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Interested in boosting my truck without breaking the bank

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by LeviathansCurse, Mar 23, 2020.

  1. Mar 23, 2020 at 12:56 AM
    #1
    LeviathansCurse

    LeviathansCurse [OP] Member

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    I have a 1999 4wd tacoma with a 2.7L 4 cyl, and I've been doing research into upgrading my truck's performance. Originally I thought about an engine swap but most of what I've seen is quite expensive, and some say the 2.7 is good enough to not need a swap (I'm not planning on racing). I've seen some people reccomend superchargers, some reccomend turbos, but the stuff I've seen recommended is always 2.5k or more. I'd love a good performance boost for no more than 2k, and would prefer a supercharger (if it whines I`m all about it), but with my job and responsibilities, I cannot spend the time installing a kit myself.
    My truck is an automatic, so that may put a restriction on some things, but any and all suggestions/advice is welcome.
     
    Taco critter likes this.
  2. Mar 23, 2020 at 1:32 AM
    #2
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Welcome!

    You just spent your whole budget plus on labor.

    If you can`t do the work yourself it gets very expensive .

    Parts and labor a easy $6000.00 more like closer to $10,000.00

    Maybe find a Sugar Mama to fund your performance boost??
     
  3. Mar 23, 2020 at 7:36 AM
    #3
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    #3
    12TRDTacoma likes this.
  4. Mar 23, 2020 at 7:39 AM
    #4
    12TRDTacoma

    12TRDTacoma Powered by Ford, GM, VW, and Mercedes

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    Boosted
    Boost is not cheap. You are easily looking at anywhere between 2-3K for a used gen 2 TRD blower for your generation truck and labor will further drive up that cost. If it needs a rebuild that will further drive up costs as well.

    The amount which you will spend attempting to richen up the actual running condition as the blowers for your generation trucks ran inherently lean will cost you a pretty penny after that as well.
     
  5. Mar 23, 2020 at 7:40 AM
    #5
    12TRDTacoma

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  6. Mar 23, 2020 at 7:50 AM
    #6
    Speedytech7

    Speedytech7 Toyota Cult Ombudsman

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    He's got a 4 banger, only one SC for those and they're super rare used so they usually go for 3k or more. Plus they're weak sauce lol.

    Even a home brew turbo setup if going to cost more than 2k even if all the work is done by OP since he will need things to either tune or ghetto tune, sensors to make either of those possible, piping for intake and such, welding supplies and piping for an exhaust manifold. Adding in turbo feed and drain lines for oil, etc the list goes on.
     
    12TRDTacoma[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Mar 23, 2020 at 8:20 AM
    #7
    12TRDTacoma

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    That's right huh. I saw he mentioned 4 banger but then saw supercharger and then automatically assumed V6. Lol. The 4 banger blower is definitely a unicorn because I've only ever seen it in pictures and can't even think of what it looks like.
     
  8. Mar 23, 2020 at 8:23 AM
    #8
    0xDEADBEEF

    0xDEADBEEF Trash Aficionado

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    You could make money off this if you just start pulling parts and selling them. By the time you get rid of the bed and most of the interior, you might be up to supercharger-levels of performance.
     
    Wulf and 12TRDTacoma like this.
  9. Mar 23, 2020 at 8:24 AM
    #9
    TacoMike

    TacoMike Well-Known Member

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    Just accept your truck for what it is, enjoy it, and wheel the shit outta it. Save your money.
     
  10. Mar 23, 2020 at 8:28 AM
    #10
    Das it mang

    Das it mang Well-Known Member

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    lol.

    unless u get lucky with a decent ebay turbo and can fab, or know someone who can and get the turbo on; then 2k is not feasible in ur book.

    Can try to piece together a cheapie kit as well and get it done, but u still will need to pay for a tune.
     
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  11. Mar 23, 2020 at 8:41 AM
    #11
    August_r32

    August_r32 New Member

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    TRD superchargers have gone down in price especially if you buy used, and with all this coronavirus stuff just grab a buddy watch a youtube video and you'll have that thing on in no time!
     
    billybop90 likes this.
  12. Mar 23, 2020 at 9:33 AM
    #12
    MountainPassing

    MountainPassing Well-Known Member

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    for 2k you could hire a trainer and lose some weight thus easing up the burden on those 4 squirrels haha.

    just kidding , why not put your motor in an 87 reg. cab or something if you wanna go fast. im sure that is a cheap enuff swap if you do the labor. marlin crawler has all kinds of guys racing that setup, on their forum. have fun-
     
  13. Mar 23, 2020 at 9:36 AM
    #13
    Speedytech7

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  14. Mar 23, 2020 at 10:09 AM
    #14
    LeviathansCurse

    LeviathansCurse [OP] Member

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    Alright, it seems that a supercharger under 2k is a bit too much to ask for. If it costs around 1.5k in labor to replace an engine, what engine would be good for 1k or less?
     
  15. Mar 23, 2020 at 10:14 AM
    #15
    paetersen

    paetersen Well-Known Member

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    A 3RZ.

    Seriously- the most cost effective increase in performance you can do is convert to a 5 speed gearbox. With junkyard parts, that should be within your budget.
     
    Das it mang likes this.
  16. Mar 23, 2020 at 10:15 AM
    #16
    12TRDTacoma

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    Or a regear. That will actually give you a good bang for the buck pick up in giddy up.
     
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  17. Mar 23, 2020 at 10:20 AM
    #17
    12TRDTacoma

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  18. Mar 23, 2020 at 11:51 AM
    #18
    paetersen

    paetersen Well-Known Member

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    On a 4wd the parts alone will almost break his budget. Forget about it when you throw in the labour.
     
  19. Mar 23, 2020 at 12:12 PM
    #19
    12TRDTacoma

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    For a ring and pinion swap? Damn, well if that's the case apparently it's a horrible time to be a 1st Gen owner.
     
  20. Mar 23, 2020 at 1:00 PM
    #20
    paetersen

    paetersen Well-Known Member

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    Front AND rear.
     

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