What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

The way conversations evolve on TW

 

I see what you're saying. My friends really must be doing something wrong then, a lot them are out 3-4 times a week and yet never hook up or meet anyone lol.

 

Okay, I need your guy's opinions.

This four banger 2.7l 3RZ isn't cutting it for me. It's coupled with the automatic so it's excessively sluggish and as a result I drive with ECT on and floor the accelerator all the time to get anywhere.

I'm not a fan of the acceleration, the towing capacity, or the gas mileage. Last time I checked I am averaging around 15 MPG (as a result of flooring the engine to get up to speed very frequently)

I'd like to keep the Automatic simply because I daily drive this truck in Downtown San Francisco and traffic everyday will kill me on a Manual. I'm looking for more throttle response, better acceleration, and towing capacity.

I'm debating on some engine swaps and or upgrading my current setup. Some options I was looking at were:

1. Turbocharge the existing 2.7l I4 Engine
2. Buy a donor 3.4l v6 5VZ Tacoma and swap the drivetrain from each truck, and fix and sell the donor truck with my old drivetrain and make a profit
3. Buy a donor 4.7l v8 Tundra and go balls to the wall with the engine swap
4. Locate a 1998+ Supra and swap in the Twin Turbocharged 2JZ I6 because why not (This is probably not going to happen, but a man can dream)

What do you guys think? I have another car (and another Tacoma) I can drive while I do this engine swap. I'm very good with electrical so the wiring doesn't phase me at all - I'm actually going to school for Computer Engineering. Welding isn't something I haven't done before either. I'm in California, so I can't mix and match car engine and truck engines and I must use the same year engine or newer and retain all the factory emissions equipment.

 

Don't you have a 5vz you could swap in now? Do a compression test, and go from there.

 

I don't trust the 450,000 miles the 5-lug has. That truck has been abused it's whole life judging by the condition of the body and the fifth wheel hitch it had in the bed.

 

turbo.

 

turbo the 2.7.. they take it well.. fabrication would be needed with all your other options.. turbo would too with piping and all, but easier than making engine fit that never were meant to

 

Would the turbo increase and kind of towing capacity? I'm not looking to tow a giant trailer just the occasional car transport or flatbed. The 5k limit of the v6 is fine for me.

 

towing capacity takes more than just power, but likely 5k would be fine with a tranny cooler and the turbo..

 

sure. If you make the power band right. Won't have the low torque because of displacement. But if you turbo it right will haul fine.

But honestly. If you want a tow vehicle..5vz isn't much better. Get a different truck.

 

Of course. It's the braking, torque, etc too. I'm just curious if a turbo added anything to that.

I'm fine braking wise, my 13WL Tundra brakes are amazing.

 

the frame is what limits your to 5k (even though it can do more). i dont believe theres any difference between the v6 and i4 frames other than mounts. which is why i say 5k would likely be fine.

 

I'm not towing something every week I just want a truck that can tow something if I asked it to. I towed my Honda Civic home on a dolly with my 4 cyl and it handled it fine.

Really the towing capacity is just a bonus, I need more speed and acceleration. I had my friend's Honda Odyessey leave me in the dust the other day.

Yeah I know these trucks aren't meant to be fast - but it would be nice.

 

Just because you can pull it, doesn' mean you can stop it or controll it. Having trailer with brakes, start fishtailing or pushing your rig around is asking for trouble. Not to mention weight transfer in braking or acceleration.

 

now there's the challenge i like... I'm trying. just cant afford it! lol (hopefully i have the old girl running this summer..)

 

Honestly getting a title for this damn 5-lug is beginning to be a lot harder than doing an engine swap.

But, I'm a persistent and stubborn son of a bitch so that 5-lug is getting a title and my DD is getting an engine swap or a turbo one way or another.

 

they can be fast. Supercharged with 5.29s hauls ass. My v6 single cab moves when it wants too.

That said, Pretty easy to do a turbo these days on these rigs. Some nice kits out there for the 2.7. Easily get close to 300hp

 

Dumb question - but you can take the turbo off and make it stock again for emissions testing right?

Pretty sure my local SMOG ref will have an aneurysm when they see a Tacoma with a non factory installed turbo system in it. I just did my SMOG two days ago so I'm good for another two years.

 

uh...sure. That won't be fun. But yeah. And you'd have to by pass your turbo tune.

 

Turbo tune as in tuning the existing factory ECU?

I'm not too familiar with ECU tuning but I've heard some systems run piggyback off of the factory harness?