My 22re had been sitting for 2 years before I changed my timing chain a few weeks ago. Now that I have it running again, the valves are just clattering away madly. I once thought it was my chain, but the more I listen to it,it sounds more like the valves. It's has 290,000 miles on this engine. I adjusted the valves to spec( .008 on the intakes, and .012 on the exhausts), and did a compression check( 175, 170, 170, 190). How about the cam?

the valves on 22REs are notoriously noisy....however, here are a couple of tricks...

adjust the valves to .007 and .011...especially if you adjust them cold (the spec is 8 and 12, but you are supposed to adjust them hot...however it is very difficult to get the valve cover off and adjust the valves in time for them to still be actually be "hot" by the time you actually set the lash.)

also, after many miles, the valve adjusting studs (screws) get an hourglass shaped wear pattern on their ends. this causes them to come out of adjustment almost immediately. take out the adjuster studs (just unscrew them all the way out) and check the tips for wear. if they are worn, replace them.

you can get them from the dealer or from engnbldr.com.

You may also want to check your ignition timing since an advanced timing can lead to excessive noise - especially pinging when accelerating/under load. The factory spec is 5 degress Before-Top-Dead-Center, although, I have heard you can advance it to about 8 degrees BTDC to get a little extra "umphhh". There should be a sticker on the underside of your hood that lists the # of degrees BTDC for your truck.

I did adjust the valves cold. They clattered before, just not this bad. My timing is set at 5 degrees. Appreciate the info. I'm astounded that the compressions are so high after so many miles.

I think they recommend doing the valves when the engine is warm. Yeah, I was impressed with my gf's compression on her 200K mile 22re with broken HG. Thing averaged 180psi

Adjust them again and make sure you don't overtighten the valve cover bolts. If you tighten it down too much, the rockers can hit the valve cover and make a lot of noise. I had to adjust the valves about 3-4 times on my old 22RTE to get it somewhat quiet.

I went out and bought new gaskets/grommets for my rocker cover stems and torqued to spec. My last ones were just smashed. I think they were originals.

toyota recommends doing the valves when the engine is "hot". the problem is that the engine is no longer "hot" very shortly after it is turned off.

so, a lot of people just adjust them cold, and compensate by setting them to .007 and .011 instead of .008 and .012.

the thing is...with the adjuster screws worn (as they are in many higher mileage 22REs), they won't stay set anyway. they'll vary by a few thousands...and, about the only difference you'll notice is the noise....so it makes you wonder if plus or minus .001 really matters anyway.

>>>*If that helped, could be as simple as the rocker arms touching the valve cover. We see that a lot.....*EB

Adjusted intake's to .007 and exhausts to .o11 with the new valve cover "grommets". It sounds better, but not much. I did pull all the set screws out of the rocker arms. No evidence of stretching. As an aircraft A&P mechanic, I see stretched bolts often in aircraft brake assemblies. I was running 10w30, but switched to 10w40 last night thinking that heavier oil might help.

During my timing chain instal, I noticed my distributor gear missing a tooth. I found it in my oil pan. The gear that bolts to the cam was fine. Could the distributor gear have hit the timing cover bolt? There's not much clearance.