How can I boost horsepower w/out money?

I noticed when I was driving up to Mauna Kea Volcano, my truck was having a hard time going up the 17% grade. I've got the 3.4 liter V6 (5VZ-FE) and the 5 speed manual trans (R150F). U guys know of anything I can do to up the power without spending cash (something I don't have right now). I've heard bout an old dragster trick, turning the spark plugs to face towards the intake and exhaust ports to get more bang in the compression chamber. Anything else that I can do myself for free? Now granted, my engine has 167k on it. Mahalos! (Thanks)

 

You can't get something for nothing.

 

best bang for the buck mod you can do it the deck plate mod. only about $10-$15 total and pretty simple to do.

 

Thx for that deck plate mod suggestion. Question: will it be harmful to the engine since the air will be coming from the hot engine bay or will the air from the fender kinda even it out?

 

Hey Moto932, I went to look at my airbox and see just what i was getting into when low and behold, what do I find...I already have one installed. I guess the previous owner installed one. Looks like he did a damn fine job of it too. I AM A MORON...LOL. That's how all upgrades should be, u think it and it just magically shows up on ur truck!!!

 

Lose some weight off the truck. That's "free" horsepower right there. Start with sprung weight, and go from there.

 

well, can't beat that can ya. the deck plate is installed in the pic though so its not doing you any good. you need to unscrew the lid so it can get more air to the engine. also, it wont hurt anything sucking the warm air.

 

I know it wasn't gonna be a walk in the park goin up 17% grade, but it just seemed I was struggling a bit too much. Moto932, I did remove the cap and obviously can't tell difference in power but it does have a throatyer sound which is nice (now i just need to change the horn to one that sounds like it's coming from a truck and not a moped lol). Kevhogaz, what is "sprung weight"? Thank u guys a lot for helpin me out!!!!

 

Welcome to TW!

Clean the throttle body. It probably is causing your sluggishness. Very easy to do. It cost about $12 in seafoam throttlebody cleaner & shop rags.

I did mine & it helped very much.

How to:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/50153-how-cleaning-throttle-body.html

 

Sprung weight is weight that's on the axles, or can move. Lighter wheels and tires would be a good example of dropping some sprung weight.

 

Oh yeah, it's early and I got 'em backwards.

 

Thanks for that throttle body tip and for that link to the explaination of how to do it!!!! Thanks Kevhogaz for explaining "sprung, unsprung weight" as well!! Man! This place is like Tacopedia!!

 

Free mods!

1. Strip out anything you don't need out of the truck. Passenger seats, spare tires...hell, take the bed off, it weighs a few hundred pounds.

2. Downshift!

 

Okay, let me try...

I am thinking of a URD Supercharger under my hood...

Be right back, I am going to go look.

 

i already tryed that

 

Didn't work for you either, huh?

 

You are welcome. The throttle body cleaning was very easy. Takes about 30 minutes.