Cam gears for V6. Add power AND mpg

1.8mpg increase is no joke! Glad to hear it man. Thanks for posting your results

 

Sub for future

 

I used tape and marked all my harnesses and lines. It was over kill, but I felt the same way initially. I did it solo, used some cargo straps to help hold some of the wrenches

 

Too late for all that. The wiring harness is good about only allowing the plugs to reach where they're supposed to plug in.

 

the worst part of this entire job is getting the hoses off the back of the intake bracket. Other than that it’s just staying organized.

 

So Mightytacoman has asked people to post impressions of the cam gears after install. Let me first say if you happen to call him/leave a message on a Saturday night just because you want him check how you're gears lined up, Don't put down the phone and go back to what your doing. He will call right back. When I took the stock gears off I had timing set to where the chain link ,stock gear tooth, and cam timing mark where dead on, I had marked the link in the timing chain with a paint marker then I installed the new gears (with the line pre marked on the new gears). The new gears where also dead on the timing mark. I had read that they should be slightly left of the mark (Reason for the call). What I hadn't discovered yet was while breaking loose the cam gear bolts (2 people) we had advanced the crank, cams, and timing chain very slightly forward. So new gears chain and cam timing mark all lined up perfectly I then saw the crank was about 1/4-1/2" past its mark. All good! All my gaskets where shot (130,000mi) I literally broke them off the valve covers. The truck ran well, you couldn't ,even feel it when it was idling but I don't know how that plenum gasket could seal anything. All along the fuel rail was oily greasy dirt not wet like it was fresh but just greasy dirt. I covered the electrical connections and cleaned it before I even took the valve covers off. I also cleaned inside the intake plenum and valve covers, WD-40d electrical, super lube on the plugs, etc. It ran at idle initially just the same way it ran when I pulled it in the garage. I drove it the next day and it definitely had a little more pull to it low-mid torque. The ECM is doing something because it seems to have even more torque each time I drive it. This in part is because I haven't even run a full tank gas through it yet I'm sure the ECM is doing some adjusting. Worth the money? Absolutely, Makes the truck a little more fun to drive. I'm happy I caught the gaskets before they had become more of a problem, one of the plug rings on the gaskets had failed also. I have the "timing chain cover seep" I shot some right stuff under the power steering pump where this leak/seep is after cleaning it real well. Still to early to tell if it did any good. Yup these gears are a bargain, If you're willing to put in a little sweat equity. Thanks mightytacoman

 

Almost there man.
Looking it over- wouldn't hurt to clean that throttle body up too since you have it this far apart already

 

Just scheduled a day with @greenEFSI for an install for these gears, I can’t wait!

Question for the N/A crowd. Are most of you running with the stock intake box or have you upgraded to a different solution? I’m trying to see if I can help this engine breath once the gears are in.

 

Curious how the Gaskets had failed? My truck has 277,xxx miles and my valve cover gaskets are rock hard.
I had originally thought my timing chain seep was coming from the valve cover/timing cover behind the power steering pump but after taking off the air chamber I see it's coming from the top side of the valve cover and running around the front of the timing cover.

This job isn't that bad at all for anyone else nervous. The driverside has a lot more wires in the way.

 

Haha Yea it's a mess. I've slacked on my air filter too and it was full of pine straw. I've never seen it that full. Plan to clean the MAF sensor too. My truck is gonna run like new once I do all this stuff

 

I'm glad I was able to square you away.
You're right about the ecm and its learning. Its seeing your trucks increased knock threshold and overtime will adjust the timing to more accurately reflect this.

 

Better than new with these gears installed is my bet.

 

Notice:

If your gaskets are hard and break easy remember to find and account for all the pieces. I'm sitting inside warming up cleaning the valve covers and realized the first one I took off was missing the piece connecting to the sparkplug holes.

 

I know the feeling, I messaged him on TW to double check before I buttoned it up and thought I could take a few hour break while he got back to me and the slave driver got back to me in 5 minutes.

 

I have a "ram air" type setup with the stock box using a volant scoop.

 

I think I understand this, but I'm missing something or haven't turned the engine enough(maybe 20 revolutions or more).. Also which orange link on the back of the chain? I haven't gotten either to line up with the factory dot and the timing nub.

 

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, since I've yet to do this, but I saw this posted several times in the thread. I read all 60+ pages this week. ha.
Page 5 of the URD install instructions have a diagram for making sure you're lined up.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/attachments/urd-1gr-cam-gear-installation-v-1-1-draft-pdf.3283622/

 

Yep, I understand the marks I'm looking for and have them marked with white paint marker. The Dot on the gear, the Nub on the cylinder, and the orange link on the back of the chain(there's 2 on each side). The URD instructions don't seem to mention the orange chain link.

Another question, do both sides have to line up at the same time?

 

Again, coming from someone who hasn't done this yet...
Seems like the colored links take many engine turnovers to all line up correctly. Seems like the dots and cylinder marks are the most important.
From what I've read, both sides should line up at the same time.
Some people mentioned incorrect timing from the factory can happen too.
I hope someone with more knowledge can jump in. Thought I'd try to help since I saw your post and it looks like you're in the thick of it.
You might message @mightytacoman directly. Seems like he is very helpful.