Celica 22RE Dual Row Timing Chain Upgrade

The 22R engine found its home in many Toyota vehicles from 1981 to 1997. In 1983, Toyota added EFI to the engine, but the reliable dual row timing chain was changed to a single row chain with plastic chain guides. This change required 100k-mile service intervals, including a head gasket change. Upgrading these 22R-E's to a dual-row timing chain, while a little pricey, is a buy-it-once deal. Here, I'll show you what it takes to install the kit!
LCE 22R/22RE Dual Row Timing Chain Kit w./ Pro Oil Pump
www.lceperformance.com/LCE-22...
My Instagram:
/ twotone_ra64
Songs used:
Luvly - Joakim Karud
Night Cruising - Night Tempo
DISCLAIMER: This guide contains potentially dangerous modifications to a motor vehicle. Please check with your local authorities to ensure these types of vehicle modifications are legal and conforms with all motor vehicle safety laws. This video is for entertainment purposes only. DO NOT attempt any modifications of any kind on your vehicle without seeking advice from a professional and certified mechanic FIRST. We do not assume any liability for damage, personal injury or property damage as a result of any information provided in this video.

[@FullySpooled]

That's a wild technique with the bungee cord. I wonder what the techs at dealerships use. Or used - I doubt many current techs get to see many 22REs coming in the door. You do a great job of explaining things in your videos. Keep it up.

[@winguard96]

Who knows, they may have come up with something similar. Maybe rope, string, or some wire. Thanks man, appreciate it! 😄

[@Mat14sCra]

1982 toyota celica RA60 here... i'm going to try change my timing chain too, thanks for the video. my engine is a 21R

[@winguard96]

Awesome! Glad it encouraged you to dive in. 😊

[@g10118]

Nice car Jeff!

[@arthurtzouros4808]

I have washers on 2 of the bolts as well. I believe there to take up space of the AC compressor mount brackets that aren’t there in our case

[@vBlacknightmare]

I'm going to be doing this on my 87 Toyota pickup, I hope some of the info would translate over to a 22r engine. Looks like a hell of a time for one person to do it alone...lol

[@winguard96]

This should translate pretty easily to an '87 22R. Best of luck! The bungee cord trick does help when you're doing this by yourself.

[@JamesKarne]

Hello everyone, you have to remove header valve engine and buy new header engine? Or just brought dual row timing chain kits for replace new chain without remove the header engine?

[@antoniodejesuslinanperez2174]

Hi friend my Toyota pickup 1986, have a single row with chain of 48 links, I have only seen of 98 links each row have 49 links. It is posible install that chain of double row with 49 links?

[@802Garage]

Wow that's a nice piece! Are those actually metal timing chain guides too? I've only ever seen plastic. Love the bungee cord trick! I'm gonna remember that one when working on my SR20 engines. Nice work. Why dual row timing chain for this engine? Just ultimate reliability? I assume no boost with that head gasket.

[@winguard96]

Thanks!! The shell of the guides are plastic, but the portion where the chain rides against it is metal! It's essentially the ultimate reliability mod, no more timing chain replacements every 100k miles! And yes, stock graphite HG for a stock setup.

[@802Garage]

@@winguard96 That's awesome. Thanks!

[@ocavant]

Where is the link to the LCE instruction PDF? Would love to have that bolt size/length chart handy when putting mine in. Not doing the DR upgrade since this particular motor will be all stock. Upgrading to steel guides though. Thanks!

[@ocavant]

Sorry. I found it finally on their site. lcengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/instructions/1015038%20Late%20Timing%20Chain%20Hardware%20Kit.pdf

[@dimebaggins8709]

I'm installing this soon. Do you use and permatex or something to keep the two timing cover gaskets in place when installing the timing cover?

