Topic: Found a CLEAN Turbo runner, overheating issue

[White83]

I Just sold my 83 a couple weeks ago and I need another beach/mountain truck. I came across this really clean turbo 4runner and the guy said he'll let it go for 2000. Only problem is its got a bad overheating issue.

I've been told the turbo runners were junk and had a lot of issues, any truth behind this?? Should I stay away and just look for an RE? Are they a pain to smog? I'd really like to get a 1st-gen runner, I just dont want to get myself into a big headache moneypit.

[THK Matt]

overheating issue, could be thermostat, waterpump, or radiator.... I'd do it.

[White83 [OP]]

Hope the head isn't toast. It smells pretty bad too, probably needs a cat. He said it gets around 15mpg  My stock 83 on 33x12.50's got around 20... I just don't know enough about these yet to pull the trigger, even though the price and condition is almost too good to pass up.

[FattMaanLittleTruck]

I bet it has a blown head gasket.

[Rocksurfer]

Pressure check and leakdown tests should give you some indicators, I had a turbo runner and had very few issues with it. I can only think of a couple problems with it but they were unrelated to it being a turbo, I did have the turbo rebuilt at around 230,000 miles and the #4 cyl. was going down when I sold it at 250,000. Overheating issues almost always lead to the head gasket if not attended to. Oh and a turbo runner will out-run a 3.0 any day of the week

[CrazyYota]

My mom had a 86 turbo truck and it was a pain to keep running. They are not know to be very reliable like a normal 22r or 22re engine. The turbo is really expensive to replace if you can find a good one. They like to crack, I replaced two turbos on the truck and they both broke in the same spot.  I spent more time fixing it than driving it. In the end we parted it out. I would not buy another one and would not spent $2,000 on one with a blown head gasket. 

[THK Matt]

thats why you ditch the stock CT-20 and go to the stock supra's CT-26.... turbo problem solved :]

[CrazyYota]

Easier said than done. 

[83 Crawler]

thats why you ditch the stock CT-20 and go to the stock supra's CT-26.... turbo problem solved :]

i have a friend that has 2

[Soviet]

A big headache moneypit is exactly what you're looking at.  Pass on this one to wheel another day.

[toyyota]

WOW...We are all over the place on this one! I recently bought a 87 turbo truck. No surprise, it had a blown head gasket, probably why it was for sale. My plan is to do a frame off restoration, I'm in the frame off part now. Back to the Turbo issue...Toyota no longer services parts for their turbo, and I would not be comfortable putting a used turbo on a newly overhauled engine. I contacted LC Engeneering, they have a replacement Garret Turbo for around $1800.00. They say its a bolt in replacement, but a smog tech might fail the conversion (in California). I would like to continue with my restoration project, but a 3RZ might make some sense. Good luck with the Runner....

[CrazyYota]

A big headache moneypit is exactly what you're looking at.  Pass on this one to wheel another day.

X2

WOW... I contacted LC Engeneering, they have a replacement Garret Turbo for around $1800.00.

With $3800 He could buy a good running one.  I would pass unless you could get it cheap, really cheap.

[firealj]

I heard if your into wheeling and camping or tow anything like a small boat or trailer that they turbo is NOT the way you want to go for reliability. i never owned one but all the ones i see have the sort of issues that one ur looking at has. but good luck in what ever you decide.

[Rocksurfer]

I used to tow an 18' travel trailer with mine, wheeled the crap out of it and then towed my trailer home. I will admit that Toyota deliberately did not have any trailer hitches on them for the reasons you say but I never experienced any issues and have had two of them.

[OCDswag]

I recently bought a 22RTE with approx. 170k on it complete out of a recovered stolen truck. Put it in a 2nd Gen 2wd truck to drift I haven't had one issue with it had to adjust valves replace EGR and unplug the EGR cooling port on the back of the head and it passed smog without issue.

Issues I have read about:
Cracked heads because there is less material around valves and combustion chambers to lower compression
Blown head gaskets bad design? Not engineered for boost?
Cracked exhaust manifolds
Cracked hot side of turbos

One thing I will say is that parts for these motors are hard to come by I spent weeks looking for a 2wd turbo computer and an AFM. I think it was mentioned before but check out 22RTE-trucks.com for more info, great site for anything related to the RTE.

[Cheesemaker]

The things I learned about 22RTE's, when I was looking at rebuilding mine. 

Parts are more expensive vs. 22RE parts.
In stock form they work good, but most people don't know how to properly drive a turbo charged motor.
CT20 was a poor design, CT26 was better, but alot of fabbing.  And in Cali won't pass inspection.
Cracking issues.
You either got a good one, or a bad one.
Generally boost didn't kick in till around 2600-2800 rpms.  Most of your driving is around or below these rpms.
And you generally need to run Super Unleaded.