Got this 88 5speed 22r with 142k for a song the other night and its disturbingly good shape other then the bed outsides.
Today I did an exhaust, oil change, plugs and a few other little things.
Someone replaced the battery, starter and fuel pump recently before I got it and well I will need to reseal the FP as it drips oil.
Compression check comes in with 160-170s warm so the motor is seemingly solid. There is a light rattle which I assume is the timing chain. It also runs a little rough at idle...I guess its time to put a Carter AFB on it...
First thing first is to get off the 21yo tires...
a light rattle which I assume is the timing chain
I've had several pickups with the 22R. I would do the timing chain before it rubs through the timing over. Also, if the cover gets worn through the gash can be welded up for a lot less than the price of a new cover.
Otherwise it looks like a good one.
Very clean looking. All those truck here in Minnesota succumbed to rust ages ago, I can't remember the last time I saw one in the wild.
like 1,142,000 miles, or JUST 142K? The 22R series is meme worthy in the 4x4 community. I'd say not even broke-in at 142k
In a truck the 22R is great. Spunky and reliable with basic maintenance. Parts are cheap and they are easy to work on.
In a Lemons Celica you will only get .75 races before it blows up. Then you will build a new engine and it will blow up too. That's my experience.
Mr_Asa
UberDork
4/29/21 5:12 p.m.
When the nuclear apocalypse happens there will be cockroaches, F150s with 300ci engines, and Toyotas with the 22R/22RE engines.
In reply to Rick O'Shea :
What were you revving to? They don't like revs. Think tractor engine. Mine ran out of steam at 4,500. It redlined at 6k. At 5.5k it sounded like a dimensional rift being torn a new one.
Get yourself a metal chain guide set. Immediatly. The factory plastic ones shatter and at best slowly let the timing chain eat the cover, and worst, the chunks block the oil pickup and nuke the engine.
Ask me how I know.
I had one of these decades ago , ran good until it ate the timing chain which was easy to fix ,
You have a good base truck , have fun with it :)
Ive been looking at timing kits all night. Probably get one asap as it will be just my luck if it lets go.
I'll also say get the metal guide, I've seen the stock ones fail after as little as 60k miles. When you pull the timing cover make a cardboard template for the bolts as you pull them, I swear there aren't two of them that are the same length in that cover.
Installing a 20R cylinder head is the easy button to performance.
These respond nicely to a header. I can't say that mine had a ton more power, but it definitely freed up the upper rev range, which made using third in the mountains a lot more practical and unstrained. I think mine came from Downey back in the day. Also worked nicely with a progressive Weber conversion. Mine was in an 86 4WD pickup, great vehicle, drove it all over the Colorado 4wd roads.
Man, that’s a hot pick up!
You could sell that for 5k in 30 seconds around here.
Did Toyota keep the R22 in other markets after they stopped using it in the USA market ?
There might be some neat add-ons from other regions.....
dclafleur said:
I'll also say get the metal guide, I've seen the stock ones fail after as little as 60k miles. When you pull the timing cover make a cardboard template for the bolts as you pull them, I swear there aren't two of them that are the same length in that cover.
This!!! One bolt is like 3mm longer. When you mix them up, even with a hand powered uga dugga, it will bottom out and break. Been down that road. 0/5 stars. Do not recommend.
Vajingo
HalfDork
4/29/21 10:12 p.m.
spitfirebill said:
Installing a 20R cylinder head is the easy button to performance.
Off the top of my head- Common misconception. The 20r head has some pros and cons. Better valve angle, but less cfm than the 22re head can flow when hogged out and helped with the inside radius.
https://www.celica-gts.com/forums/index.php?topic=23913.0
And this link has a lot of good info http://www.off-road.com/aimages/articlestandard/toyota/422005/186487/article.html
I think the 22R (or a variant) is still used in Toyota forklifts?
i see alot of timing kits on ebay with metal guides. Anybody have experience with them? This truck needs to stay on the cheap.
In reply to malibuguy :
I got a lot of my parts including my timing kit from Yota1 Performance. The price seemed reasonable and service was good, might give them a call and make sure you get the right chain as I don't know the differences between the late 22R and 22RE, I know there are differences between the later 22R and earlier 22R.
Since the timing chain has been beaten to death I'll mention another issue I've seen occasionally. Later trucks have power assisted steering and the belt-driven pump is located above the alternator. If the pump develops a leak it will drip down onto/into the alternator, which WILL cause problems if not fixed. My first vehicle was a '86 2WD with a 22RE. It developed ths PS leak. The first time it killed the alternator. The second time it killed the alternated and shorted a good chunk of the wiring harness.
