For the love of a tractor engine: The life and times of the 18R-G

[Javal]

Hay kids.

Just purchased myself an 88210 18R-G. Unknown condition unfortunately

So i have a question for the pros.

Should the need to rebuild arise, how much gear is shared with an 18R-C? Rings / bearings etc.

Also, which car was this out of from the factory. Sure confuses the hell out of the retarded spare parts guys at work. It's good fun to watch them try and work it out, but frustrating cause i sure as hell don't get anywhere

So, yeah.

Help?

[airfireman1]

Early 18rgs had the same rings as 18rc later model 18rgu and18rgeu have differnt rings (thinner). new pistons are hard to find especially in oversize, main and big end bearing are the same, dummy shaft bearings for the distributor are the same. Oil pump is larger for more output. lower timing chain and tensioner and damper are the same as 18rc. Upper chain is available and i think is the same as the 253 cubic inch holden v8. Upper chain tensioners and guides are the big problem as they are no longer available, so hope that yours are in good nick.
Rebuilding the head and re shiming the valves is no big deal and most good head shops can do it at a price.
So to put it in a nut shell most of the bottom end is 18rc to 18rg compatible. gasket kits are still available also.
Cheers Dave

[Major Clod]

Basically anything from the head upwards will be different, the lower stuff will more or less be the same.

I had no issues sourcing parts for my rebuild a couple of years ago. Aussie Auto, Repco etc were all able to get me bits and pieces, bearings, seals, timing chains, valves, etc etc.

Gasket Kit was ACL for the 18RG.

Only stuff you'll have trouble finding will be Timing Chain guides and the Upper Tensioner.

You should be able to use a tensioner from an early model M series (I think 4M, 5M, something like that... It'll be on the old forums)

Just make sure you strip down the engine and confirm measurements when getting parts, as there may be differences in stuff like valve sizes, rings, etc depending on your particular 18RG and what they have listed.

[Sagluren]

hey javal, since you in sa, i recomend either rick corbets or just heads for the head work, both have done rg's a few times before so they know what is what, if you need spares i am looking to sell some of mine.


cheers sam.

[Javal]

hey javal, since you in sa, i recomend either rick corbets or just heads for the head work, both have done rg's a few times before so they know what is what, if you need spares i am looking to sell some of mine.


cheers sam.

You're a saint. And as it happens i'm very much looking for some spares.

I've now officially learnt my lesson about buying motors that are sold 'as is'. I knew it didn't have carbs, but when i started to pull it down a few minutes ago, i also discovered it is missing:

Upper timing chain
Cam gears
Upper timing chain tensioner (although the tensioner arm is still there

basically, fuck. Sam, if you have ANY of these let me know straight away.

But if i can't find any, here's my question for the pros.

As i haven't finished pulling down the motor yet (i left my tools at work lol) i need to know a few things about the timing setup. All motors spin the cams at 1/2 the speed of the crank. What i would like to know is if the Gear on the crank is 1/2 the size of the gears on the layshaft and head, or if it's set up differently. From what i can see, she should look a bit like this, no?



If this is the case, it should be totally possible, using the Layshaft gears to the upper timing setup as a sample for diameter and tooth spacing, and the camshaft itself as a sample for bolt and key spacing, to have a pair machined up.

Thoughts?

Also can anyone confirm that the 253 V8 timing chain is the same as the upper timing chain for the 18R-G?

Help is very, very much appreciated.

[ra_28]

nope bottom chain it's a 62 link double row chain same as 253

Porsche run the same upper chain. 98 link double row

Search for 18rg on here http://www.romac.com.au/pdf/2005%20C...uct%20List.pdf

Just don't ask to buy any iwis chains don't make them for 18rg any more.


These guys can help http://www.swmotorsport.com/index.ht...d=39067.093299

Cheers
Alex

[Javal]

nope bottom chain it's a 62 link double row chain same as 253

Porsche run the same upper chain. 98 link double row

Search for 18rg on here http://www.romac.com.au/pdf/2005%20C...uct%20List.pdf

Just don't ask to buy any iwis chains don't make them for 18rg any more.


These guys can help http://www.swmotorsport.com/index.ht...d=39067.093299

Cheers
Alex

You sir, are an absolute fucking champion.

[river]

Hi,

Just purchased myself an 88210 18R-G.

Oh nice!!!! This was the most powerful of the mass produced 18R-Gs. It has the highest compression and the most aggressive cams.

Whack some nice side-draught Solex on it and a set of extractors and you'll be in heaven with the sound these babies make.

