My boss told me about this runner. Said he bought it knocking and pulled the engine out and built it. He went back with new pistons, rings, brand new head as the old was cracked, headman header, new cam, and ofcourse all fresh bottom end. He said that on initial start up it would knock, and continued to knock. So I thought heck 1300 bucks I don't care if I gotta build it again. This takes us to today

I'll start from the day I got it. Upper intake was off with rags shoved in the ports. Hooked all the wirring back up, threw the intake on it and hit the switch. Nothing. Nada. No vroom vroom. So I double check all my connections.All good. Getting spark, noid, so last thing is fuel pressure

Fuel pump ain't running. So I pull the access panel the connector is unhooked.... Odd.. More on that later.. So I hook it up. It fires right off! Then dies repeatedly... Little did I know the vafm has to be hooked up to keep it running once it cranks off, I fooled with it all afternoon, checking fuel pressure, fuel volume, spark, noid, even pulled the injectors and benched tested and cleaned them. It showed fuel pressure but still just crank then die. So I thought crap. My dad mentioned that as long as it's plugged up maybe that has something to do with it.. I try it. Now it is making a half effort to make noise. I call my boss/ PO And he Says that that he hooked the fuel pump in plans of replacing thinking it was bad. I asked if he had the vafm on he said no so I said there was your problem. But still no zoom zoom or vroom vroom that I want.

So I finally stick the hose on it and it tries to run. I give her sone gas and she coughs to life. Flooded to Kansas and back but hey she runs! I tidy every thing up, check all the other fluids. Done checked oil ofcourse, all good and appear fresh, I hop in, push in the clutch, put it in reverse, and rev it a bit and let out...: clunk.... Clunk... Clunk. I got a good engine but the rear end is gone. Stripped 3 teeth off the ring gear.
So a friend of mine with a v6 parts truck says, " you can have what ever you need for free "( I put a lift on his truck a few months back) so I think hmmmm a rear end is anything?? So I go over grab the whole leaf spring, carrier, axel, brakes, shocks, wheels, tires, and all from the rear as well with a grille, bumper, bumper mounts, and clineometer.
He said heck man I don't care take it. I build the carrier with 4:56's and drop it in and do the front too. Mount up the bumper, grille, and now I have a spare tire/wheel, spare entire axel assembly's compleat with good brakes and all. Ready to slide in. I'm now 1550 deep including parts, plastidip for a few accents, and gas getting parts.
I would post pics but it says I'm exceeding the limit?? By 100.1 kb on a single photo. How can I fix this? I'm posting from a iphone if that helps. This thread will continue for months as the 4runner has a lot coming it's way in short months..

 

Super long post. Try making paragraphs and punctuations so people can read it easier.

 

we don't believe in That stuff down here haha. Actually there were supposed to be picture to split it all up. But they will not post.

 

Well today was The 4runners first drive! done fine all the way to school. Run a bit warm ( little more than 3/4) I guess till the thermo opened and she dropped down to half/ just under half and sat happy! Will post pics in a little while

 

Well I havent been posting much because i have been out in the Toyota! So far i have the radio hooked up, and inclineometer installed. No pics of these yet.
Running into some funky running/idling issues. New TPS will be here today so i hope that fixes her up! Was getting no idle signal and yes i tried adjusting using shims and volt meter. The VTA readings and the IDL readings were very jumpy. All over the board.

 

Glad to hear you brought her back to life and got to enjoy your first ride in it. Always a nice reward from all the work you put into one.

 

Yes it is! Everyone thinks it's knocking when I pull up some where because it has a BAD rocker tick. But hey what 22re dont? Haha.

 

Well I have almost all my idle/running issues straightend out but. Well I thought I did. Today I was letting her idle for a very long time sitting in the truck at school for the heat. Then it started idling lower till it finally died. It runs like the plugs are fouled out almost. It runs good up until 2500 or so then it skips like crazy! Any thoughts on what happened? I know I have some screwed up vacuum lines but I know none of them are leaking. It's odd it would run fine for a whole week then just to start it all again.

 

Those vacuum lines make a big difference. I had the VSV valve hose on the very back of the motor to come off and it really ran bad. Have you burped the coolant system by raising the front of the truck up high and letting it idle to get the air out of the system?

Raise it up and let it idle and cycle the thermostat 3 or 4 times ( 10-15 minutes) with the radiator cap off. I am 6 feet tall and the core support is at my shoulders when I have it raised up.

 

Thanks ill give it one more try. I had it on a hill steep enough that the rear bumper was on the ground and my inclineometer was pegged out but I have done a few Coolant related things since them so I'll try it again.

 

Well its a sad day for the yota..... coming the high way runnung 60 mph or so in 4th gear the "quality remanufactured head" that the PO put on dropped a valve and slung the 22re all to peices. i mean oil and smoke and antifreeze everywhere. broke the bock and all. even busted the valve cover from the rocker breaking some how. busted EVERYTHING!!! I guess if she is gonna go out go out with a bang...oil....and coolant....and smoke...

 

Dang that really sucks. What's the plan now?

 

Not quite sure yet. This was a fresh rebuild by the PO. Was hoping to get 100'000+ out of it. If I I go with another 22re it's gonna have a little cam with some head work and a few other improvements. But then again it might be the perfect time for a 3.4 swap. Or a 4.3 chevy, or a LA swap. It's gonna have a lot of thinking.

 

Now would be the time to upgrade. Especially if your thinking of more power.

 

We ended up just buying several old tired engines and a set of wheels. ( my wheels sucked) and took one of them and just re-ring'd and bearing 'd it so I could get it back on the road soon as our other 4wd is down for a tranny rebuild (76 jeep Cherokee S sitting in 33' stock no lift with a junkyard TBI amc 360 with a cam, my DD before the yota) and I hate not having a 4wd. Then over the winter we are going to build one all out. Lc cam new header, port polishing, the works and put it in come spring when the jeep is back living for the expedition season

 

Here is the carnage caused by the po's cheap rebuild with cheap cast pistons. the walls

The chunks leftover

 

The reason ring and bearing engine all cleaned up and getting ready to go in all hooked up and ready to crank with the egr and PS vacuum delete. the new wheels on her

 

Stay dirty my friend's.

 

Being dirty means you got the motor in and running. Great job!!!

 

Haha yep its in and purring like a kitten!!! Not bad a one week turn around. Blew her up Friday at 7:30 in the morning and had her running the next Friday around 11:30 pm