Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. I just found a 5 speed w/ a 22R engine that was rebuilt 5k miles ago (truck has 223K on it). Asking $3k, seems a little hi tho. Not sure what the market in socal is.
22r or 22re? The 22re is gutless, the 22r is downright wimpy. Might be worth it if it's an '84 or '85, though.
I have had my 3.0 for about two years and the only problem I have had is an alternator issue. So far its been very reliable. Have heard many, many bad things about the hg issue. Because of that, he first thing I did to mine was put in a more free flowing exhaust system with a magnaflow hi flow cat and muffler. A 4cyl is def preferred by most, but I have sure been happy with mine so far and there many people also happy with there 3.slows.
Then of course there's the opposite experience.
Everything with my 3.0's been garbage, and I've only owned it 3 weeks. And its got 30k on a rebuild.