the same changes that Jeep did for the Jeep T-98 and T-18. Look at post #13 here: http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?66349-72-75-CJ5-Transmission-floor-plate-needed/page2 - This is the factory configuration. More pictures of floor plates: https://www.google.com/search?q=site:earlycj5.net+T-18+floor+plates

 

Ok cool tip on the way to get google to find stuff, that does work I just tried it

Thanks for the pics on the floor boards. I will see what I think

 

If the T-18 is in the exact same location of your old transmission , normally that large bottom cover with the rectangular hole....will just make a squeeze fit..........a little body lift of maybe 3/4" will help that. The small top cover hole is off some so a little work is also needed there. I assume you have a T-90 3 speed now? If so that Transmission is 9" from the Bell Housings to the Transfer case.............The Ford T-18 is 11.870"..........So engine placement will determine where everything else needs to go............the stock shifter arm will also have to be bent to curve around the dash once that location is known.

 

Yeah I do have the T-90 now. I knew the T18 is 3 inches longer, that is one of the reason I want to use it - I need to move the engine 2 inches further away from the firewall and if I use the T18 I can do that with almost no modifications to the vehicle.

What you are describing does not sound bad at all. I can bend the shifter myself just by heating it, making minor cuts to the cover is no big deal. I just did not want to get into replacing the whole tunnel or anything. As my Jeep sits someone has put poly bushings in the body mounts and I think that has raised it a little - maybe a half inch or so. I might just be able to squeeze the transmission in if I am lucky

 

Tell us about the adapter, please.

 

I am going to use this one

http://www.mypowerblock.com/group/f...-bellhousing-adapter-plate?xg_source=activity

They are back ordered so I am still gathering parts and working out exactly what I want to do. I have the pinto bell housing already and either that or a 2.3 Mustang bell will work. If I do not use the Pinto bell then I have the one that is needed to mount the 2.3 to the T90 transmission when you use the Novak adapter

The other end, will already be adapted by Herm the OD guy. I am going to get one of his T18 rebuilds probably.