OK some background. I currently own 3 Toyota trucks (85' 1-ton, 86' xtra-cab longbed, and 87' xtra-cab longbed). I have rebuilt several 22RE's, I did 6 head-gaskets last year for myself and friends. I can strip my trucks down to every part and reassemble, but this problem is baffling me and every mechanic I have asked.
After doing the headgasket, and timing chain on the Fuel Injected 22RE in my 85' 1-ton last summer, I couldn't get it to run well enough to pass emissions. I knew the rings are close to shot so it is burning oil, but I have another engine I am assembling for it.
I took it to a good mechanic and he adjusted the air-flow sensor and replaced the throttle-body sensor with another used one I supplied.
When I picked it up he said it should be close to passing, but I might have to take it to one of the emission shops to have them do their voodoo. He was right. It came close but I had to have the emission shop do their evil magic to get it to pass.
Here is where it gets weird. I noticed the engine was running strange so I threw a timing light on it. The engine was running 35 degrees advanced. Yep, I said 35 degrees.
By the time I went back to the emission shop, the mechanic who worked on my truck no longer worked there, and they had no idea what he might have done.
A few points. The vacuum advance can NOT be disabled by shorting the contacts in the plug on the drivers side of the engine compartment. Shorting them has no effect.
I pulled the distributor to make sure they hadn't skipped a tooth on the gear. It is set according to the factory manual.
I replaced the ignition computer with a spare I had. It made the engine run smoother, but it still runs 35 degrees advanced.
If I try turning the distributor to reduce the advancement the engine tries to stall.
The harmonic balancer pulley is not broken. I even pulled the valve cover to check the timing chain placement. It is set correctly.
The engine runs fine and has plenty of power now, I just can't figure out the advance weirdness, or why the vacuum advance can't be disabled.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
BTW it is problems like this that make me really appreciate carburetors. Fuel injection may have more power, but it is at the mercy of electronics that can't be replaced from toyota.