I have a cj T18 (T18-B casting) that I was told came from a 1975 cj-5. I also have the matching Dana-20. I think that the T-18 front input shaft is not the correct length, but I need confirmation. Does anyone have specs for the front input shaft.

I am building an AMC 401, and I have a stock T-18 bell housing (casting number 3229127 HI) with the required stud and clutch arm. There is no adapter on the front of the T18, and it is my understanding that the T18 bolts directly to the stock bellhousing which bolts to the block, so no adapter is needed. It is my uderstanding that the base of the flange of the front bearing cap is supposed to fit inside the hole in the bellhousing.

Here are the measurments on the front shaft (crude measurments with a tape measure):

- Front Shaft is 9 5/8'' long, distance from the top of the shaft to the base of the front bearing cap (mounting point on the transmission)
- Front shaft is 8 7/8'' long, from the top of the conical flange at the base of the shaft to the tip of the shaft.
- Front bearing cap is 5 3/4'' from the surface that mates to the front the T18 to the end of the cap
- The front input shaft extends 3 5/8'' past the end of the front bearing cap
- The front shaft has 10 splines on it, which are approximately 3'' long, and the shaft extends 1 3/16'' past the splines
- The front bearing cap has the casting number: 27-902

The problem I see is that the stock T-18 bellhousing is only 6 5/8'' deep, which means that the 9 5/8'' (minus the thickness of the front bearing cap flange) shaft will extend several inches beyond the bellhousing. This won't work, since the shaft is too long.


I have two questions:

(1). What is the length of the T-18 front input shaft (10 spline) that will work with the T-18 bell housing (3229127) and where can I get one (Novak?)? Do I have the correct one?

(2). The front bearing cap flange does not fit inside the circular opening in the bellhousing. I thought it would slide right in so that the transmission sits flat against the bellhousing. Isn't this how it is supposed to fit? Do I have the wrong front bearing cap (27-902)? Maybe the flange is an interference fit with the bellhousing, which will fit once the bolts are tightened? Any ideas? Does anyone have measurments on the front bearing cap flange diameter and inside diameter of the bellhousing (bellhousing to transmission side)?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.