Best engine for 87 Toyota 4x4

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meh... my money's on Tim @ D.O.A. Racing

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D.O.A. Racing Engines


X2. I have a DOA built 22RE and it is bad ass. Ive got almost 50K on it and the only problems ive had were I had to replace the EGR valve and the PCV valve for smog. Also replaced the fuel filter, other than that, ZERO problems. Runs strong, lots of power and torque and sounds pissed.

I have been reading A LOT of negative stuff about LCE engines these days. If anyone doesnt believe me head over to marlin crawler or pbb and search around. lot of people are having issues with their LCEs.
 
Fixing up my '87 4Runner

I have learned a ton about my 22RE and really grown to appreciate it like never before. Thanks to all who've helped educate me. Now I feel pretty confident when I go to do the rebuild or order from a good builder. My 282,000 mile engine is still going pretty strong! If it's still going at 300,000 , I'll rebuild anyway. So, the Chevy 4.3 is a no go unless I suddenly have nothing better to do for weeks!

So, in the meantime, I'm looking for suggestions:

My heater's weak. Any suggestions on which thermostat is best? How about a better blower motor? Anyone have any experience with getting more passenger heat? I'll probably add heating elements to the seats when I put more padding in them. But I'd like to get hotter air going too.

I figure that, when I have the seats out, I may as well do something about the carpet. I thought it might be kinda cool to use bedliner instead of carpet. But, I still want insulation for the floor. Any suggestions there?

One more for now: Performance Toyota used to sell nice front bumpers, with/without winch. I can't find them for an '87 Toyota anywhere. Any suggestions before I pay someone else to weld one for me while I'm busy with everything else, including family stuff?
 
My heater's weak. Any suggestions on which thermostat is best? How about a better blower motor? Anyone have any experience with getting more passenger heat? I'll probably add heating elements to the seats when I put more padding in them. But I'd like to get hotter air going too.

Toyota sells a nifty 2-stage thermostat for this engine, to get rid of the occasional initial temp spike that can happen. It's rated for 190dF. I have one in my engine, and my heater works great even on the coldest days. Here's the details:

Toyota 4Runner and Pickup: Cheap Tricks

Another problem you may have is your heater core may be plugged with debris, so air is having a hard time going thru it. Do you have AC? The blockage may be at the evap core under the glovebox, I've seen this many times.

There's not really a "better" blower motor, but they do get tired. The other thing to check is the resistor in the airbox that controls the blower motor speed, although they usually fail totally.

I figure that, when I have the seats out, I may as well do something about the carpet. I thought it might be kinda cool to use bedliner instead of carpet. But, I still want insulation for the floor. Any suggestions there?

This seems like conflicting goals to me. If you rip out the carpeting (and padding), then you lose all the insulation. My son put bedliner in his 4Runner, and although it worked for muddy days, it was really NOISY in the cab after that.

One more for now: Performance Toyota used to sell nice front bumpers, with/without winch. I can't find them for an '87 Toyota anywhere. Any suggestions before I pay someone else to weld one for me while I'm busy with everything else, including family stuff?

There are lots of choices out there for nice pre-fabbed bumpers. Marlin, AllPro, TrailGear, ARB, etc. I have a bumper from Front Range Offroad in CO, I really like it. Here's a photo from their website:

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Had the GM 4.6 in my 85. Was the biggest turd on the trail. Overheats, tuneups a a pain in to @@$. Stay Toyota with this one If you look online you can find a 22RE Turbo that can be rebuilt for under 1,500 and you can get about 200 out of it
 
Thanks again for all the 22RE beta. I'm on it. I should have taken pictures, but I'd rather just work on the 4runner. (Not the engine, yet.) I'm on the heater problem and prepping it for paint.

I'm curious about the turbo suggestion. I don't see 200hp coming from the stock turbo, just after market kits and they are way too much for me to pay. How are the turbos? Do they shorten engine life?
 
Bah! The 22R-E is a great engine, but the Toyota diesels are WAY cooler (yes, even the frail 2LT-E). Unfortunately, for that 2K you *might* be able to get a 3L or 2LII-T diesel, either of which would be a pretty good trail engine I'd think. But if you can swing it, I'd go for the 1KZ-TE. Wicked good power and torque.

