New Project: Turbo 22R in 4Runner

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TwoTonic

TwoTonic

10 Year 15 Year
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We decided to put a turbo on the '86 and have the motor out and most of the pieces brought together. The shop has some photos posted-- it's on the homepage, toward the bottom. The chassis has cleaned up pretty well, although the interior still needs some work.

Home Page

The truck gets used a lot to tow a boat on the weekends in the summer, but it's also the main commuter rig so mileage on the 4-cyl 22R is a big advantage (other car's an FJ80 and the in-town mileage on the 3FE was awful- 10-11MPG). Hoping to get 200HP with reasonable boost.

I'll have them post more photos as it comes together, but it should be a nice truck when it's done.

T-3 turbo with salvaged SAAB Turbo intercooler.
Piggyback ECU
Cometic head gasket, due to known problems with stock 22R gaskets on boost.
Stock block and bore (200K miles on block- are they great engines or what?)
Delta cam re-grind

Anybody else currently doing a turbo'd 22R, as the tuning will be interesting? :bang:

TT
 
how many PSI Turbo is the goal?

And compression ratio?

If I was going to do 200, I'd either go RET head OR RTE block, not both... And I'm pretty sure you're gonna need to start your engine management from $cratch...

And that's where I leave off.. b/c if it's not Toyota (22R/E), I don't know about it.

200 is also the #'s I'd like to see out of my RETs... Especially after driving my GF's not light, 1st gen, Audi TT Turbo AWD. It moves pretty good, and it's only got 180.

I think it's perfectly obtainable... but then who knows what problems you'd see out of such an old EFI system... and that much stress on a 22R.

With 3.5" of stroke I think a Turbo that boosts right off the bottom would suit that engine.

EDIT:
ok, from the pics I see you've got RTE heads and pistons...

at 7.5:1 c/r you're gonna need A LOT of boost to get to 200hp...

And that means even more engine management, and more internal stress... Yikes...
 
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Hi, thanks for the comments. We are working through the numbers (esp CR) to figure what's do-able.

<<how many PSI Turbo is the goal?>>
We haven't set a specific boost goal, but are hoping we can get into the neighborhood of 200HP. The wife has a first gen TT, too, (2001 roadster) that gets the 225 on similar displacement. Audi (and GM, for that matter, with Ecotecs) doesn't seem to have much trouble getting there with modest boost.

<<And compression ratio?>>

We're trying to zero in on the static CR right at the moment. LC Engineering says it should be around 9:1 with this head. Once we get the exact numbers and get the appropriate (thicker) Cometic MLS gasket we'd like to get in the range of 8.5-8.8 to 1.



<<If I was going to do 200, I'd either go RET head OR RTE block, not both... And I'm pretty sure you're gonna need to start your engine management from $cratch...>>

The original block being used is non-turbo RE type. And, the new head is open chamber non-turbo. It will be interesting to see how the stock ecu does with a piggy back unit. Previous (non-truck) applications have made good power with similar-vintage Toyota ECU's using a piggy backs (such as mid 80's Supra)



<<I think it's perfectly obtainable... but then who knows what problems you'd see out of such an old EFI system... and that much stress on a 22R.>>

All in all, similar projects are showing the pistons (Stock non dished RE pistons) as being the potential weak link in the system. But, are thinking the potential is still there to get our 200 with those slugs in daily driver usage, with occasional towing. The turbo, with this displacement, should also be more than adeqate to get 200HP while coming up on boost at reasonable RPMs.


<<at 7.5:1 c/r you're gonna need A LOT of boost to get to 200hp... >>

According to LC we ought to finish at about 8.5-8.8 with the heads and right Cometic gasket. Still will take reasonable boost levels, but for tuning purposes actually prefer to have a little lower static boost to reduce tendency to knock and to allow the use of more timing in tuning.


<<And that means even more engine management, and more internal stress.>>

Tuning will be the trick once we get into it, but are thinking the macro analysis (displacement, airflow, boost, compression ratio) supports getting in the right neighborhood for power levels. The 200 number is a goal and it won't be a disaster if we only make 185-- but would like to have enough ooomph to tow with it once in awhile. And, not totally blow up fuel economy for the daily commute.

I really appreciate the feedback. We'll keep posting what we find as we go through it, knowing that others have either already boosted 22Rs or have interest in it.

The truck's cleaned up pretty nicely (and is in good shape for being almost 25 years old) so it should be a nice rig when complete.

Thanks,
TT
 
I can't help you with any questions, but thought I'd mention a couple of things:

This guy has pretty much done it all with turbo-ing this engine:

Welcome

Also, there is an email group on Yahoo Groups specifically for the 22-RTE engine. Lots of good info there.
 
