Hey everyone, im collecting opinions so dont hold back.
ive got 2 20r fully dressed long blocks and 1 extra block and need to build one of them to put in my truck to drive it.
ive found a guy nearby who will do a rebuild for 1,000$. The thing is i have no experience with him and have found neither good or bad reviews. I also havent gotten into specifics yet as to what parts he uses and what he considers a full rebuild.
ive priced out cams, rocker assemblies, pistons etc and came up with 700$ for all the major components. Thats not including any machine work or minor tools id need to do the job right plus little stuff i forgot.
i enjoy working on motors, doing head gaskets and id like to learn more and do a full rebuild especially on such a simple motor as the 20r but if im not saving time or money, whats the point?
Also, if anyone has experience with engine builders in New Mexico or southern Colorado, let me know. Id prefer not to discuss people by name on a public forum but Id talk via PM.
anyways, the project has a little more time and money available now. Gotta pull the bed and cab and fix rust, then throw a motor in and find some mud.
thanks in advance for the free truck therapy.

 

Oh yea and I know I should be doing a 3rz swap, but ill do that years from now when everyone else has already moved on to the next motor with higher output.
Ive got 2 20rs and maybe getting a 3rd and I like these motors so Im gonna run one.
this is my little beater truck. Nothin fancy

 

Nothing wrong with the 20R. It’s a fine engine and very similar to the 22R. I have a lot of work to do to my truck and eventually I’ll rebuild and upgrade the 22R for more power, but I have no plans of changing engines. These little trucks don’t need high hp. If I could just get 140 hp I would be happy

 

Theres no doubt im sticking with the 20r. The question is should i rebuild it myself or pay someone? Im leaning towards paying someone bc im cheap.

Ive also got a guy selling and L50 and L52 but they dont have shift levers. I know theyre not peoples favorite trannys but moving up to a 5 speed would allow me to squeeze by a couple miles on the interstate.
ive got big plans, no time and very little money.
now that im thinking abt it, I could get a 3rz and do the swap for just a little more than getting the 20r rebuilt.

 

I have the 4sp in mine and have plans to go to the 5sp. I was leaning toward the L52 but I might go for the W56.

 

Most people prefer the W56 buy the L series are easy swaps. Everything lines up except the holes for the shifter in the cab floor.
and ive only seen trash talk on L trans from rock crawler folks.
id pull the trigger on one of these trannies but id hate to get stuck looking for a shifter or trying to fab one up myself

 

I’ve read the W56 is much better but I really don’t want to cut my transmission tunnel. I know marlin makes an L52HD but I heard they had a lot of trouble with one batch they shipped out that soured a lot of people. I assume they have corrected that by now. I wonder how the L52HD stacks up to the W56. I need to look and see what all is required to convert to the W56. I’ll let you know what I find

 

From what ive read, the marlin l52 is w56 sized gears in and l52 shell. Id trust marlin products. I guess any shop can put out a bad batch every once in a while. Hopefully they replaced them all for no extra charge. Marlins stuff is usually pricey but worth it