Okay, so here's the situation:

My 74 needs a dampner and a timing cover.

I went to the local Toyota junkyard distributor. He said he doesn't stock anything pre-1979. He says there's no market. As such the parts get dumped for core metal slag.

By chance, he did have an 18r in the yard: $100.

So what should I do:

Buy the 18r and take the parts needed. And then have a partial 18r engine.

Wait for the rare 18r to come thru pick-n-pull, and hope I get there before someone else. ( And yes, this scenario does happen. The differentials are always the first to go for some reason. )

The thing is I don't want numerous extra 18r engines just hanging out in my garage, just needing one or two pieces to run again. But also IT hurts to see a complete 18R engine get melted into slag.

So what to do? And FYI: I cannot locate a dampner with a gap/guide in the middle where the timing chain goes directly down the middle crease.
( Is it one piece. Or two pieces that when bolted on the block creates the middle gap? Mine is gone completely. )

 

buy, no brainer..