Deck plate Mod 2001 Tacoma PreRunner 2.7 L Step by Step with Pictures

I decided to do the deck plate mod today on my '01 PreRunner 2.7 Liter. My air filter box is the kind with the grooves in it and it installed perfectly.

I used a 4'' deck plate, sensor safe silicone gasket maker, and 3/4'' stainless steel screws.

First, remove the EFI fuse. Sorry, no picture, but if you don't know where the fuse box is, you're on your own.

Next, I painted the ugly white deck plate:





Next, I cut out the hole with a dremel:





Next, I filled the grooves with silicone:





After about an hour of drying and cleaning the s**t out of the inside of the air filter box, I installed the deck plate:



Finally, I re-installed the box (that green wire goes to my Dixie horn...ignore it )







A tip I would recommend to those who haven't done this: before you put the silicone on the air filter box, clean the crap out of the inside of the box. I had to maneuver around the silicone while cleaning and it was a pain. I used q-tips to get in the corners of the box and just a wet rag to get everything else out of there. Finally, I shot compressed air in there to get the dust and water from the wet rag out.

Some people have let their silicone dry overnight, but I was impatient and just finished up after an hour. I drove a few miles, listening to the engine purr and the fumes didn't seem to mess with anything and cause the check engine light to come on (I'm assuming non-sensor safe silicone may have been a different story, but I don't know).

Everything else is pretty straight forward. 3 screws get the box out of the truck, cut the hole, put in the deck plate, and re-assemble that bad boy. I have seen dynos of the 3.4 liter engine that did show an increase in HP and a few more MPG added, but I can't vouch for my 2.7 liter.

Lastly, I plan on getting the AFE Pro Dry air filter, but for now, I'm still using the OEM air filter.

Hope this helps.

 

Where did you get the sensor safe silicone?

 

Any auto part store has it, it's usually with the other RTV type silicons like your blue, black, and orange. Just specifies on the package that it's "sensor safe"

 

GE makes a sensor safe rtv
should be on the shelf of most AP stores

 

I got it at Autozone. You can get it at any auto parts store.

 

i used double sided 3m body molding tape around the deck plate before i pushed it through the box. hasn't loosened up yet. i don't have a hose clamp like some do but my deck plate was tight to the airbox. i also used a small vinyl coated cable with terminal ends crimped and shrinkwrapped bolted to the plug and the airbox with stainless hardware so there is no chance of loosing the center plug. looks good, not cheesey.

 

What does this really do for the most part it sucks in dirty air doesn't it?

 

It gets more cold air into the engine, which helps it run cooler and makes it sound a little more 'throaty'. It supposedly gives you a fairly small HP boost, as well. The air still passes through your air filter, so you're getting clean air into your engine. A lot of people put in a K&N or AFE aftermarket air filter that does a better job than the stock one, but I'm still running the stock air filter, but plan on getting an AFE on in the future.

 

I bought my 03 dcsb that has the deck plate mod but is missing the center cap.
Can you tell me where to get another??

 

Academy or Wal Mart should have them. If not, eBay will. They shouldn't be over $5. You don't really need it unless you're doing some serious off-roading...like going through deep creeks and stuff

 

When I purchased in June 2013, the prior owner has installed a Safari Snorkle. So the airbox is altered and the cover for the deck plate was missing (along with the jack, spare, skid plates).
I have a temporary "fix" in there to block off the hole and am now breathing through the snorkle. There is a western marine near me so for $10 or whatever it is, I will get it!
There are some large puddles in an area west of Seattle called Tahuya. Large meaning up to the top of hood and splashing over.
I have yet to take the Yeti there, soon...

 

Yeah, if you're gonna be going through that kinda stuff, I'd definitely get that hole sealed off and just use the snorkel.

 

Filling in the ridges is kinda unnecessary, if you cut your hole right and seal it well then it should be watertight. Not that it matters, my 2wd probably can't get me anywhere that I would need to put the plug in anyway

I like your idea on the plug tether, mine is just in my glove box.

 

Mine's in my toolbox. I wanna do the tether, too

 

I wouldn't say it gets cold air into the engine. Just more air. In fact the intake temps go up because it's sucking so much air from the engine bay.

But I think the sheer volume of air being drawn in counteracts the rise in temperature and still allows more air molecules to combust.

Aftermarket filters do not do a better job at filtration, only reduce restriction which can be an issue if you don't clean it regularly. If had entire sand dunes come out of my AFE so you'll have to make a date every month to wash and clean it. It's also drawing dirt from the engine bay.