I have an ej20t in a split with an Lbug ssp gearbox. I ran the car for a few years but took it of the road I while back. Last time I tried to start it I found that the starter ring gear was slipping on the fly wheel however I have now pulled the engine and the ring gear is actually cracked. I have to move the car and need it to run. I was hoping that I could just put a couple of dowels in to stop the gear slipping so that I could start it but if I do that now I will have a long gap where the crack is and I'm guessing that the starter will get hung up on this? I only need to start it a couple of times and once I've finished the body work I'm planning on a subigears box so I'd really prefer not to have to by another flywheel to only use it a couple of times. Does anyone have any thoughts? It hasn't been run in a couple of years so I don't want to have to count on clutch starting it because if it doesn't start straight off I will be well and truly buggered.

the ring gear is heated and shrunk on.

You will need to take it to a shop that can do ring gear replacement.

Yeah I know I should get it fixed properly but didn't really want to spend the money on something I'm only going to use a couple of times. I was hoping to bodgy it up to get it moved and then I plan to replace the gearbox so the flywheel will no longer be needed.

What about removing the ring gear, welding it up, then refit it by the usual heat/shrink fit.

That is looking like number one option at the moment.

So you are using an adapter plate and flywheel? You don't need to buy a new flywheel, you just need a new ring gear. From what I've seen the conversion flywheels use the ring gear from the 2 litre type IV flywheel, you should be able to find one in Sydney.