88 22R Carb: I am desperate for better throttle response, so I am considering an aftermarket air cleaner. As I live in California (and glad of it) I must be able to change out the air cleaner with the stock unit once a year with minimal effort. Would it be practical to get one of the aftermarket units under these circumstances, and does anyone have a suggestion as to which brand is best?
Thanks in advance for any feedback

 

There isn't much to gain cheaply on these engines. An air filter isn't going to do much. Some might suggest a K&N but the only way they are able to let more air in is by having bigger holes and therefore more dirt gets through. I am quite pleased with my $12 OEM Toyota air filters. Is your truck a 2WD or 4WD? If it's a 2WD you might be able to run a lighter flywheel to make it seem like you have a quicker revving engine. It'll sound cooler revving it up at red lights. You gotta realize it's a 30 year old 4 cylinder pickup truck.

 

By my experience all you will gain will be noise. Like stated above its a 4 cyl. made with 30 yr old technology. I'm glad you like living in California, I would spend my money moving, not on a new air filter system.

 

Is a 22R air box and snorkel different from a 22RE?

I don't have any carb experience with these trucks, but on my EFI '94 the fresh air elbow from the fender to the air box was smaller than the piping from the air box to the intake. So sound the deck plate mod or drilling more holes in the air box meant more air coming in.

Yes this was louder, but it brought more air in front of the filter (which I maintained a stock style paper filter). You could easily keep a stock box and a drilled box for switchovers for CARB.

Again on the EFI model the air box is on the opposite side of the engine bay from the intake. So a battery relocation kept the air charge from having to pass over the hot radiator. This isn't as easy to switch back and forth, but cold air is better than hot.

Beyond that, there aren't a whole lot of temporary power boosts. A lumpier cam, bigger valves, and a bigger exhaust are the true remedies.

 

Its a big help that you put to rest the notion of an aftermarket air cleaner. I wont bother with it.

By the way, the engine is new (about 30K).

My next step will be to gear down the differential. I got a lot of weight on this truck.

As far as the air box is concerned, I don't think this applies to a carburreted engine - please correct me if I am wrong

Thanks everybody,

Mike

 

The stock air intake is pretty good.

The only way I could see an aftermarket setup perform better is if the stock air filter was clogged and way over due for replacement.

What is the condition of the carburetor? Is it set up properly?
An old carburetor with leaking seals and clogged passages can definitely dull the throttle response.

How much weight are you carrying in the truck?

Good luck!

 

Truck is probably carrying 1/2 to 3/4 ton payload, but I have not weighed it. It's a longbed, with very built-up springs.
Just swapped in a 4.10 gear.
Air cleaner filter is new.
Carb is weak, I know, but it bench-tested good so there's not much I can do with it unless I spend a lot of money. Would rather do the valve lash and retorque the head first.

I had no idea I was going to be having power problems! My previous carbureted 22R was a rocket. Similar payload, 3.73 gears, shortbed, slightly shorter tires.

If I had known, I would have gone with a T100. I really like those. But the 88 DLX is a better handyman truck because of the Xtra cab and long narrow bed. In fact, virtually no one in my area is using T100s for my kind of work because the Hilux/Tacoma is so much better/cheaper, so I thought I just didn't need it.

 

Weber 32/36 smog legal carb from LCE.
Header with full 2.25" exhaust
engnbldr RV cam
Oversized valves

That's all I can think of as far as getting more power. Air cleaner won't do squat.