time for new motor:swap?

[robtco99]

My 85 toyota truck has blown a headgasket again. It's a 22re, auto, 4x4. The head is junk. The truck has 35 in bfg mt's and 4:88 gears.

I'm looking into motor swaps for a bit more power. I'm wanting to do this on a decent budget, and hoping to get this done before the snow hits....

BTW-this will be my daily driver in the winter.

What are some good options? Should I swap or fix the 22re?

[22REkid]

I would take the money that you are going to do the swap with and build a mildly modified 22RE. It is the most tried and true engine that Toyota has ever built. If you want to make a 22RE have more power the answer is a big valved, mildly camed, high compression (10.5:1). The head is where you can unlock all the power. The stock valve train is just about bullet proof so you can use all the stock stuff. 22REs are sensitive to cam mods, where high lift and long duration cams do not make them run that well. Cams with a duration of about 280 is about as much as you want to go. 22REs respond well to high compression, the stock compression is 9.5:1 and can be upgraded to 10.5:1 and you can still run pump gas (premium only). The stock crank and rods are more than capable to handle the abuse. I recommend forged pistons only, they work well with the stock bottom end. I could go on all day about this. 22REs are capable of about 225hp while still being naturally asperated. Like I said above, the head is where to unlock all the power. If your head is the only thing that is junk, buy a remanned head and take it to a machine shop and have them port the head and install the big valves. Downey sells valves that are 1mm oversized that work well with a mildly ported head, there are only 8 valves (4 intake & 4 exhaust valves). They are only $16.00 each. Cam choice is important. I am a fan of the Crane Cams Stage 2 22R/RE cam. Headers, 2 1/2" exhaust all the way back. You probably don't even need to build the whole engine. A high performance head would make it run like a bat out of hell. If you buy them complete, you will be out about $1000 and up. You can do it yourself way cheaper by buying a cheap remanned head or even a head frim a junkyard and having someone port it. A common misconception is that a ported head alone with the stock valves will increase the performance a lot but it does not make that big of a difference unless you use big valves. The head is where it's at! Here are some helpful links:

http://www.downeyoff-road.com/
http://www.toyotacatalog.net/m1webgear/ProductSearch.aspx?Class=1422
http://www.doaracingengines.com/page2/page2.html

[jamesboise]

22R E all the way.Cheap and bulletproof.I have $3000 easy in my engine swap.Way past my budget. :bluecryin

[keyice]

don't waste your time with a 22re 5m or 7m supra, dump the auto and your ready to go cost maybe a thousand bucks max