WHY is the 3.4V6 such a dog when Toyota....

Toyota truck engines have never been known for speed. However, they do have a solid reputation of being stout and reliable.

 

If I want to go somewhere fast I take the wife’s Audi. If I want to go somewhere fun I take the Tacoma. I’m cool with 0-60 in a single afternoon.

 

Problem is Toyota builds really good solid hardcore long lasting stuff...
And that takes thick steel, heavy non cvt transmissions, beefy suspension......tacomas, tundras, rav4's, 4 runners weigh alot....

The Rodeo's made about same time - unibody, alot lighter and cheaper.......How did that work out for em....

 

Because when it was developed (obviously) when variable valve timing was still new. Without variable valve timing, the engine design dictates the powerband. The engineers can design for low end power or high end power, but not both. Given the 5VZ was meant to be a work horse, Toyota designed it to generate a majority of its power in the lower RPM's. The reason it redlined at 5400 RPMs despite being an oversquared engine is the valve, intake, and exhaust design (which was great for generating low RPM power) choked the engine starting around 3000ish RPMs. If you looked at the 5VZ dyno, it started loosing torque around 2500-3500rpms (IRRC) and it started to loose HP at around 5200-5400 RPMs (IIRC), hence the "redline". The 5VZ can safely rev well past 6000 RPM's but it will be making less power and it didn't make much sense to push the redline past 5400.

With a better intake manifold, valve timing, and header / exhaust, you can get a sizable boost in mid to high RPM power, but at the loss of low RPM power. Unfortunately better valves and cam shafts were $$$ and technical to install and intake manifolds were not readily available on the market which generally only leaves you with the ever popular option of headers and exhaust for a small boost in mid range power.

If you have the deep pockets, valves and exhaust are a great start. There is mod you can do to the stock ECU to raise the RPM's to 6000+ (I think 6600?) but it would only be worth doing with new valves/exhaust and would be better if you designed a better intake manifold. There's no reason why you couldn't get close to 250-300HP all engine from a 5VZ with proper intake, exhaust, valves, and higher RPM's.

If you are feeling adventurous, I think if you bored out the upper half of the intake manifold into a single chamber and ported the lower, you can make an easy(ish) better breathing manifold but I don't know how the cast integrity will hold up. Its worth experimenting with though.

If you have deeper pockets, turbos are great because then you can have your cake and eat it too. The long intake manifolds will keep your low end power and the turbo, through brute force, will feed your engine through mid and high RPMs.

 

Mine was pretty quick before I blew up the motor (2001 S-Runner), I dunno about y'all. 5-lug life is where it's at, but a turboed 4wd 6-lugger would be fun too. Lightweight flywheel helped with takeoffs. Coil-overs are great. Took a while to sort out my 4-link, but after that it would plant and go. Supercharger was megh; I spent so much time tuning that thing for it to always feel like it would give up at the end. Turbo life is where it's at. The autos are slow. Big tires are slow. Intake tubing less than 3 inches is slow. Exhaust less than 3 inches is slow. These motors like to breathe.

Cams are a difficult task. A lot of work for decent pay off but easier to start off turbo. I was going to have some big boy cams but that kind of fell through (a story). Kinda want cams that will spin to at least 6500 rpm but will still be using these stockers. Maybe I could get some 3vz cams for fun... (sigh) I'm rambling.

 

If not mistaken the 3.4 were made in their hino plants. That's their heavy duty equipment manufacturer for toyota or something like that.

 

I legit hate getting on the freeways in LA. I have to push it way too hard I can literally see the gas gauge declining.

 

You realize having to push the throttle to accelerate is a "you" problem not an engine power problem right? I have plenty of power getting on the highway even overloaded at 5k lbs, shift at 4500-5000rpm and keep it in the power band, you paid for the whole tach so use it.

 

Mine does just fine in the freeway loaded or unloaded.

 

That sometimes makes my engine fart misfire

 

I have to agree with the OP. I have a 2004 DC, v6 3.4. It only has 93,000 miles. It has been a dog on mild grades, with 2500 lbs. or less behind it, I have trouble getting to freeway speed. Gas mileage is terrible, about 12 mph around town, maybe 15-16 on the freeway. I love my truck, but it is lacking oomph.

 

Am I the only one impressed with the 3RZ in the 1st gens? Mine pulls grades fine and gets on the freeway just fine.

I have 4.10’s, 32’s and a Manuel and get 20.5-21.5mpg consistently. All in all it’s a fun truck.

 

No, you’re not the only one.

 

OD off and ECT on?

 

I'm a tick over 200k miles and runs just fine. I would check the compression and also what do you expect from a 20 plus year old truck. Sell it and move on if it does not fit your needs.

https://zero60times.com/0-60-times/toyota/tacoma/2003/

 

My Son's 1995.5 short bed, single cab, 4x4, 5 speed 3.4V6 was awesome when stock! It would smoke the tires and rip up to speed. It was very powerful and quick. Since he has added: 4.88 gears, 33", lift, armor, bumpers, rear tire, winch, etc. It is now a dog.

My 1979 4x4 with the 20R and weber and header, stock gears and 33" was quite a bit more powerful than my 1991 Pickup with the same tires. The newer one had higher stock ration and was much heavier.

 

No complaints here on an essentially stock albeit very well maintained 3.4 w/ auto trans. Off the line it feels plenty peppy for a pickup truck - no issues getting on the highway quickly either. Let the damn thing eat!!! Also consider giving it the beans.

 

My only issue is first gear (manual trans). Probably the stock gearing with larger tires though. I have to wind it up high in 1st to feel like I'm accelerating at a decent pace but once in 2nd/3rd I have no power complaints.

 

Man... I'm always amazed at how fast my truck is for a 5800 pound 1st gen tacoma on 33" mud terrains with steel wheels.
Well, it's quick from 0-30 at least.
4.88 gears and a supercharger help a bit.

But if I want to go fast I ride my motorcycle which is legit slow for a motorcycle. O-60 is listed at 4 seconds but it's high mileage so probably more like 5 seconds?