On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 19:49:05 GMT, Ernie Leimkuhler
wrote:

I tried posting this over at the Toyota truck newsgroup and got no
help, so back to RCM is it.


3 weeks ago my 85 Toyota 1-ton blew it's rod bearing.
Instead of replacing the engine again, I opted for another truck.
I got a 86 extra-cab, longbed (yes it has both and is really long) in
excellent condition.

Now I don't want to get rid of my 1-ton because it is really rare and
since I do metal fab, that 1-ton suspension has been really useful.
I spent a lot of time and money over the last year replacing a lot of
parts on the truck.
What I want to do is bring the truck back to life.
I have to choose how to do that.
It currently has the Fuel Injected 22REC engine.
A good rebuilt one is around $1500-$1600.
A junkyard pulled engine is like $400-$700 as far as I can find.


There is the option of a Buick or Chevy small-block V-6, but it just
looks like too much trouble.

I am thinking about rebuilding the engine myself.
I have a metal fab shop, and since I have the '86 to drive for now there
is no immediate hurry.

On the '85 I have done everything except the engine itself,
I have been leery of actually getting inside the engine without
training, or at least supervision.

I can buy a rebuild kit for around $400, but is it better to rebuild
the engine in the truck or on a bench?

Definitely do it on the bench. You need to pull the crank - and doing
that in the truck is not worth the aggravation.
The tranny was last done about 150,000 miles ago, but can't be tested
until I get a working engine on it.
The truck has 265,000 on it.
The factory engine died at 185,000, and I got about 80,000 out of the
rebuilt one I bought 7 years ago.

rebuild it right, and you should get another 185,000 out of it.

I have had this truck since 89, and it has been cared for, but also
USED a lot.

I love this truck.
There is some question whether the block is worth rebuilding since it
might be too damaged.

You WILL need the crank reground, or most likely replaced. If the
mains did not spin, and the rod did not smash the block, the block MAY
be re-useable, but will likely require reboring - and having already
been rebuilt once, it may be close to the limit.
I figure I could get a pulled block from a local junkyard, and just
rebuild the engine on a bench.

Thoughts?

Find a good low mileage Celica? - much easier to find than the truck,
and uses the same engine.

Also what is the best book on rebuilding a 22R?
The Toyota engine manual, if you can find it.

I am also planning on converting the 1-ton to a flatbed.
It won't have the duallies, but that is fine.
I have wanted a flatbed really bad over the last 2 years, since I
started building a lot of heavy steel staircases.
Having one truck with an overhead rack and one with a flatbed is a
dream of mine.
I am going to add some booster springs to my 86 to take it to a 3/4 ton
suspension.

Out on the "left coast" a lot of Toyota cab and chassis units were
converted into mini motorhomes. Should be able to find a beater with a
good 1 ton HD rear end you can get cheap and bolt on - duallys and
all.