I have an 87 pickup with the 22r-te. The piston rings are going bad, and the turbo needs rebuilt/replaced. I have a complete 22re sitting in my garage ready to be rebuilt. My question is this. What are the internal differences in the 22re/22rte? Are the pistons different? What other internal differences are there? I love the turbo, and want to keep it. I won't switch to natural aspiration. So is it possible to turn a 22re into a 22rte without a whole new bottom end/top end?

 

Just from reading on these forums, and others, I understand that for the turbo, the pistons are different, the head is different, and there is an extra oil line in the block. I am sure there is more to it than that, but that's coming off the top of my head.

 

the pistons are a deeper dish design, around 7.5:1 compression instead of the 22RE 9.3:1 compression. there is also an oil supply/return in the block that the 22RE doesn't have tapped out, and i think it can't be done without some major machine work(most aftermarket kits use a pressure sensor hole and drain to the oil pan).

best way to go would be to rebuild the 22RTE, maybe throw in some forged pistons and a metal head gasket...

 

x2

 

RTE Pistons are forged. RTE Head has larger chambers. Different wiring harness and computer. Extra holes in block for oil and water passages. Cam may be different too.