22RE timing chain advice needed

[BillN]

We have finally started work on the engine in my '92 pickup, and decided to rebuild it. We want to go to a double-roller timing chain. Has anyone made this change? Please tell me:
Are double-roller chain, gears, and cover off-the-shelf items for the older engines?
Should the tensioners be metal or plastic?
Can the original oil pump be used?
Do you have any advice or comments about this change?
I appreciate your help.

[BeaterToyota]

There aren't a ton of people with 22REs on here. You could probably find tons of info on this on the forums at www.4x4wire.com and www.yotatech.com.

I put a new timing chain in my '88 a couple years ago. I went with a kit from www.engnbldr.com. It comes with steel-backed chain guides, but it's just a single row setup. I've seen nothing but good comments about this kit all over the internet, and it's way cheaper than one from D.O.A. Racing or elsewhere.

[fourwd1]

Double roller TC was stock on 81-82 22R's. But you can't retro fit those parts onto a RE (different deck height). You need LCE's kit to do it.

Metal backed guides always good.

[ccannon222]

I agree with Beater. The engnbldr kit is a very good kit. I've used it in two of my motors so far.
As for the double row kits, only LC and DOA offer them. The 20r and older tall deck 22r engines had them, and not all of the tall deck ones had them.
Very few people break the t-chain in the r motors. However, when the chain tensenor gets old, the chain flops around a lot which can break the plastic guides that toyota used on all of the short deck r motors. When this guide beaks, the chain rubs a hole in a water jacket which then dumps coolant into your oil.
Go for a good single row chain, tensenor, and steel guide kit.

ccannon

[94krawler]

I have a LCE dual roller conversion in mine. It comes with a new oil pump and driver, special t-cover, waterpump, metal backed guides, tensioner, dual chain and sprockets. No problems with it ever and my motor has been flat out abused :lol: My stock guide were broken at 60K when I pulled the head for a headgasket.

The water pump is a off the shelf item as well as the oil pump and drive. I beleive the Tensioner is the older one but not sure. T-cover is a custom machined one.