202 v 186

[fishie]

Ok i have been talking to quite a few ppl mechanic and home buid up mates, and people always like one or the other
can anyone with a bit more experience than me give me a quick run down on the ups and downs of both engines

[FastEHHolden]

for mine the 186 is better...but also don't overlook the 179....you can adapt any of the blue motor heads to the reds (202 included) but if you go the 186 or smaller you can fit the Ford 221 stroker cranks to get them out to 234 c.i. ....202 are only 7 hp more powerful than 186..and 8 hp less powerful than 186 X2 and S models. Of couse all this means very little since you will come up with your own combo anyway. The plus for the 186 and smaller engines is that they are able to rev a bit more than the 202's who have 1/4 inch more stroke....but the 202 is torquier.

[goose]

.. and I have heard of red 202s taking tops off pistons under revs. This could be only with the factory pistons though. I'm sure you would know about this if it were correct FastEH... you seem to know just about everything else. :)

[HighLife]

...yep 202's have good torque but dont like to rev real hard. 186's will rev higher and go a bit harder in in my opinion. I have a 202 bored to 208 with triple carbs and would love a well built balanced 186 with the same carb set-up. Depends how you like to drive it and what you want from it.

But you cant beat newer technology, I'm going turbo'd RB30 now ;)

[FastEHHolden]

That is correct Goose...you goose...but I find they seperate more so in autos

[goose]

eh?

[fishie]

cool at the mo got a 161
and thinking of putting in a new camshaft maybe stage 3
with a 350 holley i have at the moment and some extractors which are in the garage with the piece of shit vk 5 speed
are there any other real mods that you would suggest doing so i dont kill the engine in a few weeks

[Shifty]

I have to agree with HighLife, I'm putting an RB30E into my brother's Torana... 114kW standard... and all the driveability in the world. A few minor things like xtractors, cam & exhaust and it will fly...

[FastEHHolden]

you could ditch the red head for a blue but that will mean losing the Holley....but you are better off without it any way..if you can lay your hands on a cheap yella terra head ..do it.
I have always loved the way people label things by calling them "Stage 3"...what the f*@k is that?...there would have to be a billion cam profiles out there for the red 6 ..,try one of those computer recomendations..they are free and can't hurt..as long as the info you supply is right.

These engines love anything that helps them to breathe...carb cam, compression, exhaust...but then again don't they all.

[Jim]

only the original 202 pistons separate, and i'd be surprised if there were any 202's left with the original pistons...LOL

Generally the smaller the capacity the harder they rev, but the less torque they make.

I prefer the 186 personally, but mainly for reasons of durability. the 202 pulls harder. (but not by much).

what it boils down to is it's all old junk now anyway...LOL

[GTSBoy]

Before I saw the light (ie got a twin cam four, then a twin cam turbo 6) I was looking at building a hot Holden 6.

I had a blue 173 and wanted to make a blue 186, which you can easily do by putting the 173 crank in the 202 block. That way you get the best of the shorter stroke and the bigger bore, with the 12 port head. I think the blue 173 crank is steel and the 202 ones are iron too, so that helps with life extension at high revs.

The blue motors are all a bit less ancient than red ones too, so should have a few more miles left in them...or maybe not been bored out 3 times already.

cheers

[HighLife]

I may be way off here but the "Blue 186" your describing GTSBoy, would that have a lower compression state due the shorter stroke?

If so that would make a good base for a turbo'd old holden 6!! :)

[GTSBoy]

Maybe...but seeing as you would have to get new pistons when you built the motor up you could choose your compression anyway.

cheers

[smeck]

The 202 crank can be machined to fit the 173 but not the other way around. The main bearing journals of the 202 are bigger, hence the 173 crank not fitting a 202 block.

Also, the only steel cranks out there are 179 HP engines and I think the 186 S also had a steel crank. I'd stick with the blue carnk anyway since it's counter weighted.

[GTSBoy]

Hmmm, well in that case you would need a destroked 202 crank, whether welded/machined crank pins or a complete fabrication. Either way too much money.

I was sure that the blue 173 crank fell into the 202 block tho'. Oh well, must have been dreaming.

cheers