TwoTonic said:
We're trying to zero in on the static CR right at the moment. LC Engineering says it should be around 9:1 with this head.

The original block being used is non-turbo RE type. And, the new head is open chamber non-turbo.
TT
Click to expand...


Stock 22Re c/r is 9.3:1... So I highly doubt going from a 52/54 cc combustion chamber, to a 82/83 will only bring it down that much...

http://www.lcengineering.com/TechNotes/?techid=49

And furthermore I don't think that head works with a Laser block? :confused:

EDIT: I know this is not the head, but it's the same one used on the same block so the principal is the same...

Using a 20R Head on an 85-95 22RE Block
 
Hiding and watching. Just had a 22RTE rebuilt, 0.10 over, with a TEC turbo and 2.5" exhaust into an '87 4Runner. A 5 speed conversion is next since that's about 30 more hp available.

I did the same thing you did - gee, 2.2 liters, 200-250hp, inducted. Must be a no-brainer!!

These guys tell me a reliable 200hp is a lofty goal for this motor.
22RTE-Trucks.com

Consider the tech for the 22R is effectively 70's tech. Back when 1.8 liter Hondas put out 65hp. It parses.

One of them is the guy from the link above "Welcome" - that's Jeff Mosk<something>. If you need boost/EGT gauges, etc., he seems to have the best prices. Mine will be on order shortly (I'm travelling and the Toy is hooked to teh back of the motorhome).

The general recommendation for more power, reliably, is a 3.4 transplant, and that it's much easier into a 4Runner with a 3.0 than into a 4 banger (wiring harness rework and motor mounts apparently).

Mine's running decently, but MPG waffles between 13 and 17, and it's not near the 200hp goal (dyno day coming to prove it) and has been having some issues. I've kept the stock ECU and (new) injectors and hope I can make that work.

NOW - mine's still at stock boost. Intercooler is in the works, so I'll be watching your install closely! Hopefully you keep your AC so I can learn something!!:D
 
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BTW, here's a shot of how Spearco did their intercooler for the 4Runner.
24492d1264981396-1987-4runner-turbo-manual-tranny-thats-right-img_0115.jpg
 
yup....



And, I'm still under the illusion I can get some MPG by just having to feed 4... But as I'm reading others feedbacks, it aint sounding good.


Can anybody put a finger on why these are sounding like TERRIBLE Turbo engines? I mean, I read over here where it's electronics, and I read over here where it's engine... I swear I'd have never thought this out of THIS engine...

I'm gonna go for RE pistons under a RET head and 3" exhaust, and I think that's as far as I'm going...

It's a shame newer engines can produce so much more power, and still be more reliable than a RET... I'd think with it's SOHC an RET's limits would still be @ the 300hp mark... I mean, as mentioned Audi TT 1.8L's are from 180 to 225hp IIRC... And they get 20-30MPG...


I just haven't found much on a reliable RET...

And still waiting on RET forums...
 
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Hilux said:
yup....



And, I'm still under the illusion I can get some MPG by just having to feed 4... But as I'm reading others feedbacks, it aint sounding good.


Can anybody put a finger on why these are sounding like TERRIBLE Turbo engines? I mean, I read over here where it's electronics, and I read over here where it's engine... I swear I'd have never thought this out of THIS engine...

I'm gonna go for RE pistons under a RET head and 3" exhaust, and I think that's as far as I'm going...

It's a shame newer engines can produce so much more power, and still be more reliable than a RET... I'd think with it's SOHC an RET's limits would still be @ the 300hp mark... I mean, as mentioned Audi TT 1.8L's are from 180 to 225hp IIRC... And they get 20-30MPG...


I just haven't found much on a reliable RET...

And still waiting on RET forums...
Click to expand...

My guess, they were never designed for boost conditions. The one that came out of my 4runner had a seized crank bearing that broke the rod and put it through both sides of the block. That was after a rebuild. Electronics shouldn't be an issue because you can always get a stand alone ecu, so my money would be on the design of the engine itself.
 
No way... The POS Turbo 4Runner "Christine II" I got came with a brand new Jasper engine... and a rod hanging out of the block...


But I'm thinking it also had to do with a bad TPS (has a small hole rusted into it but never threw a code), b/c I could never get it to run right... And haven't fooled with it anymore to find out.


Just a weird coincidence...


On a side note, those things can pump out some insane naturally aspirated HP's, b/c of the stroke and 5 mains,,, It's just weird to me why they seem to hate boost...



And PS, I hate to say it but if I ever do a motor swap a 4.3's going in... There goes my hopes of high MPG, but then again it's a sound motor.

(But I'll have the bi$%^ cremated before I do all that)
 
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