Which MOTOR?

[bamajojo9]

im still workin on buying a truck and i have come down to two choices. The problem is wich one to pick. The first is and 86 22re with a slippin clutch and needs some work but already has an 8 in. lift with 35s. The second is an 88 with a 3.0 v6 in great condition with alot of new engine parts with a 3 in. lift and 33s and detroit lockers. But the real decisoin i need help making is because of the engine. Ive herd the 4 cly is better than the 3.0. But i wont be using this truck just for crawling it will be seeing plenty of mud too. ANY Input??

[bigarms23]

id go with the 86 unless its needs more work than indicated. theres nothing worng with a 3.0 as long as its been maintaned. you should do fine in the mud with a 4cyl that all depends on what gears you go with

[Sparkplug]

Get the 22re, better engine to learn on. 3.0 isnt too bad, but bit more complicated. Parts are more expensive, and not as available. Better gas mileage from 22re, and I swear the manual trans 22re will almost out pull a auto 3slow.

[79coyotefrg]

get the 22RE,  you'll thank yourself later

[Goldrush]

22re for sure. youll be happy, i guarantee it 

[Plekto]

The one with the lift and SAS and the 22RE is the one to get.  Drop the trans and replace with a MC one and a MC dual-range case.  That's pretty much all you need other than maybe a rear locker.

2-3K or so and a couple of weekends of work and you're golden.  The 3.0 will cost a lot more to get to that level. 

Oh, get the heavy duty MC non-ceramic clutch.  It's just about perfect. 

[bamajojo9]

thanx for the replys. i was thinking about going with 5.29 gears and runnin like 37s. and what is the MC dual-range case??

[gtoyonrocks]

You mean dual transfer cases??? It's an additional transfercase mated to the stock one. It gives you more gear selection. It's a must if you plan on doing some crawling. It will give you a gear for every situation and you can even re gear your back case. It's a sweet set up. I have ran duals on all of my trucks and couldn't be more happy. I would definately go with the older truck with the 22re in it. Good luck.

[92ToyRunner]

I now have a 3.0 V6 and my last 4runner was a 22RE.  I would not get a 3.0 again, I would say that the 22RE is a better motor.  With that said there is more to think about that just the motor,  How much will it cost to get each truck how you want it to be? Which one will you be happier with in the end?

[Greiner]

22re

[brainlessfool]

22re

X2

[Larryb]

I own a 85 4runner with a 22RE and a 91 with a 3.0L auto. The auto trans went bad last year and cost over 3 grand to rebuild alone. I just recently did a top end rebuild and the 3.0 sucks to work on compared to the 22re. Sad part is, there is not a huge power difference between the two motors besides gas mileage.

[Snowtoy]

im still workin on buying a truck and i have come down to two choices. The problem is wich one to pick. The first is and 86 22re with a slippin clutch and needs some work but already has an 8 in. lift with 35s. The second is an 88 with a 3.0 v6 in great condition with alot of new engine parts with a 3 in. lift and 33s and detroit lockers. But the real decisoin i need help making is because of the engine. Ive herd the 4 cly is better than the 3.0. But i wont be using this truck just for crawling it will be seeing plenty of mud too. ANY Input??

There is some info you have left out, like what is your overall plans for the truck, trail rig only or DD, is this your first 4x4, how much mechanic experience due you have, etc.  

When it comes to building both rigs the 3.0 does cost more, but with you already having lunch box lockers installed, it would likely cost the same to add dual cases to the 3.0 as it would be to add duals to the 22re as well as lockers.  While the '86 already has 35's, you can clear them on the '88 3.0 w/a some fender/firewall mod's, or a 2" body lift.  

Gear swaps for either will cost the same, and the 3.0 will turn 35's better than the 22re, either now w/33's or 35's.  Gas mileage is better for the 22re but not if it the diffs haven't been re-geared.  I average 22mpg in my '91 X-cab 22re with 35's/5.29's, and 17mpg in my '90 x-cab 3.0 with 33's/4.88's and it weighs a 1000lbs more than the '91.

As mentioned the 22re is a simpler/easier engine to work on, but the 3.0 isn't all that hard, it just looks that way.  Servicing the 22re is cheaper and the valves are easier to adjust(3.0 has to be shimmed), more work involved when changing the water pump, timing belt vs chain, etc.

Owning nearly identical rigs w/both engines and based on the info you have provided I would say the 3.0 w/a lesser lift and lockers would be your best option, providing it is 5-spd and you are new to 4 wheeling.

[gtoyonrocks]

22RE