Alright guys I have 2 problems. The first is that my oil pressure gets down to 15 psi on a hot idle. The engine gets up to 60 or 70 psi when its running at about 2500 rpm. So my first question is: Where could I be losing my oil pressure? I have replaced the oil pump, Main and Rod Bearings, Timing Chain, t.c tensioner, guides, and sprockets. I replaced the entire timing chain kit twice because i thought i may have got a defective tensioner the first time which couldve allowed my oil pressure to drop. Also, I replaced the gasket for the oil pickup tube because i thought that i could be losing pressure there also. ANY HELP ON THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

The other problem could be related but im not sure. The other problem is a noise that my engine is making. To begin with when you crank the engine it rattles which sounds like the timing chain slapping or rattling. Then the engine makes a scraping noise while its at idle. The sound appears to go away when you rev the engine up but im sure the sound is still there, only covered up. I think this could be the timing chain also, but im not sure. So my question for this problem is: could it be possible that the after market t.c. is just a little longer than the factory toyota chain which could cause it to have excess slack? But then again it could be something else that is making the scraping noise while the engine is idling. Here is a video with the engine running so you can hear the noise im talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR7jjOyMkn8


ANY HELP WITH THE OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM OR THE NOISE IS MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is from the FSM for checking OP.

Have engine at operating temperature for test.

At idle speed---4.3 psi or more.

At 3000 RPMS------36-71 psi

Looks like your OP is within spec.

thanks... any thoughts on the noise or tc being loose?

A typical mistake with this maintenance is putting back in a bolt where it's not supposed to go; usually too long, where the TC or the tensioner can smack it. Shine a light down in there; you might see the bolt.

This is why I recommend using cardboard to punch bolts into during disassembly, so you know exactly where they're supposed to go back in. Takes a bit of time, but is SO worth it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

when i replaced the tc set i used a foam board to keep the bolts in the right place. Im sure that all of the bolts went back where they came out. thanks again

Has the bottom of your head, or the deck of the block ever been planed? E.g. from warpage etc? This is common during a rebuild.
If so, the crank-to-cam distamce is shorter than stock.

It also is possible (although unlikely) that little oil pressure-driven tensioner on the TC is stuck "in" orjust not working, when you took it apart the 2nd time did you check to make sure it was springy?

The head hasnt been shaved and the tensioner still has that springy feel when I had the tc cover off both times. Im thinking it could be worn cam bearings causing the cam to sit lower than normal. They have never been replaced, could that be possible?

Ummm.... cam bearings?

Um yes cam bearings the bearings under the 3 bearing caps on the camshaft....

There are no replaceable cam bearings on a 22RE. The cam rides in the head in bores that are machined right into the head. Most likely they are OK. If not you'll need a new head.

One vendor of timing chain kits who used to be on this board a lot talked about the necessity to be very careful to torque the timing chain tensioner bolts to spec. Early failure being the result if the torque wasn't right. -- Matt