So, just got on this forum, though I've looked to your conversations for help in fixing thing for years. So, here's the deal;

Have a 1990 pickup, 4 cylinder, 4wd with the 22re engine. While digging around I found the head to be damaged- bolt holes stripped and cracked through the block. Surfaces are pretty scarred too. So, I'm going to replace the block or have the holes welded and re-tapped, not sure which (suggestions?). But the block is coming off either way. Any suggestions for things to do while it's off to improve engine performance? Gonna tussle with the timing chain, but is there anything else? Hate to lose this opportunity with the guts exposed to make some nice adjustments or (affordable) upgrades.

Thanks everyone!

 

I would get an engnbldr street rv head and one of their crawler cams. Can’t speak for their head out of experience but if the old one is kicked you might as well get a trick new one. I do have one of their cams though and am more than satisfied with it, great low end torque (for the engine of course). Might want to look into arp head studs as well but I don’t think they’re essential. I’ve heard mixed reviews about touching the bottom end so I’ll let somebody else give you advice on that. Good luck with the build.

 

I suggest you look at the wiring under / beside the intake manifold. That is an inhospitable environment and a tight spot. I would reroute everything that does not really have to run there. Those could be ran along the firewall or the inner fender (like here), and keep the harness under/beside the intake manifold less crowded and easy to work on (i.e., fixing the problematic crimp on the injector to ECU wires).
Then wrap the injector wires with good temp=insulation.

Examples are:
1) Starter solenoid control wire,
2) Reverse / 4WD switch wires.
3) One or more Temp-sender wire (s)

 

Awesome, I'll look into that.

 

Seems engnbldr is shut down due to illness. Best wishes to them.