22RE 5 speed 375,000 mi. Lifted a couple inches with 33's.
Bought this truck a few months ago for not a bad price and have been cleaning it up and changing all the fluids. Engine was running and sounding pretty good. I don't know real history on work done.
I was driving home from work last week and heard a loud BANG under the hood. Engine immediatly started sounding like crap. Nothing spilling out from underneath. I was not very far from my mechanics place so I limped it back there and left it. Come to find out that I blew a spark plug out of #3. Took threads with it. Mechanic tried helicoil but it didn't work. Before all this happened, I was thinking about replacing the timing chain, etc because of the unknown history. Now that this has happened, I am thinking about still doing the chain, but at the same time having to change out the cylinder head. I am not so mechancally inclined and I am finding that an assembled head could cost $800+ and be weeks and weeks and weeks away. I don't want to put a couple grand in this engine If I don't have to...any recommendations on what the best/cheapest/easiest way to move forward would be? I most likely would be having work done....I don't have anywhere to do something so involved. If anybody has had to go through this, I would love to get a ballpark on how much $ this is gonna set me back. I do know a guy at dealership that can get parts at employee discount.
TIA

 

That's cylinder #2 not #3.

The can be repaired with a timesert or Helicoil by any competent person. It's easier with the head off. 22RE Performance can't get head castings for the moment, normally they are $600 or so. LCE is another option but they are a bit more. I did a quick search and only found one stock type head but it had no valves. All the others were performance options.

A quality timing chain set is $153 from 22RE Performance. A Toyota head gasket is around $50 last time I bought one. Only buy a genuine one, all other brands are inferior. Head bolts are $70. Add the cost of the Timesert, fluids, and a few miscellaneous gaskets and you're probably up to around $350 - $400 in parts. What part of North Carolina are you located in? I could help you out, got a garage with a heater. I usually charge people food while we work and whatever you feel is fair/can afford.

 

Located in Colfax between Greensboro and Winston Salem. I'm still looking for cylinder head...if your nearby, I may take you up on that!

 

I may actually have a couple heads in my attic. Can't remember the condition of them though. I'm pretty sure you could make one good one out of them and the parts from yours.

I'm about 4 hours away. Not exactly close but if you can get the truck here I'd be happy to help.

 

I think I have one good head, and one with bent valves in one cylinder. Swap a couple valves from your head, lap them in, and it'd be good to go. Pretty sure I have a valve seal kit laying around too.

 

May also have a new timing chain set laying around too. It's not a great brand though so I'd still recommend you buy the OSK kit from 22RE Performance.

 

4 hours is a little far...lol. Thinking new to avoid future problems. Thanks for the tips.

 

Is there a good shop in driving distance where the hotrodders / racers get work done? If so, pull the head off the truck and take it to them for repair. They will fix it, do the seals, guides, valves, check it for cracks and reassemble it for you. Lead time will probably be a couple of weeks. You can check the timing chain condition while you’re pulling the head.

 

Enginetech CH1072N complete cylinder head is $275.99 plus shipping from RockAuto. Installed one 4.5 years ago with new timing chain set, and it's still running good. The bare head is $176.89.

Poteat's Engine Rebuilding sells a complete 22RE engine with new cylinder head for $950. They are in Kannapolis NC.

https://poteatsengines.com/services/

 

I've heard some bad reports of cheap heads. I'd be weary of it. Make sure the dams in the head will pool oil for the cam lobes to dip into. I would also definitely not use the cam that comes with it. Swap over your OEM cam and its matching rocker set.

I'd also stay far away from that rebuilt engine or any engine that costs that much. The components are super cheap and not worth the metal they are made from. In the engine that my 4Runner came with ($1399 long block according to the receipt), the head gasket went at 30,000 miles. Then later a piston cracked at around 50,000 miles. Scrapped all that junk and I put in a used engine from Craigslist with 145,000 miles. That engine went to well over 200,000 miles before I took it out still running to install a Stage 2 complete engine from 22RE Performance.

Most of the aftermarket stuff is so crappy that even 30 year old used Toyota stuff is better quality.

 

If you go new, I'd recommend a bare head and swapping over the valves and cam. I think you'll have much less break-in wear issues.
But yes, a good machine shop can easily fix that. Pretty common damage when someone doesn't start the threading of a sparkplug by hand.

 

I'm having a machine shop go through it for me...gonna have timing chain done at same time for 1 hour extra worth of labor. Now to buy parts.....

 

Best to keep a factory head and valves, if possible.

 

So local engine machine shop couldn't fix my blowout. So now I'm looking at heads. Sounds like used is the way to go, but would need to swap over my stuff, (found out it was a remanufactured one anyway). Guess local guy would still need to go through it and make sure it is all in working shape and not cracked anywhere... Anybody got a used one for cheap? Any 22R-E will work right...from 85 on? TIA

 

You can have your pick of two genuine Toyota heads for $150.

 

PM'dThanks!

 

I'd find a new machine shop. Time-Sert is the only way to go. Been using them for over 30 years as they are a permanent fix. I've fixed blow outs without removing the head with 100% success. Even the 3.4s

 

I used a kit like this long time ago on a Mazda head. I had stripped the threads in one of the spark plug holes. I had to remove the head because I knew there would be a lot a shavings from reaming it. It fixed it perfectly and I never had any issues again.