But then again, I LOVE diesels, especially Toyota diesels, so I'm uber-biased. And I spent a LOT more than that putting the 2LT-E in mine, but it's been money very well spent. Bump your price up a bit, and you've got a lot more options.

Are you specifically bummed on the 22R-E, or just the 22R-E that you have in there? The 22R-E would be the cheapest option, and they can give some pretty good oomph.

Sorry to hear about the wife's troubles, I hope she's doing better now.

Dan
On that Note I am actually Wondering Dan why the 1KZ-TE . I was going to do what you did with that half clip you purchase form YARCO but I can't wrap my head why would you go for the KZ now . Can you answer me that ? I know I know this post is like 10 years old lol :)
 
I know I know this post is like 10 years old lol :)

Well, I hope Dan sees your question. It looks like he does visit MUD on occasion (April 2018 last visit). He moved to Colorado. Got married. Built a house. Blah, blah, blah. I've talked with his dad, but I haven't heard from him much since he moved. @DanS HJ-45, thoughts.
 
Well, I hope Dan sees your question. It looks like he does visit MUD on occasion (April 2018 last visit). He moved to Colorado. Got married. Built a house. Blah, blah, blah. I've talked with his dad, but I haven't heard from him much since he moved. @DanS HJ-45, thoughts.
He got married SMH he's a gonner ! lol jk I would like his opinion . He's the only I found in any forum that has PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I sure hope he sees this soon DAN !!! Come back :'''( lol . Been researching over and over I swear I been in circles trying to wrap my head on what to do. Oh how rude of me My name is Crest I have a 1989 4wd Single cab Yota and well I blew the engine about a year ago . I called easily called over more than a dozen shop and no one has experience. So DAN is my last option so I can get help and do it myself. I am mechanicall incline, but I don't have any wiring experience. I am looking for a HALF CLIP. FYI due to a lot of people commenting on how difficult it was when they only purchased the engine and drive train . So like I said I done enough reading. Well crossing my finger and holding my breath until Dan comes back. What about you Paps
 
What about you Paps

I don't do diesel. Two things come to mind.

1) There is a diesel section here at MUD (Diesel Tech / 24 volts). They discuss, mostly, LC diesel trucks. I don't think they talk transplants much but you can certainly ask. Dan also hangs out over there.

2) Good gawd man, only two posts? OK, here is the deal. We have "rules." OK, one rule. Newbies must post pictures. You can either start your own "howdy" thread, or post up here: Readers Rides, for pics and specs on your Toy(s).

Don't make me say it:

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Sorry about my dyslexic question. My spare engine is a 4.3 Chevy, not a 3.4.

If only it were a Toyota 3.4. I think that my cost might go too high if I had to buy an old 3.4 Toyota and tranny. Maybe I should look around.

Anyone know about the Chevy 4.3 conversion? Am I better off with the 22R E?
I put a 2003 chevy 4.3 into my truck , great horse power , bad and i do mean bad gas mileage.Granted it goes into a 4l60e tans and into a marlin dual case.Keeping In mind I live in smog land so had to move the chevy fuel pump and smog crap. IS it fast yes, does it pull my trailer up the mountain pass.... but not like I would have thought it would. If i were to do it again I would search out a 86 toyota 22re turbo. Yes its nice on the trail .Already broke one frame.had to reinforce this one before i dropped it back in.It was a lot of work to install and took a boat load of money, had the engine rebuilt , trans rebuilt,had the computer re-flashed and a wire loom made up for it.IF your going to to do this Stay away from the ob2 engines.Go with a older early 90's engine ob1 will be way easier
 
The 3rz option has only gotten better in the 10 years since this post. They are cheap, plentiful, and all the adapters are available.

And I would never do an OBD1. Getting on board diagnostics that actually give you useable data was a big reason I pulled a running 22re out of my rig.

Building a 22re will lose the reliability and drivability and cost more

22re turbo is ubontanium. 3rz turbo kits are plentiful and not terribly expensive.

3rz isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty good. 3.4 would be better, but not as easy with a 4 cyl doner.
 
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