timing chain question bout 22re

N-B_wheeler · Apr 21, 2009

sooo i have tried everything but for some reason my timing chain wont go on my 22re i got a 86 bottum block with a 85 head on it and idk why the damn thing wont go on i have tried the old timing chain off the 85 then i have tried the 86 just wont go on it is about couple mms off .....

Does anyone have any ideas to help i would like to get this engine i rebuilt fully back in but i cant figure out my one problem.

Rix · Apr 21, 2009

need to pull up on the cam sprocket, then rotate the crank back and forth to help push in the tensioner.

OR

you have a bad combo of head/block/chain, but I can't remember off the top of my head what the years are for the deck height change.

NotMatt · Apr 21, 2009

That's not an '85 head, it's an earlier head. Either '83 or '84 and earlier heads are about 1/4" taller. This combination will not work... later heads are shorter, and the deck height on the new blocks is also a hair (few mm's) shorter, so if you put an early timing chain on (two links longer I think?), it will be too long, and the later timing chain is too short because the head is taller.

I tore a motor down that was set up this way... it ran like crap before it spun a rod bearing, because the timing was so out of whack. They had an '83 head on an '85 block, with an '83 timing chain. The chain was too long.

Look at your exhaust ports on the head... are they round or pear shaped?

Also, does your block have the "keyhole" casting in it? It's on the driver's side, and is raised up, and looks like this (crude text version): -o-

NotMatt · Apr 21, 2009

Here's a pic of the keyhole casting... this denotes either an '85 and later "Laser" block. The deck height on these blocks is a bit shorter. Combining this block with an '84 and earlier head (1/4" taller) results in not being able to fit a timing chain on it... one is too long (early chain) and another is too short (late chain). Not only will it run like dog poo, but I believe the compression numbers will be changed (lowered) as well.

nevada · Apr 21, 2009

i ran into that problem before too. but...they were both 85's.
the engines could have been changed i suppose. but the chain for my brothers 85 was too short/long(cant remember) but it wouldnt work on MY 85. maybe the difference was the production date, early 85 vs late 85. i dont remember the details now. its been YEARS.

NotMatt · Apr 21, 2009

nevada said:
i ran into that problem before too. but...they were both 85's.
the engines could have been changed i suppose. but the chain for my brothers 85 was too short/long(cant remember) but it wouldnt work on MY 85. maybe the difference was the production date, early 85 vs late 85. i dont remember the details now. its been YEARS.

Especially if the 85's in question were carb'ed, it's very possible somebody just put an earlier motor in assuming they were the same. Everything else is the same, and unless you know to look for the differences you'd probably never notice and just assume the motor from an 84 was identical to an 85.

Also, some of the '83 and '84 early heads were drilled and tapped for the EFI manifold as well, which makes it even harder still to make sure that you're really getting it right, since that EFI 85-up truck or 4runner could still have an '83 or '84 head/motor with EFI manifold bolted to it.

nevada · Apr 21, 2009

NotMatt said:
Especially if the 85's in question were carb'ed, it's very possible somebody just put an earlier motor in assuming they were the same. Everything else is the same, and unless you know to look for the differences you'd probably never notice and just assume the motor from an 84 was identical to an 85.

Also, some of the '83 and '84 early heads were drilled and tapped for the EFI manifold as well, which makes it even harder still to make sure that you're really getting it right, since that EFI 85-up truck or 4runner could still have an '83 or '84 head/motor with EFI manifold bolted to it.

yep both carb'd. i think MINE was an early 85. maybe even LATE 84. doesnt matter now...its got a few more cylinders:redneck:

ManiacMagoo · Apr 22, 2009

I've noticed on several of the last ones I've seen that the only way to get them on was pull the timing cover and hold the tensioner in while putting the chain on. Then everything was set properly.