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My 85 Runner has a DOA (http://www.doaracingengines.com/) built 22RE. It had about 20K on it when I bought it back in 2005. Engine has ran strong, problem free, and is peppy as hell. Been very dependable. I've heard a lot of complaints in the last four or five years about LCE, but I have zero issues with my DOA 22RE. I would go with them again if I wanted a custom built Toyota engine.
I too have heard a lot of complaints about LCE as well as some from DOA. As others have stated that it is stupid easy. I am more leaning to doing it myself as I am pretty mechanically inclined. After all I did install 3 short block chevy's in my 64 malibu but then again there is no smog crap and only 1 vacuum advance hose as compared to the many vacuum hoses of the 22RE which really isn't that many compared to my 82 with a 22r holy does that one have a lot of hoses. I just don't have the time to do it myself right now. I'm thinking that I'm going to replace the head and look for another 22re to slowly rebuild as I have time then when its complete I can put it in. Hopefully the new head will give me enough time which I think it might. I went over to the shop yesterday and took a look at the cylinder walls on my engine since the head was off and they look pretty nice. No noticeable lip or anything, they look good, but we'll see.And I do have a downey header for it and love it! I actually did notice a little more pep in its step and I find that I am able to leave it in 5th gear quite a bit more than before.
The problem with rebuilding the bottom end is, the 22r was a blueprinted motor from the factory, Super tight tolerances. Their rebuild specs in their books, if anyone has ever used them, are VERY lenient. For everything from trans to engine. These engines were setup extremely critical when they were first made, regardless what the fsm would have you believe. Ive personally seen how rods are checked, and resized. Its not a very easy task to do extremely critical. 95 Percent of machine shops dont care about getting specs super right, JUST WITHIN SPEC. This is the case on many of the specs on the motor, Including turning the crank, Thrust washer clearance, yada yada. This all being extremely tight from TOYOTA, is the reason these engines lasted so long.2k miles, 20k miles, 100k miles, does not mean anything, When you start seeing rebuilds push 200,250,300k , then you can call it a reliable build. This rarely, if ever happens., and there has been plenty of time for it to happen. The only ones with 300k+ are original bottom ends. Ive dealt with more 22rs than the avg guy. They ARE NOT the chevy 350 of the engine world like most joe blow machinists will tell you
If you decide to do the 22r then go putney and if you wonder about the machine work then look on youtube. They're very detailed. They take alot of pride in their work. Obviously 5vz would be the best motor to put back in. More expensive though.
If I had the skills, I'd go 3RZ in a heartbeat. I've ridden in 88Pathy's on here, with 4.88's, and 35's it was very impressive. Now, I've followed BigMike up the Four Lane on the way to Shaver Lake last summer, and we were doing 65-70mph uphill, (it's a steep steady climb, iirc 8%) and he said he wasn't pushing it hard. He still had a ways to go on the throttle, but he didn't want to loose me. And he's running 5.29's, and 37's! But I'm an old racer who loves V8 muscle, and anything larger than my 22RE would get me in trouble. I already drive it like I stole it.
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