Does this look broken to you? [18R-G Piston tops]

[fixeruperer]

if its a daily or something you dont belt all the time, fix the head/valves, check the pistons (they look good, just try to clean them up) and throw it together.
if your going to be driving it hard, for piece of mind i would throw new pistons and what not.

[demios]

Yeah, it's just going to sort of be a daily driver. More for just cruising and driving places on weekends, though. Finances are severely limited at the moment, however.

I might try to get a dye penetrant kit to check for cracks in the pistons. Not too keen to remove them from the block to be honest. It's still in the car in a not so desirable place to remove the engine.

Anyone know any good places to source valves, chains, etc? Also, a workshop to look over the head?

[c76]

Hi im a certyfied mekanick and have changed so many valves do to customers
wont listen when i tell them to change there timeing belts
Valves are the looser`s when they meet Mr piston, seen many marks
on them but never change them, dont worry about it change to ones that
are busted, and as some have said clean the tops of the pistons.

Cheers
Cj

[23T-GTE]

This brings back memories...
Try Stewart Wilkans Rallying / Stewart Wilkins Motorsport

http://www.swmotorsport.com/

I sourced all my 18R-G head rebuild parts from them some years ago, they were really helpful. Im not sure if they still do it tho, but definately worth a try..

[roadkill]

Hi,

easy way to check if the valves are bent is take them out of the head and put them in a drill and watch for deviations! I'd be thinking though a few will be bent!

As for your pistons - why don't you wanna take them out? You've done half the job already! Get a new set of rings and big ends, maybe a sump gasket and that's about it! Clean the worst looking one with fuel for obvious cracks and go from there. Remember, if a piston cracks and lets go kiss the rest of the engine goodbye!

bEn

[o_man_ra23]

How much is a second hand running RG these days?? I think that your cheapest option will be to swap the donk with something that already runs, and it will certainly be a safer option. By the time you buy new valves (I would replace all of them), have them seated, shimmed, head gasket, machine the head face, timing chains, crack test the pistons, etc etc... you would save a lot of time and worry just getting something else that's right to go.

Wouldn't be the best option if you wanted performance of course, but your description says you want the donk for cruising.

[river]

Hi,

A running 18R-G should be around the $500-$850 ballpark. Of course, how well it runs and for how long it will run is an open question - as it is with any second hand engine.

seeyuzz
river

[o_man_ra23]

I would be more dubious of an engine that I know has had dropped valves than an engine I know nothing about. If inspecting an engine, pull the plugs out and look down the combustion chambers with a torch to see if there is any obvious damage to the piston crowns.

[Steve M]

Valves are easy to bend, all you have to do is rotate the cam when the crank is at tdc and the gears aren't done up. You'll eight bend them on the pistons or you'll smash the valves together.

[eeeyan]

I dont think he was asking how to bend them.... he seems to have acheived that already

[web]

A second reason to remove the pistons for inspection would be to inspect the rod bearings as well, since they took the same beating as the valves. The amount of valve damage makes the risk of further damage a bit too large to take chances IMO.

So, unfortunately, if it's not in a place where you can do the work it needs, you'll probably have to have it towed to a place where you can. Which could mean loosely buttoning the engine back up to keep dirt out, or covering it in some way.