Hi there.very first post so please bear with me. I'm replacing a motor in 93 4 wheel drive. I friend bought what he said was a brand new 22RE motor,but he didn't say from where.While I was looking it over I noticed the water pump mating surface was far from flat. It is signifacatly higher in the middle then the outside.I put a straight edge from one end to the other horisontally and the straight edge rocks almost 1/16 of a inch is this normal? I'm sure the gasket will still seal but it makes me wonder about the rest of the motor if this wasn'nt done on purpose.

 

No it is not the normal .

Poor Chinese machining and lack of quality control the last person was shot!!

On a after market timing cover.

 

I know that at one time you could buy a new 22r motor and it was made in China. That would worry me. Otherwise really no way of telling with out going thru the motor and checking it well. You already have it so I would take a chance on it to save having to buy another motor, but I would be looking for another as soon as I could just in case this one is bad.