The engine in my '95 2wd pickup is pretty well shot (wrist pin knock, rod knock, timing chain issues) so I've been searching craigslist for a used engine to swap in for cheap. I found a 22r-e out of a '91 4x4 pickup for a good price, and I'm about to call the guy but am not sure if it will fit.

I know the oil pan on 4x4 22r-e engines is different to allow for the front differential to fit, but is anything else changed? Also, if the donor '91 4x4 is an automatic, can I put it's engine in my manual pickup? I assume I'll have to swap the flywheel between the old and the new engine. Will the computer in my '95 work with the engine if it's from a 4x4? The guy is including all EFI parts so it isn't a huge issue if it won't.

I can't recall the model of transmission, but I know it's the 2wd 5 speed with the bottom-mount drain plug. I can't seem to figure out which transmission that is. As far as I understand it, this is a pretty drop-in thing with no engine mount differences or fab work needed, is this understanding correct?

Thanks a lot for any responses.

 

You'll need the oil pan and oil pump / sump from your 2wd; install those on the engine from the 4wd and you should be okay.

As you know, you'll have to change the flywheel from your 2wd onto the engine from the 4wd; get rid of the flex plate and torque converter....

 

I know the 2wd oil pan will interfere with the front diff on a 4wd truck, but couldn't I just leave the 4wd pan/sump/pump alone in the 4wd configuration? Does the 4wd pan interfere with something on a 2wd truck?

 

I guess I should clarify; if the pan/pickup need to be changed (which I will probably do regardless because it's easy) does that mean I NEED to change the oil pump as well? Or did you mean that it would be good to change that as long as I had the engine out.

 

shouldn't need to change the oil pump. just the tube that bolts up in the oil pan, and the "pickup" tube that goes down into the low part of the oil pan, from the 2wd engine (your old one) on to the new engine (from the 4wd).

 

Oil pumps are the same. The 22RE long block is the exact same throughout the years. You will need to change the pickup tube, and the oil pan.

You will also need to use YOUR electronics on the new motor. Ie, wiring, computer, sensors, etc etc. Just use the long block from the donor truck in yours. You cannot swap the wiring/ecu in from the donor truck, it won't work. Just reuse your stuff.

 

You might as well replace your clutch while you're doing this too.

 

The donor engine was bolted up to a manual, so I won't have to swap the flywheel from the old engine. I do intend to replace the clutch, as mine is just about shot. I'm also thinking about getting a timing chain set with a metal driver's side guide and installing it before I install the engine (which has 120k miles and I assume has never been open), but I haven't decided on that yet.

After all, the original engine made it to 280k miles on the original chain and guides, although I suspect the driver's side guide has been broken since I bought the truck at 260k miles.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice everyone!

Edit:
And yes, I'm going to clean up and swap the oil pan and pickup tube over from the old engine.

 

I was assuming that I would use the existing wiring and ECM that are in my truck. I was also planning on using the donor engine as-is, with all the sensors/injectors/VSVs and such as it is. Aside from leaving in place the wiring and ECM, do I need to swap EFI hardware over from the old engine?

Again, thanks for the advice!