Hello Yotatech,

I bought this truck ($400) about 2 years ago sitting in someones yard not running with 126,000 on the odometer owned by the original owner. It had the typical rusted bed. The compression was good. I replaced the fuel lines, sending unit, fuel tank, plugs, wires, rotor and cap and it started. I've since found another bed, welding metal to the floorboards, painted it (first attempt at painting), sprayed in a bedliner, replaced the carpeting, and had the bench seat re-covered.

Due to my compulsiveness, I kept hearing something with the engine and I narrowed it down to the chain slapping of broken timing chain guides. I opened it up and found only partial timing guides remaining. I pulled the head and timing gears with the engine in the truck. Then I decided to pull the engine which was much easier than I thought and I should have pulled the engine from the beginning. I'm cleaning the engine bay and repainting the parts.

I've had the head checked and resurfaced, everything checked out ok. I will be adding an RV cam. The piston walls look great, smooth and no ridges. I'm big on preventive maintenance. I will be replacing water pump, oil pump, timing chain, tensioner, rear crank seal, clutch, clutch plate (bearings also), and flywheel. Should I replace the pistons and rings? Any other suggestions are appreciated?

I would love to post a few pictures but I have not figured out how to make the photo smaller.

Thank you,
Kelly

 

I just did a head gasket, timing chain and slapped a brand new head on (202,xxx) 22re. If i had the extra money while everything was apart I would have purchased pistons and rings! Especially in your case the motor is already out Now is the time if you have the dough in my opinion!

 

Yota Shane,

Thank you. I'm leaning that way. Although I'm tiring to keep the cost down (wife), I don't want it to fail earlier due to a shortcut. Any suggestion as far as pistons and rings?

Thank you,
Kelly

 

Well if your looking for keeping the price down ebay has some over haul kits for around $150 and up. I have purchased many parts from ebay and have been satisfied....Local junk yards might have a 22re around.

 

Titan engines check these guys out........http://www.ebay.com/itm/85-95-Toyota...d8dd63&vxp=mtr

 

Also I would not just throw a cam in. If you want to put a cam in i would do a little bit of head work as well as buying a header to open it up a little...If you just put a cam in only it will most likely make your truck slower. I used to have an 86 22r and i put just a cam in and i feel it made it a little more slugish then before...After market cam shaft will do no good with all other engine parts stock.

 

Thanks for the link to the ebay rebuild kit. I should have started with that, but I've been getting parts here and there and I'm too far into it to get the full kit. I'm sure it has cost me more. I have bought a few things from engnbldr.com and have been very satisfied. They also have been very informative. I did have the head resurfaced and checked. I will basically be rebuilding everything except having the crank checked/milled and replacing the crank bearings. I may check them and replace if necessary. I should have just done everything from the beginning. Oh well. Thanks for the advice.

 

If it had good compression...why rebuild bottom end? Seems a waste.

Dont buy parts of ebay unless you do your research first. I highly recommend ENGNBLDR
for parts.

 

I would agree but a set of pistons and rings were only $109 from enggbldr, so I decided it couldn't hurt. I'm originally out of the Cape Girardeau area with family in the suburbs of St. Louis. I do miss the winters in Missouri. It will routinely stay below zero here in the winter time which also makes working on anything rough. I have an unheated machine shed and I use a forced air heater with kerosene or diesel fuel. Other than that it's great.