T18 swap?

[Hal9000]

So I mentioned to the guy teaching my welding class (I'm a lifetime student) that I'm looking at a number of tranny solutions for my bronco. He immediately mentioned that he's got a T18 sitting around, doesn't even know where he got it anymore.

I know that some people have swapped the T18s in. I'd like to find out if it's an easy swap, if the transmission is worthy as an off road/on road trans (he says it's a 4 speed w/ granny), and if there are adapters available to fit my D20?

I don't know much about T18s. I'd been focusing my search on NP435s and C6's mostly (I'm still on the fence about manual vs auto), but I get the feeling that I can lay hands on this transmission for a song if I want it. So at the least it's worth investigating.

 

[bmc69]

precious little real difference between the T-18 and the 435. So little that Ford trucks and full-size Broncos in the 70s were delivered with either one, seemingly at random whether it was one or the other.

The granny in the T-18 is not quite as low as the 435..6.32 instead of 6.69 if I recall correctly

 

[Hal9000]

That's a small enough difference that it won't matter to me, especially since my D20 is the T style which is supposed to be geared a bit lower. I'm not building a rock crawler after all.

So do the external accessories (bell housing/TC adapter) for the 435 fit the t18 as well? Along the same lines, will the bell housing off my 3speed fit?

 

[peteacher]

x2 very simular to 435 uses the same adapter square or trapazoid (A) pattern. Have one that will go in one of my broncos but have not installed so I can't say how it works I think drive shafts may need to be lengthened/ shortened . Instructions on the AA adapter read for np435/T18/T19

 

[Rockin69er]

The adapter from Advanced Adapters works on both the 435 and the T-18.(I have one in mine) I don't know about anyone elses adapters. The 435 is the same lenth as the 3 spd the 18 is 1" longer. Both great, double tuff trannys. I used the bell housing from my 3 spd. If you are ever down Cottonwood way PM me and you can take a look.

 

[Hal9000]

If you are ever down Cottonwood way PM me and you can take a look.

I'll be heading through CW the evening of the 26th on my way to the Valley for Thanksgiving. I'll shoot you a PM and if you're around It'll be a treat to pull off the highway and take a look.

I'm not too worried about driveline issues. I'm planning on having to mod the 78/9 drivelines I got with my FW axles when I do the swap anyway (I don't have the stock front driveline, and the stock rear is pretty shoddy)

 

[JoeLat]

Wildhorses has the T18/435 adaptor on sale right now on their homepage. Also, check out the Tech section on your left. Lot's of good info there.

 

[Rockin69er]

I'll be heading through CW the evening of the 26th on my way to the Valley for Thanksgiving. I'll shoot you a PM and if you're around It'll be a treat to pull off the highway and take a look.

I won't be"heading to the valley" until the morning of the 27th.

 

[Dirtyboy]

I have the T-18 in mine. I bought the adapter from Jeffs Bronco Graveyard, excellent piece. There is NO modifications necessary to the driveshafts with this adapter. The t-18 i have has the trapazoid end, Its the 2wd short style tailshaft, there are two different versions of t-18 4wd units. One is a 6" tail shaft the other has a 11" tailshaft, shortbed/reg cab and reg cab/long bed. You have to use the short shaft. Cut the threads off of the end of the rear shaft flush to the splines for the adapter. And the unit will bolt right up. I recommend installing the bellhousing and the tranny first. Bench pressing that is enough, then use 1/2" threaded rod to 'stud' the rear of the tranny where the adapter bolts to. Bolt the adapter to the D20 and then bench press that onto the new studs in the back of the tranny and it will help you to align the splines MUCH easier this way. I run 38's and a healthy motor and my u-joints are the weak link. Everyone always states the t-18 isnt as low as the 435, Ive been in a Bronco with a 435 and then drove drive mine, you cant tell the difference. Either tranny is great...the C6 uses 34hp to just run the tranny, there strong and good trannys though. If your doing alot of driving do the C6, otherwise standards are a pain to always shift driving around town, to me.

 

[Hal9000]

So I'm finally getting around to taking a look at the trans tomorrow. The current owner said that it might need a syncro, but he can't remember.

Where can I get parts for the T18 if I need to rebuild it?

 

[DirtDonk]

I didn't see mention of it here, but weren't T-18's used in some other vehicles as well? Or are they all going to have a Ford bolt pattern and input spline count?
Just curious.

Paul