Dirtdigginjoe's Project Red Rocket Build!

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't been able to give you any updates recently! Work and life have been hectic, to say the least.
On the bright side- nothing major in terms of issues I've had with the truck, so there's that lol.

Here's a quick update on the truck, for things I've added/changed/replaced:

Picked up a new Magnaflow 15240 catback on Black Friday for way below retail. I love the sound, as it's 2.5" to 3". It really mellowed out the tone, but gave it even more Boxer rumble. Plus it looks so much nicer!

Swapped out the stock non-LED taillights for some VIPMotoz LED ones. Also changed out the chrome badges for black ones. Loving the look

Picked up some projector foglights from AliExpress, as per another thread on here. I'm iffy on the actual mounting bracket system, but they do look and perform really well! I left my 3000k HIDs in them, and it's a night and day difference.

Other than that, I was chasing a random Cylinder 1 misfire for a bit. Thought it was injectors (since I had recently replaced plugs with new Densos and coils with Duralast), so I picked up a set of new OEM ones and the issue was still there. Cleaned the crank sensor and it didn't change. Sure enough, threw one of my old OEM Denso coils back in cylinder 1 and the problem went away. Long story short- DON'T BUY DURALAST COILS. They literally lasted me 3 weeks. Even though they have a lifetime warranty, it's the 2nd set I swapped out for the same issue. Stick with OEM Denso.

"Built to last...for a week." should be their slogan!

Copped a new turbo blanket from Thermal Zero, as my eBay special that came with my turbo decided it wanted to spontaneously combust one evening in my driveway. Luckily no damage to any wiring/lines. Just need to install that sometime next weekend.

Oh, and I cleaned up some of the vacuum line routing, as well as installed the URD MAF sensor extension harness to help clean things up in the engine bay.

 

I realize I’ll probably get shunned for asking but has the turbo affected your MPGs at all?

 

Why would you get shunned? You're asking a legitimate question!!

To answer--they've actually increased on the highway when driving like a normal human being lol. Around town when I drive it like a race car, it's decreased a bit Lmao. But long highway drives I've gotten quite a bit higher MPGs. I've never calculated it besides looking at the gas gauge on a trip to my vacation house that used to use 3/4 of a tank before I boosted. That same trip now only uses 1/2 or slightly less.

 

The normal response I’ve gotten/seen on most builds is “if you’re worried about mpgs buy a Prius” lmao. Thanks for the info tho! I definitely want to boost my 2.7 one day but I’m kind of stuck between a sc and a turbo... mpgs will most likely cast the deciding vote

 

I'm in the same boat but paying for california hot smogs or swapping to NA will get old after a few times.

 

Have you dyno'd it? I've been toying with the idea of boosting the taco. I saw LCE's 0-5 psi kits offer "30 hp gains" but their bolt on kits are still pretty steep. I think I'd rather just build my own if I was gonna go down that road since your price point is around what theirs is anyhow.

 

Any update on the AEM F/IC 6 install?

 

soon...

 

Going to be turbo-spicing your truck?

 

Yes. A couple days after reading this thread twice, some kid with a turbo 2.7 pulled up next to me at a light when I was driving my buddy’s accord... It sounded amazing, the Turbo fluttered right in my ear behind me and I thought an Evo was pulling up on me. I looked over saw the little single cab and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I knew I had to build one after that.

Also... I talked to the kid and asked him how he built it, he didn’t know many details and said he had a shop do it for $15k

I’ll be doing it joe’s way, aside from the manifold. I found a guy on here that makes them for like $350. I just need to figure out tuning. Also, I can’t weld. Lol

 

Well this forum will have the resources for you to figure it out and make it happen! You'll have to jump into the Turbo BS thread.

 

Thats a thing?
I’ll be right on it. Lol

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/turbo-bs-thread.481844/page-657

 

Also @dirtdigginjoe, how many miles have you put on the turbo setup? Gotta be a lot more than 5k at this point in time

 

This is the best thread ive come across on this site. its gonna make it a lot easier for me to turbo my 2.7 as i was being quite indecisive on which parts to get. Thanks OP!!!

 

Man I missed your thread bud,

This makes me want to think about what a basic turbo kit would look like to run a safe 6psi,
I just want that passing and hill pulling power here in the “mountains” of WNC if you can call them that.

 

My friend had a URD s/c kit. We pulled the failed s/c and swapped on a custom turbo manifold. Routed the turbo back into the URD's intake kit and voila. His was a 5-6 psi kit. It was great.