i am not sure i fully understand what you unbolted that allowed you to remove the t-case but it sounds like you may have pulled the output shaft of the transmission out about 1/2 inch. I have a rebuild article in one of my many jeep mags that i think was the dana 18. lemme look around when i get home tonight and i will bang around the web to see if i can find a dig copy of it an i pass it along to ya.
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