Outer Limits 4x4 Board

i've tried searching this and possibly due to mild retardation can't find much info.
my question is has anybody done power mods to a 22r.
i know i might have to go internally ie cam etc.
i have extractors but that does stuff all and as the saying goes you can polish a turd but its still a turd.
i know most people replying are gonna say engine conversion, buy a land cruiser blah blah blah but the fact is i'm keeping the lux.i have 32''s on it would like to put 33''s but comuting up the highway everyday would be a night mare. i'm not chasing massive power as i know i am limited with my motor.
i was thinking of trying to find a 22re set up but not sure if its worth the pain of fitting and being not happy.also i have looked at buying a webber carb of ebay but same thing pain vs gain.
any advice would be appreciated and if someone has done this to their slug lux even better.
thanks

I had a 4runner with that engine, POS!!
Im not hard on my engines at all, I let them warm up, dont drive like a race driver or anything like that, do regular services and oils, etc.
In the 3 years I owned it, it went good for the first 18months, then, blew a head gasket. I was told by several mechanics that its a very common problem for that engine.
I was living out near Windsor at the time, I was told to get in touch with a local engine shop, they told me its so common a problem, that they make their own aftermarket head for the 22r.
When the head was off getting checked over, I thought I may as well go over the rest of the engine, there is a chain that runs through the front of the block(timing chain I think), it has guides on both sides at the bottom, the chain had ground through the guide completey on 1 side and had started cutting into the block itself, motor got chucked.
Reco motor $1600, had 6months warranty on it, 8 months later, again, head gasket, 2 months out of warranty, I spent another $800 sorting out a new head for it.
Then it was good again.
Then I swapped it for my lux
Having said all that, its a petrol engine, so engine mods are easy, there are the usual mods like, decent carby, extractors/exhaust, then you can do internal like youve said.
Or you could upgrade to EFI. But if you are spending the money like that, you may as well get a better motor.

what about changing diff ratios?
not 100% sure on what the ratios are on a 22r.
But I have a 4runner that i had a 3Y carby with extractors and it had 4.88s (stock ratios) and 35s on it.
Went as good as a stock 3L at the lights (mate has a 2.8 dual cab diesel thats stock)
It went 120km/h on the flat top at 3000rpm.
But hills were a pain, big ones dropped me back to 70km/h and 3/4th gear.
and fuel economy was 350km tops to a full tank of v-power.
if you put a weber carby on it, more power = more fuel.
If this motor does decide to go, consider an engine conversion.
I changed from petty to a 2.4 turbo diesel motor as i gained low end torque, gained in power a little bit and fuel economy was a massive increase as i now get 450-500km to a tank.
Cheers
Dan