You guys have been very good at giving me advice on working with my 240. I also have a 1987 toyota pickup with the carbureted 22r engine. It has not been running so fit lately. It chugs gas it should get 26mpg but doesn't. The thing is hard to start in the mornings. It isn't all that cold yet down here in Georgia. The thing backfires and lacks power. I have already changed the plugs and wire. Replaced the PCV valve. I changed the fuel filter and air filter. The engine exhaust skips when it is up to operating temperature. We don't have emissions around here if that helps. I have cleaned the carb, and the truck doesn't smell like it is running rich. What do you guy think it might be?

Your symptoms: poor gas MPG, hard starting, backfires, lacks power....indicates two possibilities: 1) The ignition timing is retarded. Could be as easy as advancing the distributor, or it could be a sensor that is reading faulty and telling the computer to retard the ignition timing. OR
2) The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve is stuck partially open or missing the oriface washer near the base gasket.
Dan

A coworker had a 1980 toyota PU with a simaler problem, a diaphram (for the accelerator pump?)in the carb ruptured and sent gas pouring back through the vacuum line into one of the intake runners in the manifold. One of the plugs stayed wet, the others were fine. I think he removed the vacuum line and plugged the holes as a Band-Aid fix.

Is it a points and condensor system? If so, try going to electronic ignition. Runs a lot smoother. Check out Hot-Spark or Pertronix.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans in Brampton, Ont.

Several friends of mine have (or had) Toyotas similar to yours. Just about all of them had some kind of timing chain and/or valvetrain problems, usually between 160-200K miles. Other than that, the 22R is a pretty good engine.

I would recommend getting yourself a valve cover gasket set, and doing a valve adjustment, which is pretty straightforward, with rocker arms and adjusting screws. In the process, you will have the opportunity to inspect for timing chain/sprocket wear, and cam problems. If you're lucky, the valve adjustment will be all that is necessary.

If nothing is obviously wrong, and the valve adjustment doesn't help, further investigation of the carburetor, as others have suggested, is probably your next step.

Did you replace the cap and rotor when you did the plugs and wires?

If it's running rough then I'd try rebuilding the carb. I had an '82 celica with the 22R/carb setup and this happened to me. I had a guy I knew at the time rebuild it for a sixpack and he left out some kind of rubber coated diaphragm. He told me that those never go bad. Well, his rebuild didn't fix the problem so I ended up taking it to the dealer and they changed that diaphragm and it ran like a champ. Good Luck!

Check valve timing. Maybe it's possible for the timing chain to skip a tooth? I've got four 22R trucks myself. Seen one with a bad piston and another with a dropped valve seat. Those were obviously running on three though.

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Volvo Farmer.

24 Volvos, '58-'91, all RWD

Thise 22R's had a lot of trouble with timing chain tensioners going bad. Much better parts are currently available. The tensioners are a bear to change, but once the job is done, that engine is ALMOST as good as a redblock :)

I tore the head off a 22RE a week ago. Honestly, a turbo B230 was way less trouble. Great motors though, I've got 294K on an untouched '86, carb motor in my work truck. Bought the thing with 200K on the clock and it just refuses to break down or ask for any other maintenance. I put shocks on at 250K, front pads at 265K, Somehow I have gotten over 90,000 miles out of rear shoes on a used, $1000 truck. :-0

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Volvo Farmer.

24 Volvos, '58-'91, all RWD