22re vs. 3.0 v6 ??

[fahrenheit 451]

   Opinion time and I suppose a chance to open a can of worms. I have an '85 EFI 4Runner that after 11yrs of being my play toy is going to be hitting the highway and be somebody else's toy once I work up the nerve to let go of it. Two doors and a baby just isn't working out now and I am looking at getting an early 90's 4 door 4 Runner. One minor problem. I am having little to no luck at finding one with a 4cyl and no power options. I'm one of those "I just want a truck" kind of guys. I don't want a bunch of chrome or "ain't that purty" doodads and I'm still man enough to roll down my own windows  
  After spending a ton of time on the net researching the early 90's 4Runners I am pretty put off by 3 things, IFS, V6s with questionable maintenance and fuel economy histories, and chain drive transfer cases. The IFS and chain drive issues can be overcome, the basic engine problem is the real nut to crack.
 So my question for the peanut gallery is which is really better, the 22re with something of a history of headgasket problems, good fuel economy and low horsepower in stock form or the 3.0 v6 with what I hear to be generally poor fuel economy, frequent enough wristpin failures to unnerve me and a Toyota Service Campaign (with the emphasis on PAIN) for bad headgaskets.
 What I am interested in is opinions based on the truck being a daily driver and strong desert banger; not a hardcore offroad racer or something that surprises a Supra driver from a stoplight.
Feel free to put in your  

[WHITE_TRASH]

The way I see it (from a parts guy, mechanic and toy freak) standpoint is they both have their issues with certain things.  That being said, the 3.0 costs WAY more $ to fix & maintain, most everything on it is high dollar and hard to get at.  I have never owned a 3.0 and I never plan on it you can bet your bottom dollar on that.  I have had to work on way too many of these things for my liking.  Whatever you do do not just take my word as gospel cause I know many have had very good luck with these engines.  Just look over all the info you are given and make up your mind based soley on that.
WT

[brainlessfool]

like he said

[95TacoTruck]

Buy one with the 3.0  and swap it out with a 3.4.  I have the 3.4 in my Tacoma and I love it, awesome power and no major problems.

[Josh]

Try swapping in the 5M-GE it is the 2.8L inline 6 from the 82-85/86 supras. The supra belhousing and clutch will fit right onto a w56 transmission(im not sure about the others) and the wiring harness is not that hard to figure out. I am in the middle of one right now, and it is going pretty good so far. http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/supra/ is a good documentation of the process. If you have any questions, email me at [email protected]

[fahrenheit 451]

Try swapping in the 5M-GE it is the 2.8L inline 6 from the 82-85/86 supras. The supra belhousing and clutch will fit right onto a w56 transmission(im not sure about the others) and the wiring harness is not that hard to figure out. I am in the middle of one right now, and it is going pretty good so far. http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/supra/ is a good documentation of the process. If you have any questions, email me at [email protected]

I have heard of that, but I thought from what I read that motor didn't have very good low end torque?
Toyota should have put a sweet little EFI inline 6 in the Toyotas to begin with. I think they would have been monsters that all the other automakers would still be trying to catch up to LOL!
Although the 3.4 swap is tempting, for now I pretty much want the power train to be stock. I'm so far back in the process that I still don't have another 4Runner to work on yet  

[gferris5]

The three liter is a pain, but the rep is that although it sucks to work on, you don't have to do it that often, I'd buy one, I'd just make sure it had had all the factory work done to it before it did. if it runs well, then it runs well if you know what I mean. probably the coolest thing about the 22re, besides being pretty reliable (mine has been okay-but that's different) is that it is easy to work on. Do you do your own work? Do you really want to do one of the swaps these guys are talking about? Maybe save your dough and get something with the 3.4 liter-the best of both worlds. Good luck

[CruzrDave]

The 22re is a great motor super reliable. If you can find a late model( 94 or 95) they really have a lot of power which would help the heavy 4runner.  I have a 3vze in my 90 and I love it. I bought the truck not running, rebuilt the engine. It's a tight fit in there but once you learn about these engines they are easy to work one. The extra torque is nice. The 3.0 has a bad rep from people who don't really know. Of corase the 3.4 would be a better choice but $ if you do a swap into a early 90's truck. But any motor is only as good as its matained.

[84runner]

Well I know that toyota did a recall on there 3.0 v-6's in t the late 80's early 90's for head gaskets, and some people even got new motors out of the recall.  So make sure the one you get has had this problem addressed.  And I personally don't think its really the big of and improvement in power for the extra 2 cylinders. And the suck alot of gas. But we all know what opinions are like

[95TacoTruck]

I disagree 84 Runner I drove the 22R/RE trucks for about 8 years and the first time I drove my Tacoma with the 3.4 it was like getting behind the wheel of a hot rod compared to the old one.  I can't say what the difference is between the 22RE series and a 3.0 but the 3.4 is head and shoulders above them.

[84runner]

Oh yes I agree that 3.4 is a power house. I meant the old 3.0 . I guess I didn't make that clear

[LA_Fred]

I've driven all three, 22re in 85' x-cab, 3vzfe in 89 x-cab and 5vzfe in a 2000 Taco.
I think that there is a big jump in power and torque from the
22re to the 3.0 v6. maybe less so for the newer 22r's but the amount of extra torque is well worth it. Offroad it probably won't matter as much but in traffic here in LA the 3.0's extra torque makes it so much easier to drive.
The hp outputs for 22re in the 85' is either 112 or 116 and 150 for the 3.0.
But you get 40lbs/ft more torque with the 3.0 (140 vs 180). After getting used to the torque I don't think that I would ever drive a 22r again. However, in my opinion it is not worth swapping in the 3.0 since the 3.4 has much more power. 40hp and 40lbs/ft is a lot to make up(3.4 190hp 220lbs/ft)  plus you can get a factory supercharger. Yeah!

[95TacoTruck]

Yeah except I have a 95 and they told me that the Factory Supercharger doesn't work on the 95 because the mass air flow sensor on the 95 can't handle the boost.  Sucks for me.

[LA_Fred]

Hey 95Taco Truck, can you shap out MAF's for a later model? Probably $$.
I still think 190hp is plenty enough, My taco is a stock v6 5spd and I can still smoke the tires anytime I take off, I can also chirp in 2nd and 3rd gear. Maybe if i had 38" tires then I would go supercharger. Again $$$$.

[95TacoTruck]

Yeah I'm not running meats only 31's but I can shift into second and dump the clutch and spin the tires with BFG Mud Terrains so I probably wouldn't spend the money even if the kit did work with my truck.  I got plenty of HP for my needs.