Just bought an SR5 85 4runner (350 000) with a valve cover marked 22re. Awesome truck, body work done, 4 inch lift, 32 inch tires, but noticed a rough cold start and bad idle until oil pressure built up. Upon research I narrowed it down to a loose timing chain and broken plastic guides. Bought a replacement timing chain kit and gaskets. Started to disassemble and found broken plastic pieces in the oil pan. Also noticed that this is a rebuilt engine. Radiators indicate that this was originally an automatic vehicle, now manual. After finally removing and cleaning everything we could not get the new chain and cam gear back on. The replacement chain is at least three links shorter the the old one, and the replacement cam gear is slightly different from the old one. No holes in it. My receipt indicates it is for an 85 4runner, but it clearly does not fit on mine. Could the entire engine have been replaced with a pre-85 22re? and would a pre-85re have single row timing chains?? Any help would be greatly appreciated, I need to get back on the road to work. Thanks

 

some 85 trucks still had the tall deck blocks. yours is probably one of them. what does the valve cover look like? is it flat up front or is it tilted back some?

 

Just got off the phone with the local store and will be picking up a timing chain kit for an 84 22re tomorrow. Hope it works out.

 

the valve cover is definitely tilted

 

then you got the "pre85" engine. does not mean though it's not the original one.

 

Ok, so the new kit I ordered should work then.

 

unless it's the wrong valve cover on it yes.

 

85 uses an 96 link, single row chain. 83-84 r and re motors used a 98 link , single row chain. You said this is a rebuilt motor so, imo, sounds like this is an older motor than the truck itself. I had a similar problem when I bought a motor from a guy out of an 87 for my 86. Ordered up timing kit, pulled off timing cover AFTER I got my kit and found a two-row, 98 link setup. So the "87" that I bought was actually an 82 22r.
You should be right on with the 84 kit.

 

some 85's came with the 84 motor. I believe at leasst one other person (I can't remember who) has an 85 with the 84 motor in it from the factory.

13506 CHAIN SUB-ASSY **506-35011 1983.08-1984.08 22R#.. RN5#, 6#
13506 CHAIN SUB-ASSY **506-35030 1984.08-1989.03 22R#.. RN5#, 6#, 7#

what's the production date on your truck?

 

^^^^good point

 

The truck was prob built in late 84 so it would be considered an 85 truck with 84 qualities. Also alot of replacement radiators came with the automatic trans coolers even though you specified for a manual trans.

 

ok so the new timing chain kit did fit into my engine. After installing it and putting everything back together I fired it up but cant get the proper oil pressure. It doenst go up. We took the oil pump apart, cleaned it, and installed it while we were in there, all sensors have been re-attached. I have no idea whats up. Anybody have any ideas?

 

did you prime the pump with grease or vasoline? if not, take the coil wire off and the spark plugs out and turn the engine with the starter. It could take up to a minute or two but your oil light or pressure should come up.

When putting the pump back together did you line up the little triangles like you were supposed to? and with the right side facing out? If you don't know what I am saying, I would repull that oil pump if I were you and get the FSM out again and read it.

 

Not insulting your intelligence but did you add oil and or enough?

Unlpugged sending unit?

Always prime oil pumps!

 

We did put enough oil in, and the oil pump was re-assembled the same way we took it out, although we did not line up the triangles since my friend did not see a reason (is there one?). No we did not prime the oil pump, following instructions online and reading the manual we did not find any mention of doing this. How would we prime it? I think we are just going to have to take the oil pump out and re-assemble it properly, and prime it. Thanks for the quick response, I really need to get back on the road for work.

 

Its prob not metioned because its required amists all engines.(Always Prime Oil pumps)

 

also, the manual did not mention anything about lining up the triangles or priming the pump, hence the reason we did not do it

 

again, how do we prime the pump? since its not mentioned in the manual

 

pack it with grease or vasoline. completely full then do what I said about the spark plugs and coil wire. Also you might wanna do another oil change shortly after to get the grease etc residue out of the oil pan.

 

also make sure you put the oil pump drive spline in correct and not backwards.