Ford T-18 vs. Jeep T-18. - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

fishotro · 03-18-2006, 06:19 PM

I aquired a Ford T-18 sometime ago and have been saving money for the $500.00 adapter for the D300. I was recently given the coice to trade the Ford T-18 and D300 for a Jeep T-18 and D20. The Jeep tranny and t-case have both been rebuilt, while the Ford and D300 have not.

My dilema stems from the thought of future upgrade options. The Ford has more parts available and are easier to come by. The D300 has the 4:1 kit and most every Jeep mag has every part for it. In addition, I can clock the 300 and its easy to twin-stick. Also the input and output shafts are both upgradable

The bonus to the Jeep set-up is it's ready to swap now, while the Ford will have to wait for tha adapter, be installed and re-built at the same time.

I have everything else needed, the bell, clutch, pilot bushing, throwout bearing and linkage are the same in both instances.

v10sport · 03-18-2006, 06:31 PM

Which Jeep did the T18 come out of? Whats it going in?
Can get a 3:15 low kit for the 20 and a beefed up output shaft. 20 is easy to twin stick also

fishotro · 03-18-2006, 08:14 PM

came out of a 72-75 cj5. going in a 79 cj7. i like the idea of a 3.15, but the stock 300 will do fine behind 6.32

GoldToyBox · 03-18-2006, 08:40 PM

I assume the Jeep T-18 is the 6.32 to 1 not the 4:1 granny. The cost of the adaper to mount up the Ford needs to be concidered. Looks like a "no brainer" to me. Jeep stuff should bolt up ....
I took Ford 6.32:1 guts and put them in a Jeep 4:1 low case .... save the cost of the adapter & bell housing.
The Dana 300 is considered by most (all?) as better than the Dana 20 but not by much in my opinion. They are twin stick-able too.

Not sure what you mean about Ford parts being more available? For the T-18? Most of the Ford, Jeep & IH T-18 parts are interchangeable.

Which ever way you go, you'll love the T-18.

fishotro · 03-20-2006, 09:50 AM

Both T-18 are in great shape, the D20 has been rebuilt. My D300 is still a solid runner. My main and really only concern is the gearing in the 20 being so high. Its the difference of 59:1 or 76:1. The adapter i need for the ford will cost me 1) $150 2) my old th400 with the D300 adapter.

v10sport · 03-20-2006, 10:05 AM

I thought the early CJ's just has the T18's with 4:1 first gear

fishotro · 03-21-2006, 03:00 PM

This one came out of a truck and had the input shaft swapped for a CJ. Im sticking with the Ford/D300 set-up. I think its a better combo.

upj wheeler · 03-21-2006, 03:10 PM

I have a Ford T18 D300 combo, and I LOVE it! Real noisey in first gear though, just like any other granny geared tranny. I used a stock t150 BH, everything just bolted on.

As far as rebuilding... Screw it! Just replace the seals while they are accessable, to prevent a major fix/failure later on.

The T18 and D300 are both bullet proof! I bought mine on ebay, with the D300 already bolted to it (I got lucky, $650

), picked it up, replaced a few seals, and threw it in! Its been in there for 8k mi. with out any hint of a problem.

03-18-2006, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
fishotro Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 65332 Location: Red Bluff, CA Posts: 411	Ford T-18 vs. Jeep T-18. I aquired a Ford T-18 sometime ago and have been saving money for the $500.00 adapter for the D300. I was recently given the coice to trade the Ford T-18 and D300 for a Jeep T-18 and D20. The Jeep tranny and t-case have both been rebuilt, while the Ford and D300 have not. My dilema stems from the thought of future upgrade options. The Ford has more parts available and are easier to come by. The D300 has the 4:1 kit and most every Jeep mag has every part for it. In addition, I can clock the 300 and its easy to twin-stick. Also the input and output shafts are both upgradable The bonus to the Jeep set-up is it's ready to swap now, while the Ford will have to wait for tha adapter, be installed and re-built at the same time. I have everything else needed, the bell, clutch, pilot bushing, throwout bearing and linkage are the same in both instances.

03-18-2006, 06:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
v10sport Granite Guru Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 23066 Posts: 563	Which Jeep did the T18 come out of? Whats it going in? Can get a 3:15 low kit for the 20 and a beefed up output shaft. 20 is easy to twin stick also __________________ 09 JK unlimited Rubicon 07 2500 CTD Ram 02 Grand Cherokee 79 Cherokee WT 360/T18/Dana 20 ]

03-20-2006, 10:05 AM	#6 (permalink)
v10sport Granite Guru Join Date: Sep 2003 Member # 23066 Posts: 563	I thought the early CJ's just has the T18's with 4:1 first gear __________________ 09 JK unlimited Rubicon 07 2500 CTD Ram 02 Grand Cherokee 79 Cherokee WT 360/T18/Dana 20 ]

03-21-2006, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
upj wheeler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Member # 62798 Location: Ogden, UT Posts: 183	I have a Ford T18 D300 combo, and I LOVE it! Real noisey in first gear though, just like any other granny geared tranny. I used a stock t150 BH, everything just bolted on. As far as rebuilding... Screw it! Just replace the seals while they are accessable, to prevent a major fix/failure later on. The T18 and D300 are both bullet proof! I bought mine on ebay, with the D300 already bolted to it (I got lucky, $650 ), picked it up, replaced a few seals, and threw it in! Its been in there for 8k mi. with out any hint of a problem. __________________ '79 CJ7, rebuilt 258, HEI, T5 World Class, D300 Low max 4:1, Flat Belly, Narrowed D44 w/ true trac & diff gaurd, Widetrack AMC20 w/ superior shafts, Detroit locker & crane diff cover, 4" skyjacker lift, 2" BL, TJ flares, 35" tires, York OBA, YJ tub conversion, 6 pt. cage, F250 front shock towers

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03-18-2006, 08:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
fishotro Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 65332 Location: Red Bluff, CA Posts: 411	came out of a 72-75 cj5. going in a 79 cj7. i like the idea of a 3.15, but the stock 300 will do fine behind 6.32

03-18-2006, 08:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
GoldToyBox Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Member # 32187 Location: Selma, in the middle of the vineyards, Central California Posts: 314	I assume the Jeep T-18 is the 6.32 to 1 not the 4:1 granny. The cost of the adaper to mount up the Ford needs to be concidered. Looks like a "no brainer" to me. Jeep stuff should bolt up .... I took Ford 6.32:1 guts and put them in a Jeep 4:1 low case .... save the cost of the adapter & bell housing. The Dana 300 is considered by most (all?) as better than the Dana 20 but not by much in my opinion. They are twin stick-able too. Not sure what you mean about Ford parts being more available? For the T-18? Most of the Ford, Jeep & IH T-18 parts are interchangeable. Which ever way you go, you'll love the T-18.

03-20-2006, 09:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
fishotro Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 65332 Location: Red Bluff, CA Posts: 411	Both T-18 are in great shape, the D20 has been rebuilt. My D300 is still a solid runner. My main and really only concern is the gearing in the 20 being so high. Its the difference of 59:1 or 76:1. The adapter i need for the ford will cost me 1) $150 2) my old th400 with the D300 adapter.

03-21-2006, 03:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
fishotro Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Member # 65332 Location: Red Bluff, CA Posts: 411	This one came out of a truck and had the input shaft swapped for a CJ. Im sticking with the Ford/D300 set-up. I think its a better combo.