20r head conversion ?s

i just got a rebuilt 20r head today and was wondering about the 20r conversion on the 22re's. what are the pros/cons what all do i need for a sucessful conversion? i was told i will need a dual row timing chain and some machine work done but i don't know yet. the bottom end is going to be rebuilt before the head conversion is done with a .40 overbore first. will i be able to use standard oversize pistons or a deep dish? don't know anyone around here with the conversion and haven't seen it done in a long time so any help on this topic would be appreciated. i also have an extra round front 22re valve cover if anyone is looking.

from what i remember, the early 22rs (79-84) have a shorter deck height, which its a bolt on deal. the 85-95 22rs have a taller deck height. which moves the timing chain and whatnot up if you put a 20r head on. so you have to have the head decked a bit to make it sit lower. its not a ton of material. i believe the intake and efi stuff from your head should go back on without any issues. are you swapping to a carb, or staying efi? with the efi you might need to reflash the ecu to let it know some new info, since you will have specs of a cam meant for a smaller motor with a carb. might be able to use the 22r cams, but that i dont know. LC Engineering and DOA both have alot of parts for these motors and should be able to help you set something up that works.

also, does anybody know if the 20r head will bolt up to a 22ret (turbo version)?

I think LC makes a custom timing chain for the 20R head swap.

maybe. worth a shot. they make good stuff. the high cost would probably be offset by the fact there wouldnt be machining and the cost of a new chain anyways.

as much movement as the timing chain tensioner has,i dont see why there would be a need in milling the head or having a longer timing chain.there should be a complete how to on this subject on the net.i think i recall reading up on it once.

here is some helpful power info i found on the net. Okay, I've just finished assembling the bottom end on my 22R motor, and >have noticed a definite difference between it and the motor I am >replacing. Looking at my old motor, at no point in the pistons >reciprocating cycle does the outer edge of the piston break the plane of >the block. My new motor has the pistons sticking about a half inch out >of the bores at TDC. Any idea what's up? My only guess is that the >machinist got the wrong pistons with a different pin height. It is an 85 >motor, whereas my previous motor was an 84, but that shouldn't be any >difference, right?

Well , you did know that the blocks in '85 were 2MM shorter didn't you ?? (actually 8/84 changeover) and in '84 they used a domed (donut) top piston and in '85 the piston was a flat-top? If you use pre-85 pistons (donut top) on a 85-up block and a 20R head, you will yeild a much higher compression. somewhere around 11.5:1! The block is the same bore, and the crank stroke is exactly the same, but the deck heights are 2MM off of the 81-84 deck heights. The domed pistons WILL NOT work on an 85-up head.... If you need more specifics

read that whole page this morning on the net. still will be keeping the efi. will have the head redone with the 22r valves and a larger cam but i am still uncertain about the rest. still in the air whether i will do the swap or just build up the 22re instead. seems that this swap is more popular with the 4wd croud. more or less I would like to have an end result of at least 200 all motor or just do a turbo setup. then i want at least 300. damn that 3.00 per gallon gas. thanks.