I'll second your statement that the 22R is rock solid. If you don't need high revs it's about as dependable as gravity.
Which is not to say that it sucks.
I'm not too familiar with the hot rod side of the 22R but I know
LC Engineering spends an awful lot of time building go-fast 22Rs so it isn't incapable. But if your rig's weight is low, then the 22R's abundant torque for its size down low in the revs will make it a big grin in the twisties.