cheap performence upgrades

i was wonderring if i should go with a full CAI or just a performence filter?
i know it dosent give much gain if nothing at all but i just love how it sounds! and i was looking for something like a magnaflow muffler not the whole system, for now anyways.
let me know what you think and what youve done to yours to improve your performence

 

Search Deckplate Mod

 

Deckplate mod with a quality filter (30$), and yea a muffler of your choice for sound. use the search to find it, but there's an exhuast clip thread that can give you some good ideas!

I think an airaid intake tube might also give a slight throttle response benefiet too, but that's about 90 bucks for a slight gain.

 

I haven't done this yet... but I think the best affordable performance mod is to do the electric Fan conversion....

http://www.samsonfab.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=11

it's on my list!

 

thanks ive seen it on here before but never looked it up deck plate mod did not sound like a performance upgrade lol

 

There really aren't any "performance upgrades" for tacomas. Anything less than a supercharger or turbo will have a very very small effect on engine performance. You're better off focusing your attention on other areas.

 

THIS ^

 

I don't know for certain but the article quotes this

'At freeway speeds no fan is necessary because more air is being forced through the radiator than a standard engine-driven fan can pull. Therefore, if you remove the fan you pick up throttle response, a little horsepower, and fuel economy.'

Seems to my like removing any rotating mass from the belt system would give the engine an opportunity for better throttle response and less wasted power...

 

You are correct.

 

The mass of a fan takes several horsepower to turn. Some have said up to 25hp. No way the load on alternator is that much. The clutch may open, but it still drags.

 

I haven't done scientific test, obviously, but it is generally agreed that an electric fan is more efficient. partially due to the ability of it to be turned completely off. There is also the fact that the rotating mass of an electric fan is less that that of a mechanical fan.

Mechanical fans can usually move more air and are certainly more reliable than electrics. The increased in air movement is the main reason that they are still used in truck applications due to their (sometimes) higher engine loads. Cars, on the other hand, are not as stressed and the manufacturers have almost all gone to electrics for the increased engine efficiency.

 

Unless you're swapping in a longer engine, stick with the factory fan. There's a reason why big HP supra guys always try to keep the factory mechanical fan if possible, because it works the best! It's a truck, the mechanical fan is one of the ingredients to it's awesomeness.

Plus even if a electric fan did free up a few ponies, they would be VERY expensive ponies. A very poor $/hp ratio.