Anyone know pre-Tacomas?

Going to look at a 94 4cyl stick rwd this weekend, does anyone here have any tips on what to look for? Truck is supposedly mint, but it’s a 4hr+drive for me, any help would be awesome.

 

What engine does it have? If it’s the 3.0 V6, run away. Make sure it has the 22RE (4 cyl.).

 

Rust.

 

It’s a 4cyl stick, rwd, winter stored since new and has been oil sprayed at least once.

 

22RE?

 

The 22RE 4cyl's were very reliable engines. I had an 87 with that engine and an auto trans. (Wish I still had it). How many miles on it? At about 100K the hydulic tensioners for the timing chain start to get noisy and its a good time to replace the timing chain and tensioners. I would ask if that has been done and check on the rust. I bought mine at 30K and traded it at 180K and it still ran as it did when I bought it. Other than regular maint. I had no issues with it. Very reliable.

 

I thought it was a 2.4, but it may be a 2.2, I’m new to Toyota trucks. He said he had something done to the chain years ago, it’s got 240 on it now.

 

It’s definitely worth a trip to have a look.

 

The 22RE is a 2.4 inline 4.

 

Had an 86. Timing chain and head gasket around 150K. Not too much else I’d be worried about. Alternator and fuel pump possibly in the near future.

 

You just don't see many around anymore. At least here that is. I found one parked at a gas station/garage for a couple years and inquired about it. The station owner said his wife bought it new in 87 and even tho it sits there she wouldn't part with it for nothing. No rust same color the twin of what I had. I'm still going to keep my eye on it.

 

Any update? Did you buy it?

 

I have a 1991 with the 3.0. It has 238k on it now and runs great. I bought it at 225k needing a head gasket. When I pulled the heads all six cylinders had crosshatch top to bottom all the way around, with no shiny spots at all. It has more power than the 22re and gets about the same gas mileage. It’s not a 3.4, but it’s not a thing to run from either.

 

The 22RE isn’t even on my list of top 10 most reliable engines, and I have multiple.

Not sure where I was going with that, but I’m going to grab another Claw.

 

uhmmmmm y u want a 22re rwd? Im curious.

 

• If I didn’t buy this, I would be buying it.
  
  
• 
  

 

Yep, 14hrs later I’m home with my new ride! Drove good the whole way but does have some top-end engine clatter I’ll need to look at. Planning to change the wheels, lower it, and might black out the chrome, not sure yet.

Because that’s what I like, an old 4cyl stick rwd truck is a very pure, simple thing to me. I drove this thing home with no radio just listening to it purr and it was a great ride, on my trip I got two compliments, lots of looks, a thumbs-up from a guy in a rhd MK4 Supra.

 

We had same truck in dark blue with silver oem graphics but it was yr model without the 3rd brake light. 22RE is very dependable and easy to maintenance. Also ran an 82 22R truck for 750k miles over 27 yrs.

 

When you pull the valve cover to check things out look at the plastic timing chain guides. They are secured by two bolts, the upper eye that’s molded into the guide where the bolt goes likes to break and then the guide will flop around and the chain rattles. Worse on startup usually. Let it go too long and the chain ends up sawing through the coolant passage in the timing cover. Water in oil, yada yada.

Some guys like to adjust the valves just a little tight due to noise. Like .007, .011 instead of the spec of .008, .012. If memory serves, been awhile. Spec should be on the sticker under the hood. I always took it on a hot lap around town and got the motor completely warmed up, pulled in the driveway and got that valve cover off right quick and immediately adjusted the valves. You may already be good at valve adjustments, it took me awhile. I learned to make it tight enough that it was difficult to get the feeler gauge out. Otherwise it was quite loud at idle.

 

That thing is nice! Congratulations!