Info for rebuilding 3.4 engine and increase HP

Hello to all I'm new to this forum looking for advice or tips on rebuilding 3.4 Tacoma will like to increase horsepower Might as well since Engine will be taken apart

 

@Torspd

 

How much are you willing to spend?

The only real viable power adder is a supercharger or a turbo. There isn't a lot of "internal" stuff you need to do, or even can do. These motors handle the SC's just fine. It's a factory option even...

Aside from the SC, I wouldn't waste your money on engine components. If that's not enough HP for you, get a different motor.

 

Thank you for the information that's what I was afraid of 3g for a SC

 

Welcome aboard new member

 

SC's are still the best bang for your buck. And they are essentially "bolt on" (since they were a factory option). Headers/exhaust and that type of stuff really doesn't amount to much, except a change in the noise. I'm not even aware of "performance" cams, or high comp pistons or whatever for our trucks. I'm sure someone makes them, but they're probably just as expensive as a SC, and don't give you nearly the gains. The 3.4's just aren't one of those motors people build for power.

 

Port and polish the heads and turbo or supercharge but you’ll possibly not make the smog sniffer happy if you need to pass inspection with messing with the heads - not sure it would affect it though.

 

It is sad so many never list where they live and what kind of emissions inspection they go through

Forced induction the best way .

Then the down side to increased Horse Power and Torque is breaking things the weakest link always breaks .

You want horse power Small block Chevy though my days of 500 hp + engines are long ago and I have not really keep up

 

Here a small info bit. Probably irrelevant and somewhere better to post but I live in CO. Last emissions I passed with no issues and my EGR system is eliminated. Here in CO, they don’t do engine bay inspections I’m my experience, but my trucks have never “looked” like there would be engine modifications either.

 

LCE has a lightweight pulley for the 5vz. My understanding is that reducing the pulley weight won't increase peak hp but it changes the hp/torque curves to provide more power at lower rpms. Might be worth looking into

https://www.lceperformance.com/5VZ-Lightweight-Crankshaft-Pulley-p/1016101.htm

 

A natural aspirated engine will only gain significant power with additional displacement. IE a bigger engine.

Otherwise, forced induction will give gains.

Always be aware of the mechanical limits of the equipment attached to the engine. IE tranny, Xfer case, Diffs, CV joints, prop shaft & U-joints, motor mounts and frame to name a few.

My point is....its not just more power from the engine......everything else must handle that power.

 

Right on. One of my all time favorite videos is from Tom's Turbo Garage, in which he swaps in a v8 into a 2002 tacoma and turbo charges it as well. He also makes sure to get a good transmission, suspension, exhaust, and other, so that the truck could handle such power.

Here's a link to it: https://youtu.be/Ur61jLKcXa0?t=1043

 

You’re not going to overpower drivetrain components with anything you can do to the engine on these if you’re not already aware of what your options are and asking forum guys the question you asked. Gimmicky stuff like the lightweight crank pulley and aftermarket intakes just give you placebo HP until you’re forcing air through the engine and can begin to have more untapped HP. If you’re not turboing or supercharging your best performance “mod” is good maintenance. LCE does sell a heavy weight flywheel which won’t give you added HP or acceleration, but helps keep engine speed up on trails and freeway driving without having to push the accelerator down as much, but if you want more power for accelerating you could install shorter gears.

 

Now I know this forum is old. But, you guys have obviously never ported , flowed, matched an engine berfore. I just picked up my first third gen 4 runner with 3400. I ll pull it apart rings bearings, port and match the heads, get some cams, even if I have to have engle make them, do a couple other tricks. Extrude hone the intake add some headers. We will see where were at. A couple little turbos hanging off the stock flowed exhaust manifolds would be cool, can get those off ebay. Just put american bearings in them. How do I know. Done this berfore alot for customers. Not looking to invent the world just be a little cool and spool my ass off. lol.

 

NO kidding I just so happen to have been building race stuff for a long time. YOur just talking easy made hp.

 

go on lcengeneering they have performance parts for the 5vz

 

For anything you think you can buy to add real hp, ask or search on here to check it out first to see what gains you can expect for torque and hp. Read about gains from say a K&N air filter, then check here and find out there are really no meaningful gains there plus it will foul your sensors from the oil used (btw I have a k&n in my old car, no sensors).

If there is a solution to meaningful hp gains on the 3.4 other than adding a turbo/SC, backed by a dyno of the before and after performance change, let’s see it?

 

OP isn’t going to read this - hasn’t been on here in 3 years…

 

some motors react better than others to HP mods… it all comes down to how much $$$ you want to spend per HP. This is similar to the mpg crowd, headers, new exhaust, etc cost thousands… to make 1.1 more mile per gallon. I had a buddy tell me that he was going to buy a Prius to save on gas. I asked him how far is your commute to work, he said 7 miles. hmm $25k to save pennies on fuel, doesnt pencil out for me.