[@winguard96]

You can lightly "paint" the gaskets in black RTV or use copper gasket spray for tackiness and holding it in place. 😄

[@phizzzzle5781]

i have the same issue with that 65 mm bolt on the bottom left @ 5;57. LC recommended that I look inside for a broken bolt. How did this timing cover work after you washer adjustment? any leaks?

[@winguard96]

Interesting! We've had no problems with the washer stack, and the current owner of Jeff's '83 GTS has not reported any issues with timing cover leaks.

[@user-nu4zc6lt1m]

Did you have to sand the top and bottom of the timing cover? I ask because I got the conversion and tried sneaking in my cover while my head was installed and I couldn’t because the cover is slightly over lapping the block. I did some research and a guy had to sand his too, so I’m wondering if you had too?

[@winguard96]

No, since you're supposed to pull the head for this job

[@twotone_ra6558]

~W I D E C H A I N~

[@winguard96]

Wide chain on thicc bump stick

[@2Skinny]

Fun fact: the Toyota OEM 20R dual row chain/gears/steel-backed guides fit on the 22R-E and within the stock timing cover. Hopefully this LC kit didn't carry the premium most of their stuff does...

[@winguard96]

This is true! The LCE kit is $350 but it does come with that oil pump, and every part they provide is Japanese-made. It's pretty good value for the price, imo.

[@2Skinny]

@@winguard96 That's a fair price especially if it includes the cover.

[@winguard96]

Oh yes, timing cover included too!! Forgot to mention that.

[@floridamotocross7833]

What's the advantage of the dual timing chain conversion?

[@2Skinny]

@@floridamotocross7833 it will basically never fail and you will avoid the inherent flaw of the stock single row chain and plastic guides. The double row also utilizes metal reinforced guides.

[@micahtyrell9603]

Can this be put on a 1991 toyota pickup 22-re ?

[@winguard96]

Depends - you'll have to check if a kit exists for the 1985+ 22R-Es. This was applied to a pre-1984 engine which has a different deck height.

[@rreeves0710]

Hmm, my 22re has flat topped pistons, are yours high compression pistons or is this just a different design than the truck engines?

[@winguard96]

These are stock Celica pistons. Even my 1984 22R-E had the same dome style piston. What year is your truck? 1985+?

[@charlesbronson8680]

Pre 85 22r motors are tall deck versus the later 22R that is a short deck. The early 22R block with the dome pistons tend to be sought after for the 20r/22r hybrid motor builds.

[@rreeves0710]

@@winguard96 yup, I have a 87 4 runner.

[@rreeves0710]

@@charlesbronson8680 thanks!

[@robertpolanco3467]

What's the difference between single row v dual row? I'm stock 22RE EFI 5 speed. Pros? Cons?

[@winguard96]

Single row must be replaced every 100k. Dual row is lifetime for the engine. Main difference is in durability.

[@robertpolanco3467]

@@winguard96 so I should switch over to dual row asap then. it'll be direct fit? no trimming or anything etc

[@winguard96]

@@robertpolanco3467 I think there's a video on this 🤔

[@glenngamboa9224]

How’s it drives? With dual row.

[@winguard96]

My guess is that it shouldn't drive any differently. We did install the LCE EFI Pro cam with it too, which really helps the 22RE breathe up in the higher revs. Jeff is currently solving exhaust leak issues since an exhaust stud decided to yeet itself out of the head. 😅

[@docstockton5564]

You forgot to install the fuel pump eccentric on the front of the distributor drive gear.

[@winguard96]

Yes, true, I would have forgotten it in a carbureted application. In this case, the 22R-E is fuel injection and thus does not have the cam driven pump.

[@glenngamboa9224]

Let’s See it run?

[@winguard96]

I can perhaps make a follow-up video to this, but I can tell you Jeff's car runs very well and he likes the extra bump in power upwards of 4k rpm thanks to the LCE EFI Pro cam!

[@glenngamboa9224]

@@winguard96 Me as well currently assembling a 22r engine from LCE for my 86 Toyota hilux