Oh, but thoroughly check the head. The 210 head is old and, being alloy, may not be in good condition. You can bolt a 230 head onto it without any probs and it will give all but 5hp less of power.

seeyuzz
river

[Javal]

Hi,



Oh nice!!!! This was the most powerful of the mass produced 18R-Gs. It has the highest compression and the most aggressive cams.

Whack some nice side-draught Solex on it and a set of extractors and you'll be in heaven with the sound these babies make.

Oh, but thoroughly check the head. The 210 head is old and, being alloy, may not be in good condition. You can bolt a 230 head onto it without any probs and it will give all but 5hp less of power.

seeyuzz
river

Thanks for the input River. And thanks to all other who have posted. I'm pretty much an R motor virgin, so any help is much appreciated.

Further inspection of the head as deemed it to be in good condition. No cracks to be seen with the cams out, all stems, seals and shims seem to be in above average condition.

A trip to the head shop will tell a true tale in a few weeks.

Once again, thanks all.

[Omegaman]

Out of interest, what cam numbers are they. I know what they should be, but everytime someone opens a RG up it seems to be different.

[Sagluren]

im also intrested in the cam numbers, i had a 210 with 250 cams in it, and a 270 with 230 cams in there. weird, ill double check what is im my shed at home tonight, i know i have a tensioner and gears, as for the chain, if i do it would be streched, but i will check anyhow.
i recomend buying a green bible of egay. very helpfull. and listen to the vast knoledge these peoples have.


cheers sam.

[Omegaman]

Ibought an 18rgu with *******253 head with *******210 rg cams, so go figure.

[o_man_ra23]

First, you need to check what the ends of the cams are like. If they have 3 bolt holes and a dowel, you are in luck as the upper cogs of the 18R-C fit. If they have 4 dowel holes and a big bolt hole in the middle, your boned and need to find replacement cams (they are available, but not cheap)

The gasket sets from SW motorsport are great, but no longer include the cam end seals They are pretty much impossible to find any more (if somebody can find a maker, please let me know). www.toyheadauto.com can supply cam gears at a price, as well as a few other goodies including new upper tensioners. Pretty sure they do oversized pistons too (again, at a price). The 3T-GTE upper tensioners also look right but I have never tried to fit one.

The crank cog is smaller than the upper cogs, and the upper cog of the lower set is larger than the upper cogs. The 3 cogs of the upper set are all the same size.

[Javal]

First, you need to check what the ends of the cams are like. If they have 3 bolt holes and a dowel, you are in luck as the upper cogs of the 18R-C fit. If they have 4 dowel holes and a big bolt hole in the middle, your boned and need to find replacement cams (they are available, but not cheap)

The gasket sets from SW motorsport are great, but no longer include the cam end seals They are pretty much impossible to find any more (if somebody can find a maker, please let me know). www.toyheadauto.com can supply cam gears at a price, as well as a few other goodies including new upper tensioners. Pretty sure they do oversized pistons too (again, at a price). The 3T-GTE upper tensioners also look right but I have never tried to fit one.

The crank cog is smaller than the upper cogs, and the upper cog of the lower set is larger than the upper cogs. The 3 cogs of the upper set are all the same size.

It would seem i am in luck then. Cams have 3 bolts, and are stamped xxxxx-88210.
Stripped it down today - pictures will tell the story

Initial inspection deemed cams, shims / buckets etc to be in good condition. Gasket is still in top nic,as are the cam end seals.


However, once pulling it off, it was a bit of an eyesore at first glance. Valves will need to be ground, but all corrosion present was brushed off.


However, this made me swear. very, very loud.


Fortunately most of it is just a bit of sludge and surface rust. clearly it's been stored well then I cleaned it all up and proceeded to pull it down.

Bottom end proved to be in quite good condition. Bearings were perfect. Crank was perfect. Rods are perfect. at least that's some good news.


And in pieces. pistons 1 through 3 popped out with little to mild persuasion. number 4 is siezed in. Bores look to be in quite good condition. No hone marks, but no glazing either.


However piston #2 is FUBAR. a chunk is missing between the crown and 1st ring land.

So, suggestions for pistons? and chain? i got on to romac and no dice from them, no longer made.

[Roscos]

After reading through the previous couple of pages of this thread and doing the same thing of rebuilding the boat anchor and looking for basic parts, SWMotorsports has it all but a couple of the chain guides. About $700 for rings, bearing, chains, gaskets, bottom tensioner and guides. I think the top tensioner is about $65-$85 cannot remember.

You can buy forged pistons from the states but they cost and with the exchange rate they are expensive.

I just need to borrow a green bible so l can get the right measurements and torque settings. Anyone help me? or l will keep looking on e-gay.


Roscos