c3bhm

I have a 1984 2WD SR-5 pickup. It's the fuel-injected 22RE engine, rather than the 22R.

I was smelling gas throughout the daily driving experience, upon startup and upon coming home - so I took it into a mechanic I trust and was told something to the effect that the gasket inside the original fuel pressure regulator (aka relief valve, I'm told - sorry...I'm new to this) was old/rotten.
He has been completely unable to find a replacement regulator, despite multiple phone calls. Not as a new aftermarket part or from Toyota or from any scrap yards.
He rigged up a temporary fix, but I'm driving down the street with that lurching/stuttering 'just about to run out of gas' feel, which is unacceptable of course.

I've looked online and a dozen different parts suppliers claim that their aftermarket regulators will fit, but my mechanic insists those are the wrong ones. Like this one:
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk.../158-0191.html

So, I've got a fantastic little truck that I love - my dad bought in new and we've had it since - and have put a lot of upkeep into (just recently spent $800 on replacing the timing chain), but it seems as if the lack of a $50 part is ending its career?!?
I'm hoping for some advice/guidance here. Does anyone know what that part actually looks like, or where I might find a replacement - or what my other options are if I truly can't find a replacement? Would some kind of modification be safe/reliable/affordable?

Thanks for any help.

rokblok

iTrader: (1)

Can you take a picture of the culprit part so that maybe we can further decide exactly what part it is? It may be found in a carb kit, more than likely...

c3bhm

Sure. Here are photos:

View of engine - yellow circle is where we are 'zooming'.
https://i.imgur.com/wuldB.jpg
<a href="http://imgur.com/wuldB"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/wuldB.jpg" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" /></a>

Zoomed in toward back of engine - yellow circle just beginning to see the part.
https://i.imgur.com/G06MZ.jpg
<a href="http://imgur.com/G06MZ"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/G06MZ.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Close-up of the part.
https://i.imgur.com/YgR8L.jpg
<a href="http://imgur.com/YgR8L"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/YgR8L.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>

Side-view of the part.
https://i.imgur.com/V44t8.jpg
<a href="http://imgur.com/V44t8"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/V44t8.jpg" title="Hosted by imgur.com" alt="" /></a>


My mechanic says that it is the "fuel pressure relief valve", (or "fuel pressure regulator").

He said that Toyota started making the 22RE fuel injection system in 83, and then it was the same in 84, but in 85 they upgraded to a much better system, which uses the parts that are easily available now. He said he can't find any regulators for the 83/84 22RE. He has a temporary fix going, so I can drive the car in the meantime, but it's boggy/lurchy. Not acceptable for normal driving...it's a crappy, stuttery feeling.

Any suggestions? How do I find a replacement part. Parts searches on all the major websites come back with the part that's good for post-'84 engines.

rokblok

iTrader: (1)

Toyota could prob get it. If you wanna go cheap, go to the wrecking yard, find a 22RE and if the regulator bolts up and runs fine, use it. I would venture to say that most auto parts places could get it also.

c3bhm

Well, damn, that's what's not working, so far.
Checked with Toyota - they do not make that part anymore.
Checked with all local wrecking yards and they don't have that specific 83/84 part.
My mechanic did a search around the country and came up with nothing. There was someone in Utah who thought they had the right one, but turns out it wasn't.

I guess I'm here on this forum hoping to figure out whether this situation is even possible...? My mechanic seems like a really decent guy, and last week he spent 3 hours trying to rig a temp. fix for it - which he only charged me $90 for. But something about this scenario seems wrong. Like maybe he's wrong about the problem? I mean, could it actually be possible that a part for a '83 Toyota just doesn't exist anymore, when it comes to trying to acquire one???
Is there any particular old-Toyotas guru out there that anybody knows about, who might be able to wrangle the part for me?

rokblok

iTrader: (1)

If it were mine, I would try and get some specs for the later model regulator. PSI regulated, mounting style, etc. If its close, just order a later model regulator... better yet, if the wrecking yards have a later model 22RE regulator, just visibly look to see if it will fit, and if so install it and run it. You'd only be out a few bucks if it didnt work. But I would venture to bet that it would work.

