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

[bholmberg]

Thanks. i guess i knew an answer like that would follow, but somehow was hoping it would be more simple.
I agree stick to 18rg, although I do believe the 22re dizzy guts are relevant. Anyone tried a delco ecu from a camira, all I really want is some advance control, but find it much more rewarding when it doesn't cost anything... currently I get some really odd advance from the vacuum from delortto's so i'm running purely on centrifugal.
and my feeling is that the points gave better rev characteristics especially in the top end, however the 22re reluctor conversion seems smoother overall. I think the real gains might come with an ecu.
another question, does everyone get great milage from their 18rg. last tank i got 6.6 litres per hundred!

[Slidin23]

anyone had there 18rg on the dyno with the stock set up and then after the change to electronic? any power difference? or anything else?

[wal_ra40]

7.5 l/100kms from an standard 18rgeu run by stock ECU!

I am very keen to hook the wideband up to see how it manages that

A few years back I replace the standard points on the 18rc with a Crane Cams ignition kit with the hope of making it rev. Beforehand it would start to miss from 5500 on, but afterwards it would rev cleanly to 6000 rpm. Unfortunately the torque drops off so quickly at this rpm that it is hardly worth doing.

[wal_ra40]

ps. I have an adaptronic ready to run my standard 18rg. Plan is to tune it for a stock engine while the hot engine is being built.

What are people using for timing? I have a 36-1 crank wheel for a 4ag from T3 (which bolts straight up btw)

Is it easier to fit a cam angle sensor or a sensor to a locked dizzy?

[o_man_ra23]

With electronic ignition and 18RG - worth going to, but you need a decent/programmable spark control unit. The 22RE ignition module isn't suited to the RPM.

As for Wal's rev improvement but lack of torque in the 18R-C, that sounds like the sort of gains expected. The cam is a huge restriction in the 18R-C as is the carb. I know an 18R-C with a stage 2 cam plus holley 180 that has plenty of torque and accelerates hard well past 6000rpm.

[2004lowlux]

my 18rgeu came with a 22r coil and ignition module and the dizzy was converted to with with this im at the point now where im about to wire this coil in but if the 22r setup isnt worth it ill see if i can use the 18rc dizzy or at least part of it in the end itll be less of a headache putting it all in

[bholmberg]

this whole MS2/ms3/dual multi tooth sensor/coil on plug system sound great... but also sounds a bit expensive.
i've got this feeling there is an easier way to go electronic ignition. maybe our 'upgraded' dizzy's can act as the crank angle sensor with a simple ecu from an easy to find donor car? or how about a modern donor car with wasted spark system and correct enough ignition timing that can be easily wired in to our 'upgraded' dizzy signal somehow (only utilising the ignition part of the ecu). I've read a bit about this delco 808 ecu which is easily attainable for around $30 from old camira's and pulsar's etc. and its apparently programable and easy to use. I was hoping someone on this forum had succeeded in an 18rg/delco ecu. or am i dreaming? (side note: i'm on delortto carbs, and have endless trouble getting the vac advance working correctly)

[2004lowlux]

i know when i was at tafe there were a few 3k engines that had this ignition module they worked pretty well and were dead simple but i kinda forgot how it was done lol! TO GOOGLE!

[o_man_ra23]

The 22RE dizzy guts on a fairly stockish motor (maybe a set of semi hot cams) will work fine with an aftermarket spark controller (MSD etc if you like). It is the igniter from the 22RE which is the problem, as it is mapped for a low revving engine. It would appear that perhaps the 22RE used ignition retard to keep the revs down, as it seems I am not the only one who lost revs when using said module. I can also say that the 22RE dizzy guts on a locked dizzy weren't a restriction with my version 1 18R-GTE when the boost control plug came off and it revved way past the rev limiter.

[2004lowlux]

ill keep the 22r coil and module for later just swap the inductive pickup for the 18rc dizzy guts to get things going.
any news on the carbies yet owen?

[o_man_ra23]

Just got back from the V8's - got in later than anticipated, so will go out to the shed after dinner (yup, 20 to 9 and I haven't finished cooking ) and will box them up and get a shipping price in the morning once I know the dimensions and weight. I think you need to PM me a delivery postcode and suburb.

Cheers, Owen

[bholmberg]

thanks owen, i'm going in search of an aftermarket spark controller, see if it has the intended benefits... unfortunately when i clicked on positive rep it said "you must spread some Reputation around before giving it to o_man_ra23 again"

[o_man_ra23]

MSD-6AL-2 Ignition Control - 6421

This would suit. There are many others, however this one is well tried and proven.

[o_man_ra23]

So where does everyone buy new valves for 18R-G's from ?? In particular 88270 (18R-GUE) heads. They are the ~45mm intake and ~38mm exhaust items. I am thinking stainless would be the go. Seems bronze guides can be had for $10 each from SW motorsport, so that's all good. Figured if I am going to this much trouble, I may as well treat the ol girl to a new set of valves. Also thinking of some new Kameari front sprockets. (not sure whether to get the 13 hole items, or the vernier adjustables)

[ra_28]

So where does everyone buy new valves for 18R-G's from ?? In particular 88270 (18R-GUE) heads. They are the ~45mm intake and ~38mm exhaust items. I am thinking stainless would be the go. Seems bronze guides can be had for $10 each from SW motorsport, so that's all good. Figured if I am going to this much trouble, I may as well treat the ol girl to a new set of valves. Also thinking of some new Kameari front sprockets. (not sure whether to get the 13 hole items, or the vernier adjustables)

When I had my head rebuilt they changed the valve stem guides to suit a 8mm valve stem as the 8.5 were too hard to find this made my selection of valves a lot better. I do remember they used Mitsubishi 4G63 collects and stainless valves.

I've got the vernier adjustable cam gears and very happy with them especially if you have customs cams.

Cheers
Alex