My husband, a mechanic, just rebuilt the 22re in my '92 Pickup, and it sounds really good, no noise, no smoking, but it just has NO BALLS. It even has the engnbldr 268c performance cam in it. It does have the check engine light on, says code 52 knock sensor. My husband tried to tell me it was just because I was used to driving a turbocharged sports car, but while climbing a hill, I barely got it to 20mph in 2nd gear, he stopped calling me crazy. Can anyone give me any pointers as to what might be the issue? I only owned the truck for a few months before the motor went out 2 years ago, and just now got it running, I'm at my wits end with this thing.

 

You need to fix the knock sensor first, anything else is just wasting time and cash, then reassess your performance.

Why? Because without the knock sensor signal the computer retards the timing very heavily.

 

Relatively old post, but sounds like the same issues I'm having. I just picked up a 87 4runner that was said to have a fresh rebuild and by the looks of it, it was not a lie. Guy said he couldn't figure out the timing and I got a deal thinking that was all that was the problem. I get it home and got it timed no problem. Purrs while sitting there, press the throttle sounds like it has tremendous power as for what it is. Get driving (it's and automatic unfortunately) and first gear seems good, no power issues, but as soon as it shifts all power is lost. Only way it will accelerate any further is if it kicks down or I'm going down hill. The guy said after rebuild he put maybe 30 miles on it and it was parked for about a year before I stumbled upon it. Since I have put about 20 just in test runs to see if my tweaking solved it.
Now for what I've done to it that has proved to not be the issue,
Got it timed, adjusted valves (previously were slightly tight), switched outthe MAF, new plugs and wires, new cap and rotor, adjusted TPS, checked vacuums. Compression test showed 135-140 across the board (which is slightly low I know)
All have come to be inconclusive. I am stumped. I am by no means an expert, but by no means an idiot either. I have searched the forums up and down for any random issue and they all come to the things I have checked. There is no check engine light but I know it does in fact work. Is it possible it's just not broken in? Like the rings haven't settled? Or is the transmission to blame?
Any sort of feedback will help.

 

I am no mechanic but I spent a pile of money having a 22re rebuilt and no power so we started changing sensors,fuel pumps,fuel tank,took converter off,and nothing worked until we changed the Knock sensor.May or may not be the problem but it's worth a try.