managed to get my hands on a 1978 RA40 Celica coupe. i really like the car but i want to start making it perform a little better because the stock 18r engine leaves alot to be desired. It runs well but at the moment it's stock as a rock. Keeping in mind i still have a year of P's left what can i do to it to make it more fun to drive?

thanks heaps.

Prey for rain....

give it to me?

Build an 18RG to run on LPG, T3/T4 turbo and should see you with a few hundred horsies at the rear wheels, along with using bugger all fuel.

Moved to old school

I know stuff all about the engine but being on your p's turbo isn't really good for you normally Carbie, cam, head work, lead's, coil, stuff like that all adds up

first i was thinking about upgrading parts and keeping the 18R but now i am considering throwing in a 18R-G. i hear it performs much better and is relatively easy to install (apparently just need the correct manifolds and it bolts right in??? never done it so i hope it's as simple as that) but i can't figure out whether or not i'll need to mod plate it if i do all that. does anyone know?

ive got the exact same coupe model yes definitely an 18rg is your best option, but they are getting hard to find these days as people tend to snap them up. great little engines. they do go every now and then for sale around the 1200 mark, so not really the most cost effective option for bang for your buck wise.

me i'm putting a 4L lexus v8 in the 1uzfe, weighs the same as the 18r and being naturally aspirated should have no problems with gettin it engineered and on the road for P plater power if you can find one cheap out of a soarer, thats the one you need to have the correct sump setup for the conversion. i'm in the process of stripping my 1uzfe down ready for a rebuild. wont be as cheap as doing the 18rg once im done but will be a hell of a lot more fun!

thanks My_ToyMota, damn i didn't realise they were tricky to find, any idea where to start looking for an 18r-g?
that 1uzfe sound good too, how would you get around driving a mod-plated V8 on P plates?

I reckon throwing in a v8 would be barrels of fun haha i was just looking at one with an awesome conversion and damn he poured alot of money into it (>$35,000) and is selling for $9,500 wish i had the cash, i bet it sound as good as it goes.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/privat...a40&trecs=2

18r-g will bolt in, but:-
1. you will have to shorten the throttle linkage. some ra40s like my old 79 coupe will have the threaded holes in the new location on the driver's side of the firewall if you are lucky.
2. wire from distributer to coil for points will have to be extended bout 200mm to reach the new dizzy position.
3. same goes for oil pressure sender wire.
4. obviously exhaust manifolds are different so get a set of headers to run into a 2.5in system.
5. most importantly, DO NOT bolt a twin cam head onto a single cam block UNLESS you change the oil pump for a high volume unit. you WILL be replacing bent valves, cracked timing case and mashed up timing chain when high revs and lower oil pressure will cause the chain tensioner to allow the timing chain to jump off the cam sprockets if you don't. high volume pump is physically taller than standard.

other than that the g is a great old engine. there is nothing you can do to an 18r that will bring it close to the g.

if you get a g, advance the inlet cam 1 tooth, install a 16r dizzy with bout 20deg base timing and put on a pair of 40mm webbers.

no mod plate needed cos it's a factory option. if you keep your 18r bottom end then don't even need to change rego details.

gl with it

p.s. save your coin and go 1uz

"5. most importantly, DO NOT"
do not what ModMasterPaul? is that the end of that sentence? do not put an 18r-g in or was there more coming? haha

post #10 edited

thanks heaps ModMasterPaul that'll probs come in handy if i do go with the g

nice a lot of people are doing the rover all alloy 3.5L v8 mod rebuilt a few at work recently. also green P plates in qld over 25. no restrictions

the 1uzfe is the better option in my opinion over the rover v8, gotta keep it in the family. as for 18rg's they do (very rarely) pop up on ebay when someone is stripping their car down or similar. try toymods forums.

The 18R motor are a tough motor...have look at my web site Unda Presha Racing and you will see what you can do with them...we put a twin cam head on to a single cam motor, freshened the motor with some new set of standard cast pistons, new oil pump and a small set of cams...we added a turbo, run it on methonal, rev it to 7300rpm off the line, change gears at 8000rpm and finish off with 8200rpm over the line...all with a standard head.

The pistons lasted two years and they only failed because a valve knicked one and cracked it...we still ran 8.77sec @ 153mph with a hurt motor..we made just over 500HP from that motor.

We are now putting together a stroker motor using a 22R crank, custom made con rods and FJ20 forged pistons...we have have enclosed the valve chamber on the head...adding a bigger turbo and we hope to get around 650 - 700HP.

I guess sometimes you can get lucky with a motor but a well looked after motor will look after you..