The 18R-GTE reference manual ...

[JustenGT8]

I used ARIAS pistons but these days any of the brands that do an off the shelf would do. The stock HG is very good so i think just a set of head studs would cure that prob...it was the stretching stock head bolts that caused the problem. If you want to be real sure a steel HG is the only way to go. A copper one would also do can can be prone to fluid leaks if everything is 100% spot on.

The car was totally streetable. I could plod thru corners in 3rd if i was feeling lazy or run 250kph down the Parkway if i was feeling like a rush. It was a bit of an animal in the wet but what do you expect for a big hp 4cyl

[Turbo RG]

Jeez guys if those comments didn't sound likie you were referring to that old hermit on the hill i'd feel all gushy :-)

As far as i know i had the 1st serious EFI turbo 18RG but Oz is a big place so not making any claims. It was serious where it needed to be so forgies, well sorted (but stock) bottom end, light billet flywheel, bigish cams, TRD oil pump, big sump, stock HG.

Would take 18psi and 8000rpm all day. Up the boost to 22psi and after a wee while (6 months) you'd be looking at a BHG as the stock head bolts would stretch. All it really needed was a set of ARP head studs which weren't available at the time. On a coupla of occasions it 'accidentally' saw 30psi and didn't even blink...however, i shat myself as the rears dissolved in tyre smoke.

Used to run high twelves around the old Wakefield Park circuit so possibly good for 10's on the current circuit. Best 1/4 time was 12.8@112mph with the stiff circuit suspension...soften the rear and a 12.5 is more likely.

Anyways a great engine that only gave me HG probs because of my greed for boost.

If i did it again the changes i would make would be minimal. Higher comp ratio, i would run 9:1, arp head studs, a fancier ECU and of course one of the newer tech turbos. 400hp flywheel would be a walk in the park.

Look what I found.......

[timbosaurus]

HAHAHA... be nice, u'll make Justen all nostalgic and sad! I know he misses the RGT. He might even wanna replace the GT8!

[Norbie]

HAHAHA... be nice, u'll make Justen all nostalgic and sad! I know he misses the RGT.

Of course he does, which would explain why he's got a new one in the works.

He might even wanna replace the GT8!

Not if he doesn't want to get slapped!

[JustenGT8]

Nostalgic yes...replace the GT8 err no :-) maybe supplement the GT8 ;-)

[Mr DOHC]

compliment the GT8

[Steve M]

Well, I think it's time to let the cat out of the bag.
My 18RGTE is likely to be a little different to most other peoples.
Because I have plans to build two 18RGs, I want to do some experimenting with each of them.

18RG no. 1: The turbo money pit I'm currently building.

88270 head with TRD OS valves, ported and polished.
22R crank (less revs = less rebuilds, more stroke = more torque)
18RG rods, polished and ARP'd
Custom pistons (89.5mm 10.5:1 comp. 3T compression height fits perfectly with crank/rods)
Custom EFI manifold with Silvertop Quads (being made currently)
RB25 turbo (to start with as I that's the manifold/turbo I've got)
3SGE/18RG hybrid crank angle sensor (when it Aus post find it!!! Does anyone know how to contact People100 from the old forums?)
Gen 3 3SGTE loom, all sensors and ECU (might not work, but worth a shot)

Before it gets the turbo treatment I'll give it a go at 10.5:1 with standard head gasket and some big cams, then throw in the head shim and drop it down to 9.0:1 for turbo.

It should be some fun.

[Mr DOHC]

try 0438768431

or ask charles

[JustenGT8]

Beat you to the punch Steve...well kinda. I have a 22R cranked 18RGT on the stand and pretty well ready to go. Not as advanced on the induction side as you as the stock EFI manifold remains but the throttle body is plenty big enough for the 200rwkw i am aiming for. It also has the 22R pistons for a 2.4litre capacity. Doesn't rev real hard but torque to burn...match it up with the right final drive and it'll throw you down the road nicely.

Touch wood it should be installed in it's new home and grunting away within the month.

[The Witzl]

interesting combo SteveM.... so these 3T forgies are actually high comp 3T forgies? As in their intended use is in a 3T to give 10.5:1 comp ratio?

I wouldnt even bother trying to fuck around with the 3S ecu and controls.... complete waste of time. Just go aftermarket and forget such silly ideas....

[Steve M]

Witzl, the combustion chamber sizes are different between 3T and 18RG.
3T-C being 63cc and 18RG being around 71-72cc.
Yeah, they would be high comp in both engines.

I could modify some 89mm 3T-C ones to fit the RG head, the Arias 27.1mm dome ones would work fine (11:1 in an 22R/18RG with STD head gasket) once the valve reliefs are matched up.
I using the compression height from the 3T pistons in my custom 18RG pistons.

I would love to go for an aftermarket ECU, but unlike NSW, SA doesn't have a free Emission spectrum test. We have the multi-thousand dollar version.

Transport SA said it's ok to use a standard system off another ADR approved engine, but not aftermarket.
This project is intended to be fully engineered and legal.
Does anyone know of a suitable donor engine? I'd like to run MAP, don't want AFM.

I am contemplating MegaSquirt 'n' Spark though, as it fits inside a 22R ECU box. A little more discrete than other aftermarket systems and more likely to get passed.

[The Witzl]

autronic do "plug in" ECU's for WRX's and the like.... typically based on an SMC or SM4, they fit into the stock ECU housing... and there's a couple for sale on ebay too!

[JustenGT8]

Steve,
I have a ST205 ECU (ie MAP) that you can try if you wish but one thing to be aware of. With either MAP or AFM there the engine own particular characteristics in regards to Volumetric Efficiency are a large determinant of tuning. Ignition, advance, roll on mixtures etc etc are all way more complicated than just the air mass entering the engine.

While i have seen facory ECU used like this with some success i have also seen a GEN II ECU used on a GEN III engine and result in multiple engine failures. If you are constrained to using an OEM ECU i think you will need some form of interceptor to get your tuning safe. Top of the range would be the E Manage but a few others out there.

Anyways, if the ST205 ECU looks like an option for you drop me a line and we can talk.

[The Witzl]

^^^^ Repeat what him say.

[Turbo RG]

Why are you guys trying to used 22R pistons?
you should try to use some kind of dome piston.
22r pistons are flat top or dish.
Also so
to me. putting the 22R crank in the 18R block is too much work and the cost is too high
to get the 22r crank to fit.
to get it to work right you have to do a lot of machine work to the center of the block. it also needs custom pistons and custom rods.


pic of 22R pistons




what are the 21R pistons like? we don't really have 21Rs here that why
I used the 20R pistons.
Another reason I used the 20R piston is that you can get them forged.
here is a pic of the 20R forged piston. It's a 10.5 compression piston in a 20R block.
but, in a 18RG block you will have 9.1 compression.



pic of 18rc and 20r 24.7 cc dome forged piston