I have a 73 Cj-5 with a 304 and had a t-15 tranny in it. I have swapped a t-18 in and had to use a t-150 bellhousing, ford mustang clutch disk and get a t-150 clutch fork and a ford f-350 throwout bearing. I have it all in and together and now i can't get the clutch fork to disengage the clutch. I have adjusted the linkage all the way out and the clutch still won't disengage. i used a 89 ford mustang clutch disk, 10.5" diameter, a clutch fork for a t-150 taht has the same ratio as the t-15 one i had, and a late 70s ford f-350 throwout bearing. the only possible causes i can think of is 1) can't get enough throw on the fork to disengage it 2) teh clutch disk is too thick for the flywheel/pressure plate combo??????? still stock t-15 pressure plate and 3) the throwout bearing is wrong and not long enough to engage the fingers on the pressure plate. this is the last thing i have to do to get her on teh road and its really pissing me off. anyone have any suggestions????

Or you put the disk in backwards.

I did this exact same thing to someone elses 77 CJ5. Now, you did get the right pilot bushing right???? that could be your problem?

I got the T-150 bellhousing and T18 from a donor jeep that had a 304 in it. I'm pretty sure I used the T-15 fork. Now, here's where it got interesting.

I got a 10.5" 1-1/16" 10 spline centerforce clutch. (pretty sure that's teh T-18 size. (was a b!tch to find to, and I forgot the part # but centorforce can find it for you no problem)

I found out about the pilot bushing being different.. between the trannys.. ARG. this was a budget job so I MADE the bushing. I found a bushing with the proper I.D. and oversized O.D. (got the dimensions from advance adapter, found the bushing at a napa with a caliper and some time. but again lost the part#) I basically just used a drill and a file and turned the O.D. down to spec and sanded it smooth.

throw-out bearing... ready for this? made this one too! (:mad:) used the T-15 throw-outbearing bearing because the T18 one of the right design couldn't be found. as luck would have it the T15 one had a slightly (~.020"?) smaller I.D. so I sanded and and honed it out until it fit smooth over the input shaft on the tranny and I pressed the bearing part of the collar back on.

The crossmember also had to be relocated on the frame.

It worked fine (phew!) after a moment of suspense when pushing the clutch in for the first time. :D Hopfully my experience with this tranny swap helps you out.

Thanks for the replies. I know the disk is in right because if it wasn't, the clutch wouldn't engage. plus it only goes in one way. I now believe the problem is that i need a pressure plate/cover from a t-150. i think the t-150 plate/cover is deeper. i am getting plenty of throw with the bearing on the plate fingers. I also know i have the right bushing too. I got the kit from hicks4x4.com and it came with the correct input shaft and bushing etc. The throwout bearing is the correct one too, or at least it fit the t-18 shaft absolutely perfect. I got it from a parts store for a f-350 that had the t-18 behind it. I'm going to check parts numbers for the pressure plate and see if the 72-75 is a different number than the 76-79.

Are you running the OEM bolts on a CJ T-18 to the BH? The one using a big stud from the inside in particular.

You need to knotch the throwout fork to clear the stud. It is probably getting pushed out of alignment by the stud and binding. Had that problem with mine and had to pull it all back down.

Rick
77 CJ7

rickb is correct, if you don't use the proper stud behind the t/o bearing fork the fork will hit the bolt head and stop the proper throw out action. Fork or bolt head or both will need to be clearanced to allow the proper operation. I was able to do, in place, with a die grinder on my CJ-7.