Mette

Hi all, first post to Yotatech.

I have a 1989 pickup, factory equipment is 22r, 2WD, and 4-speed trans. I bought it in 2008 and daily drove it until my kids were born. It's only driven occasionally since 2010. It's a great truck and I'd like to keep it another five years, but at this point I'm not really sure what I'm working with.

It developed a bad leak at the valve cover. No problem, I pulled the VC and put in a new gasket and half moons from a Felpro kit for a 1989 22r. The old gasket was brittle and cracked in several places.



The VC grommets from the 1989 kit are too tall. I had to order the early type grommets (pre-1984, I think).



The timing chain has worn through the oil baffle on the VC. (Cover is the later, squared-off style).



The timing chain is double-row. (pre-1983, I think, unless an unlikely conversion)



The block is stamped "22R" below the first freeze plug and has the TEQ logo cast into it below the last freeze plug (pre-1985, I think). The early block (and head, I assume) must have been swapped in by a previous owner. For now, my plan is to delete the oil baffle, bolt the VC back, and see how the truck runs. Longer-term, I'm not sure how to approach things like timing chain and guide replacement. I assume most parts I'm currently running will be early types, but it seems like a real can of worms.

The late VC should fit on the early head, right? Is there a better explanation for the damage to the VC oil baffle?

Any help would be appreciated.

HighLux

you got a first gen 22r in there! Someone swapped it.

Mette

Makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Well it happens .

All you need to do is get the timing chain kit for a 83 .

If your interested I might have the correct valve cover and a new timing chain kit .

I would have to double check PM if your interested doubtful I will ever use it.

Mette

More searching around leads me to think the only issue with running a later, squared valve cover on an early (1981-82, double-row timing chain) 22r is that the double chain won't clear the oil baffle.

Mette

I guess it does happen. Honestly, it's sort of embarrassing that I drove the truck for five years not realizing it had been swapped, but it really hasn't needed much except oil changes.

It makes sense that everything from the oil pan up to the valve cover will be early 22r stuff.

PM sent.

donovansquarebush

another way you can check, is 81-82 was dual row timing chain, 83 and 84 were single row. all 4 years had round exhaust ports, in 85 they went to a pear shaped exhaust port and different deck height, you can look at the difference in first gen 22r and second gen 22r timing chain covers, the earlier 81-84 had a straight section that was curved in the 85-95 water pumps. another way is to check the block. on the 81-84 blocks there is no "mickey mouse" behind the drivers side motor mount. 85-95 had 3 circles that resemble mickey mouses head. this was for the oil return line for the turbo on the 22ret. they used the same block, so on the 85-95 block, the outline is there but not cut. hope this helps!

Pri$erulz