so i am looking at buying a 92 reguler cab with 5spd and 22re. as a daily to get me back and forth for better gas mileage than my suburban.... i'm also gonna drop it and make it handle better. just cause. my question is. i also have a 81 longbed with 5spd and 22r setting in my buddies field with a rusted in half frame and horribly beat cab.... are any of the mechanicals between the two interchaengable?
as in could i rebuild the 22r long block from the 81 and have it as a spare for the 92? how about the tranny? rear end?.... is anything swapable between the 2?
thanks in advance

 

Toyota changed the 22R in September 1984. The 85-95 22Rs are all the same, everything interchanges. The pre 85 blocks have a taller deck height, use different pistons, different cylinder head, different water pump, different timing chain cover. The pre 85 blocks are also not tapped/threaded for a knock sensor, since EFI was first available for trucks in 1985. The oil pan, connecting rods, rear main seal housing, are interchangeable. That's about it.
5 speeds did not come in Toyota trucks until 1983. It is probably a G series 4 speed. All 22R blocks have the same bellhousing bolt pattern, whether pre 85 or post 85
Rear axle, differential, etc all interchangeable.

 

Toyota pickups had available options of the w50 5-speed transmissions as far back as '76. Pre-83 blocks also have the double row timing chain (may have been a few 83s with double row as well), so that's one extra point of reliability.

Pre-85 blocks also will accept a 20r head if you want a tad more compression and smoother airflow through the head.

Expect to have your driveshaft length adjusted.

 

Ah, yes, thank you Tuhd. I was thinking of 5 speeds in 4WD trucks. I believe 83 was the first year for that.