Toyota may even list somewhere if there is a year range that the regulators work on, and certainly may have pics to see what the variations are.

Another fix may be to see if a later model fuel rail would swap onto your manifold. Using the old injectors possibly.

c3bhm

My mechanic said that if it comes to total desperation, modding the engine would be the final way to go. He acquired this injector rail (is that what it is?) and said that it's a later model but would work on engine:

https://i.imgur.com/ls455.jpg

Is this what you're talking about? Is this a horribly complex project? His temporary fix is running OK-ish, but there's still mildly noticeable bogging during driving it, which is kind of driving me crazy. So I'm tempted to go with a full fix - doing the modding. Any idea of what that would/should cost to do...swapping those?

85TurboRunner

Why does he say that one you had in your first post won't work?

peow130

Hold on a second here.
Your truck is an 84 and has EFI?
I thought the pre-84 heads were the shorter style and EFI didnt work on them?
If your truck is indeed the later style 85+ head, why couldnt you just get the part for a newer truck and put that on? It's not like they changed much of anything regarding the fuel system during those years.

85TurboRunner

Are you sure its not an 85? Even if your dad bought it in '84 it could still be considered an '85 model year truck.

peow130

If he bought it in 84 it WOULD be the 85 model year truck.. They always do it one year ahead. My 87 pickup was made in 86, so his '84' could very well have been made in 84, but it's actually an 84 model year. If that makes any sense.

rokblok

iTrader: (1)

Its also a 2WD. But it depends on when in the year it was made. Early(Jan-Jun) would be an '84. After that would generally be considered and '85.

Either way, if it is factory EFI, I bet a later model(86-88ish) fuel rail would fit and work fine.

c3bhm

Yeah, it's a confirmed 1984, and it says "EFI" right on the side of the cab. I believe this was maybe the first (or second) year they did fuel injection. My mechanic said that before 83 it was carbureted, then 83/84 did their first fuel injection system, then 85 and after a much improved fuel injection system.

He said that the diaphragm inside of the relief valve had gone bad, and that the newer regulators wont match up to my engine. Apparently he got in there and did some cutting/epoxying of my original regulator so that the truck can run, but it's still a little sputtery.

Should I have that new rail put on? He said it's the specific newer rail that would work in my scenario. (This one: https://i.imgur.com/ls455.jpg) If so, how serious of a project is that? What might that cost?

Bassmastry101

iTrader: (1)

Why not just take the regulator off of the spare fuel rail that you got and swap it with the original?? Seems like it would take 10 minutes at the most.

85TurboRunner

How is that fuel rail you posted different then the one you already have, besides being newer?

If that rail plus regulator will work, why not just put that regulator on your current fuel rail?

I think your mechanic may be full of beans.

peow130

agreed
i highly doubt they made any vast improvements over a part like that in a 1 year period.

c3bhm

My mechanic insists it's not that simple. That they are not compatible.
That's why I'm here asking for help to sleuth this out...

c3bhm

I don't know the difference. I'm not a mechanic or enthusiast in any way. That's why I'm here...trying to get help to figure out what the difference is...

85TurboRunner

Ok, swapping out the fuel rail is very easy, but I think you should just take the regulator off that newer rail and stick it on yours.

Unless there was some crazy change in fuel pressure between the years I don't see how it would make a difference.

Bassmastry101

iTrader: (1)

The regulator should work all the same. I just checked on a few part sites and some don't show fuel injection for an 84, which leads me to believe yours might be an 85 that was made in 84. All sites show the same part number for 85 and 86. So since there is no difference in the years..tell your mechanic to try and put the regulator on there like it is. If that don't work then the only thing left is to change the fuel rail.

I'm curious as to where he is getting his sources. And how is he "fabbing" your regulator to work?