2.7l performance advise needed

Recently bought a 04 prerunner SR5 reg cab 2.7l 2wd auto BONE STOCK with 140k. Love the truck, runs great just not used to the lack of power. I'm wanting to do a few mods but I'm not sure exactly which route to take or what's best with this set-up. I'm not tryin to make 400hp or break my bank. Just wanna make a lil more power even if it's piece by piece. any advise...

 

The only thing you will actually notice will be a change of gears. Since you are an auto I'm assuming you have a 4.56 rear end. If you go lower, which will make your truck a little quicker, your highway mpg will suffer.
I've had warm air intakes and changed out mufflers. If I had to do it over again I would leave it stock. You lose some low end torque with a warm air intake and muffler.
That's just my advise.

 

dont waste your time with intake or muffler.... a header gives a nice increase in HP though

 

Drop a 5 speed into it and you would enjoy the difference with 456 gears. Not a speculation, I did it!haha

 

Not much you can do with 150hp pushing 3400lbs around. I have the same motor and i have to admit, i kind of like it. I just putt around and get up to highway speed whenever it feels like. That said, in 4lo, it has plenty of power and has been able to make some serious hill climbs (affectionatly called ski jumps) with power to spare.

 

agree with the header, not sure if it will make as much difference on your 04 which probably has the factory mini header, but on my 97 it helped quite a bit over the cracked cast manifold. im not talkin like doubling your power or a huge gain, but it seemed to help pull the hills a little better and little stuff like that.

 

Yea a header is definitely in the near future! How much hassle is it to swap a 5speed in? I hate that it's auto. I still sometimes reach for a clutch.

 

No aftermarket power upgrades are worth the hassle or cost on the 2.7 in my opinion. Ive had a few dozen various vehicles over the years, all of which were modified from bolt ons to fully built and everywhere in between. My '01 reg cab 4x4 5spd 3rz is a gutless bastard but it keeps me out of trouble. I'm over tired and under geared for now which makes things worse, but that will soon change.

Ive kept mine bone stock under the hood. I do meticulous maintenance with factory parts and at 180k on the clock it doesn't skip a beat or leak a drop. I do crave more power but that will come when the 3rz takes its last gasp and I swap in the 1UZ sitting in the corner of the garage.

I cant justify dropping several hundred dollars on a header or intake or whatever for a couple of horsepower that i cant feel from the drivers seat, nor can I justify the inflated cost of modifications or upgrades to gain 1 or 2 mpgs.

I have done several auto-manual swaps but not in a Toyota, but I'd imagine it'd be a weekend job in the driveway if you have all the parts you'd need, kinda like the prerunner to 4x4 swap, it should pretty much all bolt in.

 

The stock rear diff is not that good of a gear ratio, lol. They come with 4.10 gears. If they came with 4.56 gears it would be a lot peppier on acceleration for sure!

Overall the header is your best "bang for bucks" with the 2.7L engine. Better gears can improve acceleration, but then you suffer top end and fuel economy.

 

Yeah I thought op had 456 gears is why I suggested 5 speed. Interesting part of swap after 17 yrs with 5 sp and 358 gears though. My mpg's have gotten a little better. 21 mpg last tank. I think it is because of mountain roads and short highways. The 358 gears had to work so hard on these roads that it wasn't economical.Skyline drive I pull in 3rd and 4th now. It used to be 2nd,3rd,and 4th gears. Plenty of power in 5th still. Love swap on my setup! 456 gears!!!

 

The 33's put a hurting on my mpg with the 4.30 gears, i need 4.88's

 

You actually surprise me with all if your knowledge on Tacomas! My 2.7L auto double cab prerunner came stock with 4.56 gears. If you look up the gear ratios on the side of his door he might have a 4.56 rear end. All double cab prerunner 4 cylinders came with this option from the factory. I have no problem with my acceleration and I think it is quite "peppy" for what it is.

 

With 4.56 gears it will be peppy. You said yours came with the 4.56 gears? Was it an option? The reason I ask is because Toyota's documentation shows that the stock factory gear ratio on the OPs truck would have been 4.10 gears. I was going by that documentation, but yes, perhaps he did have an option for 4.56 gears? You are right that the door sticker is what will tell him the truth. Or he could call a local dealership parts department with his VIN and they can tell him.

 

OP,
What is your axle code? If it is B04A, then you already have 4.56 gears. The various codes and info are on a 'sticker' in the driver door jamb.

 

http://www.lceperformance.com/3RZ-Tacoma-Power-Package-p/1020011.htm

Probably the most amount of long term reliable gain for the least money. You don't need the shifter, but all the other pieces would help including the filter if treated properly.

Give LCE a call,, they could probably answer your questions alot better than us as far as quick cheap extra power with your setup.

And all of the above about gear ratios is very solid info and something worth looking into as well.

 

It came from the factory that way. I know all 2.7L auto double cabs come that way. I just thought most 2.7L auto prerunner were set up that way. You are correct though, the best way to tell would be looking at the door jamb.

 

Bama and Toyo, you are both right

http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_help2014/2011/Toyota/2004/2004_Toyota_Tacoma.htm

the 4.56 gears were an option on some double cabs Pre-Runner, some were 4.10, it depends on the RZ or VZ designation. not sure what that exactly entailed, maybe TRD vs standard SR5?

however reg cab PR came with 4.30

 

We are both right! lol.

 

I was looking at the chart. Where does or how does it designate if you have a 4 cylinder or a V6?

 

I see it now. If you look at the PreRunners it shows the two possible gear ratios on the right hand column, with the asterisk. The asterisk says "With P265/70R16 Tire" So depending on the TIRE size option you chose, will decide which gears you will get.