That thick adapter moves the V8 engine forward so the transmission stays put (shifters in the same place) and the engine does not interfere with the firewall. A truck with a T-15 and a V8 has a similar appearing but different pattern long adapter.Chatterbox wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 5:03 pm I'm not really sure. Here is my t15 and t18 before I had the mainshaft changed. Just had a short main shaft installed. Looks like both bell housings are the same. Just the spacer is different.
This may be part of the misunderstanding here. First, to clarify, what you bought is an input shaft not a main shaft. The CJ Input shaft is somewhat shorter than the FSJ-I 6 input shaft by about two inches. If you happen to find a FSJ I6 input shaft get the bearing retainer that goes with it as well.Chatterbox wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:55 am I just ordered a short mainshaft and had it installed. That's what cjs and fsj used with the I6. I'm keeping the parts incase the 258 dies and I go with a v8.
I don't want to be "that guy who corrects everything on the internet" - but this is not correct.threepiece wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 3:44 amThis may be part of the misunderstanding here. First, to clarify, what you bought is an input shaft not a main shaft. The CJ Input shaft is somewhat shorter than the FSJ-I 6 input shaft by about two inches. If you happen to find a FSJ I6 input shaft get the bearing retainer that goes with it as well.Chatterbox wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:55 am I just ordered a short mainshaft and had it installed. That's what cjs and fsj used with the I6. I'm keeping the parts incase the 258 dies and I go with a v8.
I have seen this done. The only question might be whether the resulting shaft has the proper temper in the machined areas to be durable. And whether you can connect with a machinist who can make your part for a reasonable price. You will still need the 3215152 bell housing shown above, and the 992667 plate adapter, to go from the T-14/T-15 pattern to the Jeep T-18 pattern.Another option you may consider is to shorten your V8 input shaft and bearing retainer. I have looked into this at one time and discovered it could be done using a milling machine and lathe. You would then only need the cast iron adapter between the T18 and bell.
Not at all Tim. You clearly have a greater understanding than I do.tgreese wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:24 amI don't want to be "that guy who corrects everything on the internet" - but this is not correct.threepiece wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 3:44 amThis may be part of the misunderstanding here. First, to clarify, what you bought is an input shaft not a main shaft. The CJ Input shaft is somewhat shorter than the FSJ-I 6 input shaft by about two inches. If you happen to find a FSJ I6 input shaft get the bearing retainer that goes with it as well.Chatterbox wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:55 am I just ordered a short mainshaft and had it installed. That's what cjs and fsj used with the I6. I'm keeping the parts incase the 258 dies and I go with a v8.
Sorry if this comes off as arrogant or repetitive.
This topic of long input T18 swaps to the I6 has always intrigued me. Here's my two cents because I did it. Use a T176 bell housing on a long input J-truck T18 and go to a local steel yard and get a 12x12 chunk of steel that is 1.8 inches thick. Find someone if you don't have the means yourself to cut out the pilot/seal area and shape it to meet your needs. Drill and tap your holes to the appropriate placement. Install, enjoy. I did this for a total of $80 and it worked well. My application required an adjustable release bearing from, if I recall, Novak. I have the adjustment measurement for that out in the shop if you need it so you aren't putting the transmission in and out a million times (13 attempts here). Unless it's been done in the last 10 years, nobody made an adapter for that setup. Transmission falls pretty damn close to the original placement.tgreese wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:09 pm What year J-truck was your T-18 originally for? I am quite familiar with the issues here. Not to cause trouble, but there's at least a couple of ways to do this, each with a different group of parts. If you use the Jeep 7" deep bellhousing (3215152), the Jeep T-18 uses a steel plate adapter with the 258 about 5/8" thick. Same bell as your T-15. If you use the '79 or earlier parts, you can change from a V8 to a 6 by fitting a shorter input shaft, and a plate instead of the long adapter - assuming these parts are available.
The CJ guys do it quite often but that's using Ford or IH input shafts or complete transmissions. It's a whole other animal when working with the J-truck long input type T18s. Those aren't the easiest modified. If going from a 6 to a 6 there's ways, but nothing off the shelf to my knowledgetgreese wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 5:18 pm If you have the means to make your own adapter plate, you can mate just about any engine with any manual transmission. One condition - you need for the input shaft length to be longer than the bell housing depth. Then you fill the difference with your adapter.
Another way to approach this - take the Jeep transfer case adapter and main shaft and add them to a Ford T-18. You'll need to drill some holes and fill others with threaded plugs, but it will work. Ford transmissions will work unmodified with the Jeep T-150 or T-176 bell, in most cases, mating with your choice of 3rd-gen AMC engine. Covered on the Novak site. The CJ guys have done this a lot - plenty of discussion on those sites if you want more.
I had to scratch my head about this, until I understood what you were suggesting. Correct me if I'm wrong.Phils67 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 3:56 pmThis topic of long input T18 swaps to the I6 has always intrigued me. Here's my two cents because I did it. Use a T176 bell housing on a long input J-truck T18 and go to a local steel yard and get a 12x12 chunk of steel that is 1.8 inches thick. Find someone if you don't have the means yourself to cut out the pilot/seal area and shape it to meet your needs. Drill and tap your holes to the appropriate placement. Install, enjoy. I did this for a total of $80 and it worked well. My application required an adjustable release bearing from, if I recall, Novak. I have the adjustment measurement for that out in the shop if you need it so you aren't putting the transmission in and out a million times (13 attempts here). Unless it's been done in the last 10 years, nobody made an adapter for that setup. Transmission falls pretty damn close to the original placement.tgreese wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 3:09 pm What year J-truck was your T-18 originally for? I am quite familiar with the issues here. Not to cause trouble, but there's at least a couple of ways to do this, each with a different group of parts. If you use the Jeep 7" deep bellhousing (3215152), the Jeep T-18 uses a steel plate adapter with the 258 about 5/8" thick. Same bell as your T-15. If you use the '79 or earlier parts, you can change from a V8 to a 6 by fitting a shorter input shaft, and a plate instead of the long adapter - assuming these parts are available.