Advice on Build

So i have a stock 2010 4cyl 2.7l 2wd auto and am looking to spend my tax return. now i use this as my dd and am thinking of also buying a leer 100rcc so i can do start doing some side work where as i just got my journeyman electricians license. I want to start buy doing whatever performance upgrades i can to give it a little more power without sacrificing any mpg. that being said this is what i have found looking around tw so far

-LCE headers
-Injen intake
-Flow master exhaust(how does it sound)
-Manifold spacer(tooter you making them)
-Removal of ac/ps pump(tooter copier) i mean its free minus the new belt

so with all those in mind i was also think that if and when i get my truck cap and its loaded full of tools and material should i think about maybe strengthening my rear suspension?(might have to wait till i get my cap to see about it but didnt know if anyone had a similar situation)

Anyways any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

Had a cap on my 05 and it didn't sag much but with a bunch of tools it might if you hvae 2/1 leaf packs and not 3/1. a 1.5" progressive rate (3pack) AAL should be the fix from wut ive seen

As far as the power upgrades your better off re-gearing for better acceleration, but you will loose top end. And the amount of power you get from all those exhaust mods might yield 20hp but it will all be very high in the power band, like between 3600-4500rpm. Thats why upgrades like that on trucks are just really expensive sweet noise makers and why race cars shift at redline (not good for your 2.7) unless you go all forged internals.

my advice would be leave the motor alone and use that money to replace all the suspension, since the stock is junk and its a truck not a race car

 

if i regear what should i regear to?
and when you say lose top end what are we talking cause i travel a good bit around 60-70mph

 

Changing the gear ratios is a pretty sophisticated science that professional mechanics deal with in order to match engine power peaks to gearbox/differential gearing to take advantage of the power your engine is producing. It certainly is not for the layman and essentially, if you have to ask, this topic is way beyond your intellectual capacity. Very simply put, in my Taco, at 65 MPH in 5th gear, my engine is turning about 2500 RPM. I could change the differential ring and pinion gears (in both differentials because it's a four wheel drive) to change the ratios so that my engine would be turning a higher RPM but I would be using more gas, introducing more wear and tear on the engine, and so forth, not to mention the fact that this kind of a mod will cost you a ton of money because you can't do the work yourself. If power is your gig, why didn't you buy a V-6, or buy a truck with a hemi engine?

 

ok so regearing wasnt my first choice and i dont feel like its in my interest anyways.
I wouldnt buy anything other than a 4cyl, im not complaining that the truck doesnt have enough power, it actually has far exceeded my expectations. Im just thinking about giving it a little upgrade seeing how it has treated me so well i figured i would reward it(myself)
I have a 72 nova ss with a built 355 for when i feel the need for power

 

what you have listed is the best option if you wanna add a little power but why would you not want AC or PS?

 

i never use ac because im not a wimp and i live in maine, and the ps isnt a issue seeing how its a auto i always have free hands so i figured if i ditch it its not much but its a plus.
now if i add the 3/1 leaf is that just going to make the rear end like a rock, would some better shocks or springs be a good idea also?

 

If your truck doesn't have a 3/1 leaf and you don't want lift just get a single Add a Leaf from headstrong

http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/aals-blocks-ubolts-shims-tacoma-05-6-lug.html

if you want to lift it a few inches they sell spring, aal, strut combos

i like my ac when im going 80 on the highway cause i live in Montana and i like ps cause im not a wimp and have 5spd

 

yeah my 72 doesnt have ps and its a 4 speed so when your trying to park, it can be a pain in the A**
Thank you for the link, im going to wait to see when i get my cap and get it loaded with all my stuff how much it squats. So the extra leaf will just make the rear end a little stiffer but it will still ride good right?

Edit: yeah im not looking for lift i was just wondering what would be the best solution and if anyone else had run into this. im just trying to get my truck set up to be a reliable work truck which i might put some tires on depending on rather or not it will kill my mpg.

