Hey Im starting a new thread for my 84 22R. I posted earlier this year about my issue.

My truck overheated on the freeway in 2011. I have had it sitting around for awhile, and now am having it looked at by a new shop nearby.

Earlier this year I had a compression test done, which showed that it has lost compression. Now it is at a new shop which determined that it is burning oil. So it looks like it had been burning oil, overheated, blew the head gasket (and possibly warped the head, not sure). This shop says I probably need new piston rings to fix the oil burning issue.

All told, this will cost me close to $2000 if I authorize the work. Not cheap. But I'd hate to sell off my truck.

Can anybody recommend how I should go forward?

 

A lot depends on how much, if any, work you can do yourself. I have a 20R that ran hot and warped the head. I removed the head myself and had a machine shop surface the head and do a valve job for $150. I dropped the oilpan,removed the pistons, honed the cylinders and replaced the rings, rod bearings and main bearings. Total cost for parts was another $150. So for $300 I had a running engine that would last for years.
If this new shop is removing your engine, doing all the machine work on the block and head including parts and putting the engine back in, $2000 is not that bad.

 

I bought and installed a 22r long block from eBay for $1100.00 shipped and have been putting trouble free miles on her for 2 months. I have changed the oil 3 times already and am going to change it again today but, she switches to Amsoil today and from now on to keep my truck running for a long time.
The total cost was about $1300.00 with the new clutch, oil & filters, coolant and other supplies needed for the job. It took me a week because I am not an auto mechanic but, a motorcycle mechanic and I did the whole job myself.

 

I'm currently doing a head gasket on a 86 22r-e. It's going very slowly, but It can be done if you have tools and you can buy what you don't have for a lot less than 2k. If you have a kid it would be a good learning experience for him .

 

If your somewhat mechanically inclined, do the work yourself. Have the head checked at a machine shop. A lot of people think tearing into a motor is exotic/taboo work for professional mechanics and it's not. You just have to be patient,have a service manual to guide you, have an organized work area and double check all your clearances and torque specs. A few special tools is all that's needed with the regular stuff. Top end kits are dirt cheap on the 22r. Usually around 150. And the satisfaction of saying you rebuilt the engine yourself is great!

That being said. Should you not want to do it. I would recommend buying a reman'd engine from ebay or similar. Usually you get everything from the oil pan to the head all ready to to go for half the price the shop wants. Swapping 22r motors are simple.

 

^^^^ nice, had a similar idea.

 

I would buy a cheap used 22r on craigslist then rebuild the current motor at my leisure. That way you always have a backup or a spare if you find another cheap Yota needing an engine.