Taking a 22RE and doing an ECU delete can be practical for personal reasons.
My first 1986 Long bed with an automatic trans and 22RE was an incredible truck. That engine was amazing. First… it started with just a turn of the key, and it started up immediately every time. It didn’t matter if the outside temperature was 120 degrees or 20 degrees. For wheeling, the fuel injection was perfect, it didn’t matter what angle the truck was at, or how bouncy the terrain I was driving on, it left missed a beat. It averaged 25 MPG on 87 octane gas all the time.
At high elevation – Ducey Irshim trail – it made it all the way to the end on less than 15 gallons of fuel. The old V-8 powered carb'd wheelers ended up having to take fuel before making to the end of the trail and down the hill to Shaver Lake.
Automotive technology-wise, doing an ECU delete on a 22RE is like doing a flush toilet and Charmin delete and going back to an outhouse and a Sears catalog. Does it work.... sure, but you may be sacrificing some "conveniences."
That’s just my worthless opinion.
Gnarls.
