2.7l performance advise needed

the 2.7L 4 cylinder is a very good engine but it's designed for economy. It actually has pretty decent power for its size but you're trying to push a fairly heavy and decidedly non-aerodynamic truck around with less than 3.0 Liters of displacement. There's a reasonable limit to what you can accomplish with that combination. Final gear ratios don't change how much actual power you have available, they just change how you use that power. Tire size (circumference) does change that equation as well.
I'm with Revco. You can spend a lot of money but in the end all you will really have done is spent a lot of money.

I love my 2.7 Liter 4 banger and when I was looking for a truck I sought out a 4 cylinder, 5-speed, 4WD because I wanted simplicity over power.

 

its not cheap, but theres always boost

 

I have the double cab 4 banger prerunner with auto transmission. The door sticker saying it's a 4.56 gear. So I lifted the one rear tire. Put it in N. Your drive shaft should rotate 22 3/4 turns for every ten wheel turns. That is how to verify that you have the 4.56 gears. Mine does.

 

Toyo I see your point.

Bama maybe you have some insight

would the VZ be the 6cyl (5VZE) and the RZ be the 4cyl (3RZE) ?

both came with 265/70-16 on 01-04 (I have the 6 my grandfather had the 4)


edit: and if memory serves weren't the Pre-Runners Auto? versus the 4wd XC could have been 5sp (4.56) or auto (4.30) based on trans?

 

I believe you are correct with the VZ and RZ designations.
Yes prerunners are automatic. I think the 4wd XC auto were 4.56 and the manual were 4.30. I could be wrong but I don't think manual need the low gears like an auto does.

 

Yes, the engine designators are correct. Really not sure on the auto/manual transmission options. I never really did that much detail on models. I just do research when questions are posed. lol.