Renault 18 engine conversion to fit a Renault 4

[mr-reno-139]

I thought you would have spotted that straight away
people fitting 5 Gordini engine to alpine 110 or R8 have opposite problem

 

[harbourseal]

I should have spotted it. But I never looked at the back side of the engine. I go for the steep learning curves.

 

[Eccles60]

Today I fitted a very important part on my engine.
In the front of the crankshaft ther is a hole to center the price axle from the gearbox.
If you put the R4 price axle in it floppes around. it is a bad fit.
View attachment 25022
Renault made a bronze bushing to make a tight fit.
This week I got hold of the elusive part. View attachment 25021
The part number is. 7700553174
It is a tight fit but with some gentle persuasion with a copper mallet it sits nicely in its place.
View attachment 25023
Now I could finally fit the clutchplate and pressure group.
View attachment 25024
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That bronze (?) bush used to be known as the "spigot bush" and supports the front end of the first motion shaft into the gearbox. Fabulous project by the way, I'm interested to know how it drives compared to a standard 1108... Should be great.

 

[harbourseal]

It’s been a while since I’ve put any updates in this topic.
the engine is up and running. It made it’s first 300km on the road and highway.
I’m quite happy with it’s performance. It makes the vagabond F6 a nippy car.
acceleration is quite a bit better then the 1108 Cleon and overtaking is a breeze.
Last weekend it developed a nasty knock upon accelerating.
At a loss on where it came from. It turned out that the alternator was at fault.
One of the bearings has failed.

I was planning on putting in another one with more power anyway.
today I swapped the 40 Amp alternator for one with 50 Amp charging power. Not exactly a straight swap but almost.

 

[blakeyboy]

That bronze (?) bush used to be known as the "spigot bush" and supports the front end of the first motion shaft into the gearbox. Fabulous project by the way, I'm interested to know how it drives compared to a standard 1108... Should be great.

On my old 2002 BMW's it was called a 'pilot' bearing- but it was a race.
I'd love some more 'go' with my F6- no idea if it's meant to be this slow....!

 

[harbourseal]

I'd love some more 'go' with my F6- no idea if it's meant to be this slow....!

It all depends on the engine and the gearbox.
Maybe somebody put in a gtl engine and gearbox.
And a F6 is of course a brick. With the aerodynamics of a brick.

 

[blakeyboy]

It has the 1108 engine from an R5, apparently...was the original F6 more powerful in itself,
or did it have a bigger carb? I haven't measured which carb I have...

I do the 0-60 mph with an egg timer.

 

[laxeian]

60mph is more or less flat out in an F6 with standard g/box and engine, most original F6’s you still see with the big 80kph max sticker on the back, this is due to different ITV classes, here in Spain, but if you can find a big enough downward hill you might be able to hit the legal limit, personally enjoy them for this reason, drive it like you stole it and smile and wave at traffic police, they wont wave you over but on..

 

[harbourseal]

The early F6 had a 1108 with a lower compression.
And the gearbox has a higher ratio then the gtl so it runs at higher revs to maintain speed an cope with heavy loads.
Sixty is about as fast as you can go with this brick.
A 1400 from a Renault 18 or a Volvo B14 engine make quite a difference.
120km is a breeze now.

 

[Domsky]

The early F6 had a 1108 with a lower compression.
And the gearbox has a higher ratio then the gtl so it runs at higher revs to maintain speed an cope with heavy loads.
Sixty is about as fast as you can go with this brick.
A 1400 from a Renault 18 or a Volvo B14 engine make quite a difference.
120km is a breeze now.

I've fitted intake manifold and duall barrel weber carb from automatic r5, also it will have way bigger diameter exhaust, the car is still not finished , but can't wait to see what difference it makes

 

[blakeyboy]

Mine supposedly has the 1108 from an R5 in it.
I've done 70, but it was hairy.
I'm hoping changing the rear shocks will improve things enormously....

 

[Domsky]

Mine supposedly has the 1108 from an R5 in it.
I've done 70, but it was hairy.
I'm hoping changing the rear shocks will improve things enormously....

As far as I'm aware, my engine is the r5 version too, and as for the shocks...
My r4 is getting special treatment

 

[Andy McGhee]

Mine supposedly has the 1108 from an R5 in it.
I've done 70, but it was hairy.
I'm hoping changing the rear shocks will improve things enormously....

What's the number on your engine plate?
If it's an R5 1108, it should be 688 E7 13 - this, along with an R298 D61 distributor and a Zenith 32IF carb, gave 47BHP. The R4 versions of the 688 are 34BHP.

 

[Domsky]

When was rebuilding it I noticed that it's missing valve stem seals, i remember researching it ant it lead me to the conclusion that's r5 engine.
With weber and bigger exhaust I'm hoping for about 50hp

 

[blakeyboy]

Andy, 688 E7 13, and Zenith 32IF. Can't see numbers on the dizzy.
When she's got the front end sorted I'll come over to you for your expert nose.
She don't go like 47bhp- my old 850 mini would have left it for dead...

 

[Jnr-Renospeed]

Andy, 688 E7 13, and Zenith 32IF. Can't see numbers on the dizzy.
When she's got the front end sorted I'll come over to you for your expert nose.
She don't go like 47bhp- my old 850 mini would have left it for dead...

Extra weight longer gears and terrible aero doesn't really make much it of a contest to be fair to the old 4 put the two on a long straight and the 'big carb' fitted 4 should out drag an 850 Mini, even a standard 28if car can sit at a 70+ ...