84 GT-S 22RE Engine explosion

[thespwilson]

Alrighty so as I posted in the introduction I recently acquired a pair of 3rd gen celicas. The track car has a rod slung through cylinder #2 and will need to be replaced. The car has all the options that I can find for a stripped down car built exclusively for road course (mega squirt, traqdata, LC performance goodies, flame-thrower HV, monster radiator/oil cooler up front, beautiful cage/safety equipment, adjustable coilover, huge air damn, bigger brakes, brake diverter valves, and magnesium wheels).

As far as replacing the 22RE motor, I know I'll be rebuilding a few of these as the years go on- but I want to get a running engine in the track chassis ASAP. Any suggestions on pulling the motor with a running donor block; anyone use junkyard motors? I plan to start to stockpile a backup 22R engine and build up properly.

[thespwilson]

Quick update, I assume I have an "early" 22r block and will be hunting a spare motor (might order a crate engine and some shops will trash the 22r block and only want the crank and other parts they can reuse).

[sirdan]

Early motors are 84 and down please note you CAN NOT judge the motor year by the valve cover. 85 and later has a casting pad on the block as seen here. The deck heights are different so head bolts,and heads dont swap. timing covers are different timing chains ect.

I would say the later engines are going to be more plentiful. You can swap the entire engine if I'm not mistaken but I think you need to swap at least the distributor, maybe the throttle body as well? Injectors can be different too on the later engines. I think they may have even used resistorless injectors at some point. I hope this points you in the right direction.

[ozzie]

To swap to a later engine and keep the 84 ECU, you need to swap distributor and throttle body at minimum. If the engine is from a pickup, need to swap the oil pan and pickup tube. If the engine is 88 or newer, swap injectors.

[revvhappy]

Are you in Alabama?

I will be pulling a non-running 22re out of a 1985 Celica GTS this week in the Atlanta area. I have no idea about its history. If you would like it for parts and want to make a 2.5 hour drive you can have it free.