ColumbiaCrawler

so I have a 81 toyota 4x4 that i bought from a guy it barely ran when i got it but have been working on it and getting it running. i have got it running but its just got no power in 3rd,or 4th don't even try 5th gear and to get it to stay at 55mph i have to have it floored in 3rd. i have been looking at old posts with similar problems and I have checked the cam gear being off a tooth, replaced the fuel filter. it has a weber 32/36 carb i rebuilt that. replaced the vaccum accelarator on the distributor checked for vaccum leaks and for kinks in the exhaust. gone through everything i can think of and that i could find to be the problem. so i was wondering if anyone else new of something that could cause this or if the engine is just old and tired.

kdo58

compression check?

ajoebob

well it is a 22r
i rebuilt mine and put a weber 38 on mine and its the same way. i think part of it is i have vac. leaks on my manafold and also i dont think it likes my tires.

83

Yeah how big are the tires on it? Even with 31x10.50's these things are pretty slow. Go any bigger than that and you're really going to feel it..

Otherwise..yeah check the compression. Did you set the timing? Spark plugs & wires? Distributer cap & rotor? I'm guessing you already did that stuff but since you didn't mention it I figured I'd bring it up.

95yoda

not all of them are slow with bigger tires. mine has 31 inch m/ts and mine will pull 5th from 40mph and ive had it to about 75, never tried going faster as there is no need. do a comp. check.

Plumbrbob

I have had many rigs with healthy 22R's and they are not that bad

you have engine problems for sure x2 compression check , check for vaccuum leaks with carb cleaner, weber tuned, timing set good, I use a vaccuum gauge to time my 22R, you could have a worn cam, worn valve springs, worn dizzy, wires worn, plugs worn, worn everything man your rig is almost 30 years old LOL

you said you checked the chain two gold links line up with dot on cam sproket bottom crank key 12 oclock check #1 at TDC dizzy at #1

I took apart one of my 22r and the PO had the timing off 1 link at the bottom sproket impossible to know until the cover was off bu tthe chain slapped around oh and the valves and pistons had a fight LOL

the proof of a healthy 22R

my rig 36" TSL's on steel 5.29's I can do 75-80 in 5th gear no problem (well used to I currently have no motor in my yota)
I used to run 35" BFG MT on 4.38 70-75 in 5th gear no problem
I also used to run 33" BFG MT on 4.38 was pretty peppy 5th gear 70-75
I also used to have 32" TXR's on 4.10 easily climb up hills and use 5th gear 70 miles per hour max

This is with my rebuilt 87 22R weber 32/36 engnbldr pro head and torker cam hedman header

my neighbor has freshly rebuilt fully stock 87 22R 35" bfg on 4.10 70 miles per hour 5th gear no problem power seems fine not a race car but nothing to be mad about.

83

I guess it all depends. And it depends on what kind of hills you are talking about. My freshly rebuilt 22R with 30x9.50's won't go up a "hill" at 70 in 5th..but I'm thinking mountian passes. When I had 31's it was worse, but still perfectly driveable in all gears. It just didn't have power.

Plumbrbob

When geared correctly with a fresh motor you should be able to maintian speeds on those steep mountain pass grades where the semi's have pullout slow lanes.

When I had 32's on 4.10 i woudl lose speed on those steep mountain passes and at times need to down shift all the way to 3rd! LOL

When I changed gears to 4.38 I could maintian 60 in 4th on the steep. I had 33's at that time

Now I have 5.29's on 36" swampers i still maintain 60 on the steep in 4th but that depends on what speed I start the uphill climb with LOL

83

Yes! I totally agree. When they're geared right. That's why I brought up the big tire question in the first place. I think a lot of people buy a new truck without a ton of Toyota knowledge, and it's got 32's or 33's (especially these first gens, since you can put such big tires on with no mods), and it's got no power because it's got the original stock gearing. A correctly geared 22R is no powerhouse, but it will definitely move.

Rodlaw11

Question: The higher the gear number = the better top end but less torque?

83

Pretty sure it's better all around...better low end, high end etc. Higher gears with stock tires and your rpm's are screaming no matter what you do (unless you like driving in 4th at 20 mph or something). Changing the gearing just gives you the appropriate gear:tire-size ratio, is my understanding.