Here goes:

My 89 yota started running bad & leaking oil from the head gasket at around 154k. I pulled the head and discovered a broken head bolt & the lower end looked in bad shape.

New motor time! Or new truck time???

I decided to go the new motor route. After some research I decided to get the following parts:

LCE shortblock
ENGNBLDR street/RV head with 268 cam
LCE header
LCE rocker arm assembly (actually cheaper than dealer`s quote of 600!)
new radiator
new o2 sensor

I`m building this primarily as my dailydriver, but I plan on going through the truck a bit at a time. All of the parts for my motor got here yesterday, although it will take me a bit to have a space available to do the work. I`m looking forward to this, as I have never really put together a motor before. Anyways, I will be under the direction of a solid mechanic with a decent shop.

I have heard mixed reviews about adjusting the AFM to enrichen the mixture, and I would like some of your thoughts. I live at & play at high altitude (7,000+) anyone with some experience on that mod?

Anyways, there`s my first post....

 

I don't think you'll have any AFM adjustment issues with the cam you chose.
Also, at high altitudes, air pressure is less so adjusting for more fuel would be a bit pointless. The AFM and O2 sensor should be able to keep the mix pretty accurate. If anything, you may have to lean the mix a click.

But I digress---- good luck!
TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!!!!
...and make sure you've got something to celebrate with when it fires up.

 

Here it is, finally put together, didn`t go for the bling valve cover, but cleaned mine up. All EFI stuff will be at factory specs, & I need a new O2 sensor. This book from LCE had a butt-load of info in it.



This motor is equal to 14 days of 16-hour shifts firefighting in Norcal this summer (about $3200, with header, radiator, o2 sensor, beer, headbolts, rocker arm assembly & belts, hoses & whatnot...)

It`s so pretty & shiny, I feel like I should buy the motor a beer because it looks so damn cool & I learned a bit more about engines & building them. Anyways, more pics to follow later this week.

 

no responses at all? u guys MUST be jealous...

 

or maybe we're trying to figure out if the new engine is making you happy


jealousy is something I never experience. I'm far too modest for that.

 

That does look really nice. You need a lot more pictures on photo bucket (truck too). But great looking motor!

 

Clean! Nice!

 

A pic of my truck is up in photobucket. Check out my sweet vintage 7 x 15.00 R LT`s...

 

if the pic is in photobucket, it's really easy to get it to show up here...
there's this thing called the IMG tag.

 

you mean this:

?

 

Before:



After:




Well, looking back I could have done a 3.4 swap, but I wanted to keep my truck more or less stock for parts & service in the future. So here is my finished motor! The biggest issue was getting the header & o2 sensor mount thingy to line up. Nothing a little heating & bending couldn`t fix though...

This thing absolutely purrs, and seems to have much more noticeable power. It would be nice to get it on the dyno in Phoenix after I get it broken in. I left out the old AC stuff, it never really worked & was the old style that needed to be converted. Besides, it is rarely needed at 7,000`! This spot is now reserved for my York compressor..



Header:


I will say that I had top-notch dealings with LCE & EB, and I reccommend them to anyone.

 

damnn man, thats a real nice setup you got going there.
congrats!! haha

 

SAWEET!

My next project is going to be an 87 with all new powertrain in it and a little "pep" in the engine department..

 

thats awesome. great build

 

Looks good but thats a lot of money for a rebuild. Oh well whatever makes you happy.

 

now its time for a turbo kit

 

If he was going to go turbo he should have spent less on the rebuild in my opinion. LC engineering is ver proud and there prices reflect it. I dont doubt that you get a great product but its still major coin. I would have gone engine builder kit, done the work myself if I was planning to turbo it.

 

my plan is to fin a 1st gen with 22re and manual. rebuild the motor my self then turbo it, i like turbos

 

I did that very thing. I have some recomendations for you if you want them. PM me if your interested so we dont hijack the thread.

 

TOO LATE!!!!

I don`t plan on a turbo, just a solid motor that will get at least another 154,000. There may have been cheaper ways to rebuild my motor, but since my old head was warped & the bottom end seemed in pretty rough shape
I didn`t have much choice other than to go with a new casting.

Again, in defense of LC`s prices, there rocker arm assembly was cheaper than the Toyota dealership. I could have purchased a complete Jasper longblock for around 2,000, but I didn`t want a Walmart grade motor. A friend had a used 22re with 30,000 on a rebuild, he wanted 1,000 for it, but it hadn`t run in a year and was out of a vehicle.

I have been at the mercy of several Flagstaff mechanics before and having learned my past lessons from the "tourist-trap" mechanics & machine shops here, I opted to spend a little more money on higher-end stuff rather than get royally donkey-punched again.

I had the guidance from a good friend & mechanic here who reccommended that I get all machine work done in Phoenix at a reputable shop, if I stuck with my old block, but he believed my old motor was too far gone for a rebuild.

As far as a turbo, I can still go that route although my compression is 9.5 to 1, which may be a little high for any real boost. Personally, I am just happy to be able to DRIVE MY TRUCK AGAIN!!!

Thanks to all of you who provided some input & insight, and I look forward to asking more questions about future mods.