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

[timbosaurus]

18RC HG can certainly be used, but there is more risk of the timing cover leaking oil.

Care to elaborate on this Owen?

[maurice c]

Ahhh ra40 bashing its a bit of a pastime whenever us celica owners get together, I have to listen to MItch bitching about 40s whenever I attend the CCG club meetings. Some of us cant help good taste, dont hold it against us.

[airfireman1]

Well I finished fitting the 18rg to my 28 today , only to find out that it has a BHG. So after a couple of days of work putting things together it is time to start taking it all off again. Sometimes you just cant take a trick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..
Can someone also give me some specifications for jet sizes etc for 40dcoe webers that they have fitted to thier 18rg as I have no idea what the specs on these ones I have.
Cheers

[hosking1991]

Well I finished fitting the 18rg to my 28 today , only to find out that it has a BHG.

same happened when i replaced my rc its the worst feeling especially when your psychically exhausted and dirty bhg FTL!!!

[Sagluren]

its ok just sticking up for the 40, wasnt my first choise in celica but was cheap,

thanks for the info from everyone.

[The Witzl]

Regarding head gaskets..... did anyone search this thread? You can buy the original genuine Toyota 18R-GEU head gasket for $58.00

Yes.
Genuine.
$58.00
Win.

[Steve M]

Personally I'm a big fan of the ACL 18RGEU head gaskets and the japanese KP head gaskets.

I got the ACL one in my VRS set and it didn't have that graphite coating that's a real bitch to remove. It had a rubber-like coating on its surface and it peeled off so much more easily. It looked like it sealed really well too and the little flakey bits of graphite coating can't get into my oil ways and water ports.

The Toyota ones are graphite coated.
Durapro ones are also graphite coated but do not have round bores. I'm getting my block o-ringed so I have to have round bores.

I vote ACL round bore rubber coated.

[sillycar chick]

Personally I'm a big fan of the ACL 18RGEU head gaskets and the japanese KP head gaskets.

I got the ACL one in my VRS set and it didn't have that graphite coating that's a real bitch to remove. It had a rubber-like coating on its surface and it peeled off so much more easily. It looked like it sealed really well too and the little flakey bits of graphite coating can't get into my oil ways and water ports.

The Toyota ones are graphite coated.
Durapro ones are also graphite coated but do not have round bores. I'm getting my block o-ringed so I have to have round bores.

I vote ACL round bore rubber coated.

Thats odd all the ACL ones I have gotten for 2T-Gs have that graphitey stuff that is a PITA to get off your head again

[Steve M]

Perhaps ACL have two types.
I know it was a rubber one that came in my VRS set.

The ACL VRS one looked identical to my new japanese KP full gasket kit head gasket.

[o_man_ra23]

Care to elaborate on this Owen?

Because the bolt holes dont line up, you need to cut off the bolt hole extensions. After you do this, you dont have anything to hold the extension laterally, and as such the have a higher tendancy to move about, especially during fitment, which makes the RTV silicone (a must for this joint) move and weaken when installing... unless of course you line the head up perfectly before placing it on (read not very possible) The bolts in the proper HG can be used to stop the extention from moving about, and also aid in lining the head up better to start with.

In all, its better to use a proper HG, and if they are $58 genuine... then just get that... its not like its a 7M where factory stuff tends to BHG for no apparent reason.

[Spectre]

Does anyone know where I can purchase 18RGEU rings from? Id prefer not to have to get my pistons machined or swap them out...

[o_man_ra23]

Take a piston to a good engine builder, they should be able to then order based on measurements. They will also need to know what ring profiles are needed, but that information can be gathered from standard 18R-C/G items.

[The Witzl]

i found the toyota gaskets to be a much better make than the ACL ones i've used. The ACL ones never have a perfect circle for the cylinder bores, and often miss the reinforced metal bits around oil and water galleries.

The Toyota one, on the other hand, is a perfect fit to all galleries and bores, with circular bores, instead of the ACL "bean" shape.

[sillycar chick]

yeah im with Witzl on the ACL ones not being exactly lined up, i had troubles with the 2TG ones not lining up with the dowel pins in the block, I had to file the holes out a little very carefully. It wasnt just 1 gasket, I think ive gone through 3 head gaskets all with the same problems.

[MnToyGuy]

Here's my throttle cable setup:

Here's my modified throttle lever


Compared with the old one (not the correct one for RG).


Lokar universal throttle cable (24") through the firewall here


Standoff available through Wolfcreek Racing. This is a copy of the Toyota original cable standoff


Side view


Overall cable routing


Metal piece I machined up so I can use the rubber and nylon parts from the stock 84 Celica pedal. I also heated and bent the upper arm here to get the location on the firewall I wanted.


I cut the bottom off the 84 arm and welded on my stock bottom so I can use the billet pedal. See the stock 71 - 77 firewall mounting bracket? Then you don't have to punch another hole through your firewall. You have to give up some of the washers on the stock pivot, (the 84 is a little shorter) and squeeze it a little in a vice, then it works fine.


Hope this is useful