Best Bang For Your Buck 4 Cylinder Mods

Hey Everyone!
I just got into the Tacoma scene, and was wondering what the best bang for your buck 4 cylinder mods you would suggest. It could be anything from cosmetic, drivetrain, suspension, whatever. I have read on here to not put a CAI system on the 4 cylinders but to put a high flow air filter in the stock box. Stuff like that is helpful because I know I just inherited some nice monthly payments which are always fun. That atleast helped me know not to waste money on a whole CAI system. Any other helpful information like that for us 4Bangers on a budget?!

 

The LCE headers will add some pep and weather tech floor mounts are great. Have fun with your new vehicle

 

Hey, thanks Azazruk! I will have to check if the LCE headers are California legal for emissions. Everyone seems to want to look at this thread, but no one wants to post. lol

 

OK..... Here are the mods I have done to my 4 Cylinder

Husky Floor Liners
Classic Seat Covers
Removed rear seats (AC) and installed dog platform
Rear Camera
Undercover Tonnuea Cover
Class III hitch and Wiring
Sprayed the underside with Fluid Film
Replaced OEM mud flaps with Husky mud flaps
Replaced the front grill with a color matched grill
Rubber Bed Mat
Rerouted A/C drain

 

Sorry, the LCE is not California smog legal...

...however, if you save the stock manifold, you can always swap it back for testing. That's what I'll be doing when my time comes.

The LCE long tube header is by far the best mod for the 2.7...



...even with retaining the stock exhaust. Nothing else comes close.


Greg

 

Awesome! That sounds like something I will have to save up and get. As far as exhaust do any of the catback systems really do much for the 4, or do they just change the sound like just buying a muffler would do? Also do any of you guys have experience with any of the high flow air filters for the stock box? Like I said earlier I know they say that they work better the a CAI for the 4 banger. I am just curious on which would be the best. Also you guys have some pretty nice trucks!

 

I have to agree a header is the best mod performance wise you can do to the truck full for a reasonable amount. I bought an obx header been on for 3 years in salt and snow, no issues

 

Your best bang for the buck, save the moneY for gas. For the most part theres not a lot you can do to this engine to make noticeable power without spending a lot of money. Epecially if youre somewhere that requires inspections.

 

Best bang for buck performance mod for me was replacing the huge, restrictive stock muffler with a $25 thrush glasspack. It made the truck noticably more responsive. I may buy a header next but it wont be an LCE at $400- probably more like $140 pacesetter.

 

So Knuckleduster271, you just replace the muffler, and it helped? Or was it a full cat-back. I didnt know if just changing the muffler would help or if it would need to be a full cat-back. I want to do something to the exhaust soon so you can hear it being a little more "grunty"

 

I'd too like to know if just replacing a muffler can free the engine up a bit. I don't want anything very loud at all, but wouldn't mind letting her breathe a little better.

 

Best bang for you buck---A HEAVY FOOT!!!!!

 

^Haters gonna hate. Trollers gonna troll.

 

just the muffler itself,
have you seen the stock muffler lol its the size of a 50 gallon drum, I did eventually put a magnaflow cat on the truck also, it seemed to help a bit as well

 

Had a four banger--loved it-foot was on the floor-all the time!!
Good gas helps too!

 

Lol I was just bustin your balls man! Idk how the old 4bangers used to be but I don't feel like they do have power. Atleast more than people give them credit for

 

So does anyone know what the best high flow air filter to drop in the stock box is? I feel like that would be a good cheap easy mod.

 

After doing research the afe pro dry s drop in filter. Is the best bang for your buck, and to also remove the charcoal filter helps quite a bit!

 

I ran dyno tests on Magnaflow, Flowmaster, and the stock muffler and here are the results.

RED: stock muffler
BLUE: Magnaflow muffler
GREEN:Flowmaster muffler



While they were all pretty close, the Flowmaster Series 50 Delta Flow muffler was the clear winner, and even yielded its higher torque peak 100 rpms sooner. Keep your stock exhaust pipe. It's mandrel bent and as good as you can get. If you go to a larger diameter pipe, it'll kill the low end torque in exchange for more top end horsepower.

Greg