 

I think you should open a rothIRA at vanguard and put the tax return in it.

 

Yeah maybe next year, but then again ill probably buy a new carburetor for my nova next year along with the new pair of tires that it needs

 

I'm not really questioning you, just in general, but I don't understand the desire to spend huge amounts of money on the 4cyl for very little gain. I guess I would assume those buying the 4cyl are not that worried about horsepower to begin with. Why spend thousands to gain 10-20hp? What will that allow you to do that you can't otherwise? It just seems performance upgrades to the truck would be better spent on things not related to the motor.

 

first its not thousands its only going to cost thousand drop the s
second im planning on having this truck for its entire life so to have it run a little better, not bog down or down shift going up a hill when im fully loaded with tools and material im willing to spend the money
third if i get better mpg which will be minimal ill get maybe half back in the full life of the truck.
seems better spent then on decals, tint, or audio equipment which i could blow way more on

 

Wasn't trying to wad the panties, just a question in general. Seems a better investment to upgrade suspension and custom shell for the tools than to try to get more out of a 4cyl. If it was me and I cared about the HP, I would have gotten the 6cyl. Spend your money on whatever you want. Just seems a limited amount of money might do more good elsewhere, but you're the one who needs to be happy, not me.

My 4cyl hauls 500lbs around as well as empty as far as the motor goes. I just don't know what adding 10-20HP would do that it currently doesn't do. A much better suspension has helped mine more than any additional HP would have, as far as my uses go.

 

no worries, i was just stating the reasons behind the thinking.
the cap is the first thing im getting so i can get rid of the homemade plywood box i made with scraps from a job site .
What have you done to your suspension that helps you, besides the 3/1 leaf pack?
And how has it affected your mpg?

 

First off, I didn't know how bad the stock suspension was until I replaced/upgraded it. I drive a hilly, curvey road to work. Lots of bumps on part and lots of manhole covers in town. I took curves at the speed the truck allowed. When I replaced the suspension, I had less body roll and better tire contact from all 4 tires. This allowed me to take those same curves 5 mph faster than before. The bumps have been smoothed out. I didn't realize how much my suspension was bottoming out before. I can carry more weight in more comfort at faster speeds. My truck is as basic a model as you can get. The springs and shocks on it were terrible. When I compared them to what I replaced them with, I couldn't believe I waited as long as I did.

Last year I did a 5,000 mile round trip pulling a trailer to British Columbia from Arkansas with hunting gear for two. I came home with 2 elk. The engine was plenty. There was a learning curve on my part with shifting at higher rpms in the mountains. Once I started shifting at 3K instead of 2K, I kept up with traffic just fine. Next month I will be doing a 4 day, 3,000 mile round trip to MT. I am so glad to have the better suspension.

I will say I read many peoples advice of getting new spring packs instead of AALs. The AALs I have are great, but figure I will be going to a new spring pack within a year. The factory springs are just too weak and I am sure the AALs will be shot within the year. I should have gotten the spring pack to begin with.

I know a lot of people here like to set their 5100s above 0, but my thinking is it is much better to have them at 0 and use a spring that provides the lift you are after. I don't want to limit suspension travel. For my money, better function is what I am after, not just a lift.

I have also spent the time and money on work lights for the rear and driving lights for the front. Seems I'm always out at night and need more light. Even around the house.

As far as an affect on MPG, the suspension changes haven't affected it. I will be going to a 32 inch tire that may. Most of my in town driving is at the top end of 4th gear. The taller tires should allow me to drive a bit lower rpm for that driving. I do plan to change to 4.56 gears at some point though because I do more slow speed driving than top end.

 

does a aal not last long?
you think shocks and springs are the better way to go to counter act the additional weight?
What would you recommended for shocks and springs if im not looking for lift(not that i wouldnt mind an 1") just would like the better ride and performance?

Again i wish i already had my cap so i knew what it felt like, but i really appreciate the help kodiakisland