Magnuson Supercharger Mega Thread for 16+ Tacoma - Unboxing, Install DIY, Dyno Video

Where are there gas stations and no “civilization”?

 

I keep 4 extra gals of 91 octane in my truck at all times just in case I need to go a little farther to get to a station with 91.

Southern Utah has some small towns with gas stations that only sell 85 or 87 octane. So having a little spare gas is needed.

 

Makes perfect sense.

 

I recently joined the SC club!! since I am living in my travel trailer full time I had it installed by Battle Born Offroad in Vegas. They did a great job. Though Magnuson and OVTune were a pain in the ass, took them 5 days to get the tune back to the shop.

My Tacoma weights around 6,800lbs when I am traveling so I needed the extra power and torque. I haven't tried pulling the trailer yet, won't for 3 more weeks. my Tacoma is a manual and has made driving much more enjoyable, the taco is no longer a slow turtle.
Getting new gears put in soon to round everything out.

OH and yes those flipping stupid runners with steps are coming off ASAP. waiting for my slider order from caliraised

 

When you're 1200lbs overweight I think it's time to go on a diet.

 

like I said I live out of it and a 21’ travel trailer full time. I Don’t need a lecture on my weight.

 

Haha, calm down man. It wasn't a lecture, just a simple comment about it being hugely overweight.

 

I’m always curious about these lifestyles. What is it that you do that requires you to (or lets you) live out of your truck and camper.

 

so I am from Indiana and purchased land in Montana but the few builders that can build an off grid home are booked for 2 years. I struggled finding an apartment that would allow my German shepherd so I said fuck it, packed everything I didn’t need into a Pods unit and only what I did need into my travel trailer and we are traveling around the country. I stay for 1-2 months in each state. Work during the week and explore on the weekends.

mad far as what I do, I work for a global nonprofit trade association that represents the residential technology industry. I manage our strategic partnerships, a software platform we own and an affinity program. Our Hq is back in Indiana but we closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic. I am able to work remotely as I am coordinating with people across the globe. Once the pandemic is under control I will have to start flying around the world again so I’ll probably have to stay somewhere for longer than 1-2months at a time. Probably Montana for the summer months and somewhere in the desert for the winter.

I was lucky and found myself building a career in this industry when I was 15. I have done everything from pulling wire, installing equipment, designing million dollar home cinemas for celebrities and owning my own contracting firm. I spent the past 20 years focusing only on my career working 70-100 hours a week and now have the ability to work where ever I want.
I still work long hours on occasion like this week was pretty my 0600-1800 every day. But this weekend I’m spending it in Death Valley National Park...it’s worth it!!


Sorry that was almost a short story.. hahaha... probably didn’t need all that backstory but hey I don’t mind sharing.

 

@ibryant20 I don't have much room to talk, my last 2nd gen was pushing right at GVWR with just me and my dog in it.

 

@OpelGT Whats your verdict so far on the SC? Saw the reaction on YT. I plan on pulling the trigger on it eventually...(years) Was going to progress to it by getting the ov tune for now to deal with the sluggish throttle response. Does the performance and quality make it worth the price?

 

Several weeks in and all I can say is the smile always appears for me. Everyone who rides with me is surprised at how nimble the truck is now passing people or just taking off from a stop. Honestly, I should've done this for my fj years ago!!

 

Ordered the supercharger yesterday. I figured with all the free money the government gave me over the last year it's like getting the kit for half price in real money.

 

Posting this here too...


My wife and I were able to get the install done with about 14hrs of work spread over two days. Hardest part of the whole thing was torquing the crank pulley bolt. Pro move would have been to put a cheater bar on the 18” handle of the strap wrench, alas I did not have a piece of steel pipe that fit over it.

The results (according to my butt-dyno) are significant. Coupled with the 4.88s, the truck can now climb hills AND accelerate smartly at highway speeds in 6th with occasional downshift to 5th with cruise control on. Push the pedal down and find 4th at 60mph and you’re at 80-90mph in just a few seconds.

 

I very much appreciate the folks who have been able to post anything regarding first hand experience. And especially taking the time/effort to do videos.

I'm beginning to think the supercharger is what I want. I wonder if anyone will film the truck towing up a given hill(s) before the install and then the same route after. A lot to hope for, but it seems unlikely I'll be able to actually test drive a Magnuson 3rd gen before purchase. And for me towing is what I am most interested in.

I'll have to look and see if I can find anything like that for the 2nd gen. Not the same for sure, but would perhaps give me some confidence.

 

A video towing up hill with it would look like someone going uphill without the speed dropping or them shifting. You would not be able to tell anything from a video. I say go for it. It makes a big difference towing.

 

Ha! I DID see your youtube video; 2/3ds of which was driving!

All kidding aside, I did appreciate you video, especially your comments re: installation. And did find you driving videos to be as you describe. But we'll just have to agree to disagree re: the value of two videos that compare before and after as I suggested:

1) Pulling a 4000 trailer up a hill or series of hills before turbo installation, with one camera on the tach, and on one on the road, or a single steady boink camera showing tach and road.

2) The exact same run post Magnuson install.

It's understood that these two efforts cannot be exact. But anyone that has pulled 4k with the Tacoma on rolling hills of 4-7% grade will know exactly what they are looking at and be able to tell something about how much the Magnuson helps. Starting from a stop on the hill in shown late your video would be informative for example. Would it be as informative (to me) as driving a Tacoma with the SC? Not close. Useless? Nope. Not as useless as much of the content in the various videos of Tacoma's with Magnuson's installed. Drone's anyone?

Useful to you? Obviously not, quote, "you wouldn't be able to tell anything". And that's OK. I've seen that you are very happy. And like what I see so far.

Do I expect to see someone make the effort and time commitment to compare like this? It could happen.....but I won't hold my breath. Stranger things have happened on the net.

Hopefully you can accept that someone else, who might not have your disposable income, might get something out of a direct comparison. If not, that's ok too....

A genuine thanks for the insight you have provided so far.

 

Question since my cel is still on. Did a smoke test and Im good throughout the system. Did have a small leak by the (brain fart so Ill call it the thingy where the brass plug was removed). Lol. But tightened it up, cleared the dtcs but still get a p code saying I have a large evap issue. No problems w drive but uhhhh the light. Im thinking something electronic at this point. Anyone? Ps. Got the bs runaround fr magnuson. Will post this douchebags email response later.

 

??? only a few vacuum hose connections in the entire system - do you have the throttle body hose connected without a kink / restriction ? Takes some pics and post and hopefully we can stop the issue. Check the PCV connections (two of them) one on the passenger side (trimmed to fit in instructions) and the other on the drive side from the oem breather location connected to the SC (where you would put the catch can if you had or installed one).