18r solution?

[SONIC]

Hey all,

i'm a new member to this forum, but i recently purchased an old RN41 hilux with a 18r motor and w50 5 speed gearbox, with the intention of chucking the dogs in the back and running around town on the cheap. However i clearly didn't do my research very well as ive since found out that the 18r is fairly rat shit for both power and economy. i have done enough research on other forums etc to know that there are a variety of solutions to this in terms of an engine conversion or modifications to the existing engine (e.g. extractors, webber carb etc). But the conversions seem to sit at either expensive, tedious or to not much gain (i.e. 22r).

i am looking to do something that is fairly straight forward, perhaps with minor modifications to crossmembers etc, and fairly cheap (around 1K). Can anyone suggest anything to the sort. i am not so much worried about getting loads more power, my main target is fuel economy. Alternatively if anyone knows where in Adelaide i might be able to find answers?

A mechanic friend suggested a 3y, but everything i have found leans against this. Also he suggested getting direct gas injection installed and tune it to run on gas, which should make it far cheaper to run, with a little more power. But im not sure how this would work on a car of such age and carbueretted?

i realise this all may have been talked about previously, but any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated, i dont really wanna get rid of her, she's grown on me and there are not really any descent alternative utliities.

cheers

[o_man_ra23]

What makes you think the 18R is ratshit for economy and power? A bit low, yeah, but ratshit? Stock 18R-C's have regularly netted me better than 10L/100k on the highway, and 10.5L/100k around town. Not what I would call rat shit. You will get a bit worse with a Hilux due to diff ratios etc. Changing the diff ratio to get the revs down around 2800-3000 at 100kph would be a good start. Below this and the ol 18R might struggle.

To get a bit more go, try a towing cam from Tighe cams or Kelford cams, combined with a set of extractors and a 32/36 weber (get it tuned on a dyno by somebody who knows what they are doing). Don't forget to give the ignition a birthday, new plugs, leads, points, condenser, dizzy cap, rotor button. Combined they can rob you of a lot of go.

As for engine swaps, the 22R-E shouldn't be discounted. They give great torque (power gains will be minimal, but forget about power, as it is not what you want, torque is), should slot in reasonably easily, and are good on fuel. Again, a towing cam, ignition birthday, and a good tune will do wonders.

Final option I would give is the 18R-G. Lots more power and torque, almost a straight bolt in (can be done in less than a weekend), and when tuned right (yup, that again) and driven right (very important) will give good fuel economy.

All 3 of these options can be done for under 1k if you are thrifty and find the right bargain. The first option I gave will definitely be done for under a grand, the second option is highly likely to be under a grand if you can do the work yourself, and the third option will depend on whether you can find a good motor for a low enough cost.

Other engine swaps are likely to blow out significantly due to the differences in fitment (ie you may need a new gearbox, or bellhousing, etc)

[timbosaurus]

18r will always be a pretty poor, albeit reliable performer in a hilux. An 18RG will liven in up a little, but still wont have a lot of torque down low which u need in a car of that weight.

I'd say a 22re would be a worthwhile swap, and swapping to lpg isn't a bad idea. Plenty of room for a tank under the tray. I don't know for sure, but I'd guess that the more recent engine (22r over 18r) would net you harder valve seats... which helps with lpg.

If u don't mind a bit of work, the 1g is easy to fit to these, is a far superior engine, and if you don't want much power you could pick up a n/a 1g-ge for next to nothing. Then a later swap to a GTE version if desired...

[o_man_ra23]

Didn't realise that a 2wd RN41 hilux was that heavy. Checked the specs, the RN41 actually weighs more than my LN106 4x4!! In saying that, the LN106 puts out standard 60kW which is very close to the same power figure as the 18R, however the extra torque of the lower revving diesel is highly noticeable. Perhaps a 3L (2.8Litre) or 5L (3.0Litre) diesel could be a good conversion? Fuel economy isn't terribly bad at about 10L/100k (getting worse due to my injectors being shagged), it is quite acceptable to drive around town and on the highway, and when you actually do want to carry/tow a load, the torque it has is a godsend. I am thinking about upgrading the cam to give a little better pull when driving up hills on the highway, however this isn't entirely necessary.

If you find an LN106 which is rusted out you may get away with the swap for under 1k (LN85 only came with the 2.4Litre 2L motor it seems). You will need to change your gearbox to a W5x alloycase though, as the bellhousing which suits the G56 4wd box does not fit the W50. This would be more than a weekend's work. You need to salvage the fuel tank, lines, filter/pump unit etc from the donor vehicle, so simply getting donk from the wreckers won't suit.