i just got a 1988 toyota pickup with a V6 3.0 in it. it has a manual transmition and it is 4X4 in it i see every one talking about a 22R 20R 22RE 2RZ and was wonding which one this could be    

You have the 3VZE I believe...  

Yup, I'm right, 3VZ-E.

You can tell a lot about a Toyota engine by the engine family code. The letters/numbers before the dash represent the bottom end and which revision it is including things like cylinder number, bore, stroke, and so on...the number is the revision and the letter is the engine family. After the dash give other information about said engine, like weather or not it is fuel injected, has a turbo, a supercharger, high compression, low compression, CNG, diesel, and so on...

For example, lets take the 22R-TEC...

The 22R-TEC is the 22nd revision of the R family of engines. After the dash the T means it is turbo charged, E means it is electronically fuel injected, and the C means it has a California emissions system.

So if you have a 22R-TEC you have a Turbocharged, fuel injected, California legal 2.4liter (R Family) four cylinder engine.

Now lets take you 3VZ-E

The VZ family of Toyota engines was introduced in 1987 with the 1VZ, a 2.0liter.  

Your engine, the 3rd revision of the VZ family was introduced in 1988 and was used in the 4-Runner, Pickup, and T-100. The 3VZ was a 3.0liter V-6 engine. The E shows that it is electronically fuel injected. So, you have a 3.0Liter Fuel Injected V6.

Follow?  

Oh, and a simple way to know which engine you have is to pop the hood and look. Most, if not all, Toyota engine have this code printed either on the timing belt cover or the valve cover...  

cool thanks for the info will be posing more info on other stuff as i go along with my build. exspesealy when i get around to doing axil swops and stuff but that will all be down the road thanks for letting me know i saw the 3VZ-E under the hood and was making sure that was correct thanks agin for the info your Mag rocks

thanks kevin