Performance upgrade

My 98 SR5 is bone stock. What are some easy upgrades to increase performance?

 

Deck plate mod

 

what does the deck plate mod actually do?

 

^^ allows your motor to inhale hot air from under the hood. I wouldn't do that mod.

Do a cat-back exhaust system, clean the MAF and run some injector cleaner through it.

Good luck.

 

A lot of guys here swear by it, DPM...why don't you like it? Curious?

 

I agree, the deck plate mod did/does nothing for a performance increase. Just adds noise at WOT.

 

Just looking for knowledge on this....so many guys swear it adds power? I have even heard dyno claims? This is all false?

 

IMO yes. Urban legend.

After you go to the effort of cutting a big hole in your airbox, you want to believe it makes some difference. Especially if you read on the interwebz that it does.

Go to the effort if it makes you feel better. It wont hurt anything except maybe allow a few larger pieces of debris into the airbox like bugs and other objects that might be airborne.

I saw no measurable performance increase when I did it. No MPG increase and no 'butt dyno' increase. I run with mine closed all of the time now so I don't have to keep track of the cover and put it on for dusty wheeling conditions.

This is my opinion. YMMY.

 

Thanks appreciate the response. Ya I just ask because as you well know this is a huge debate on Tw. So just trying to get more info. Seems to me though that more of the tw tacoma vets. All seem to be on the same page that it's not really doing to much.

 

There is really nothing to increase performance, you pretty much got what ya got. What you do have though, is rock solid bullet proof reliability.

 

Another huge debate on TW is sway bar or anti sway bar? I've been wanting to take mine off but all my buddies say if you are gonna be off road a lot and need more articulation go for it but I just use my 4x4 for off roading every once in awhile and when I need to use the 4wd & rear locker. Yes I have the 5100 adjustables w/ Eibach 3" coil spring set up. Do I or don't I? People say it rides so much better on & off road. Personal preference?

 

Hate to disagree but apparently I am the only one whose DPM actually increased performance. Lucky me! ☺

My '99 4x4 automatic has been my daily driver since 2002 and I ran 31" x 10.50's mud terrains for around 10 years. Mileage averaged 16 to 17 per gallon, was never very fast starting off from a complete stop and was slower than I liked climbing long steep hills. A couple of years ago I put on a 3 inch lift and went up to 33" x 12.50 mudders. Mileage went way down to 14 mpg and it was even slower off the line. I began searching this forum trying to regain a little power without regearing and eventually did the DPM after that along with the Seafoam treatment. Average mileage went back up to 16 to 17 per gallon and has been fairly consistent since then. I was pleasantly surprised that power had also increased noticeability when taking off from a complete stop and hilclimbs were easier. Very easy to spin that rear tire and burn rubber plus I like the way the engine sounds now.

Just my opinion but I think too many here expect a miracle after doing the DPM and are disappointed in the end that their truck didn't turn into a racecar to realize any gains. This is a slight performance increase, you are not going to get V8 power out of your V6 by adding holes in your airbox. If you end up doing this mod I'd recommend using a screen over the hole to keep bugs, mice and debris out of your airbox. Good luck! ☺

 

Since you have nice newer stiffer than stock suspension you would really benefit from ditching that sway bar. If you still had stock suspension i wouldnt advise removing it, just beings that suspension would be softer and youd notice much more body roll. In your case running eibachs, DO IT! Your kidneys and lower back will thank you big time!

 

Ok. Thanks. It does ride rough. I was just worried about safety issues on the freeway at high speeds or curvy back roads.

 

It is a valid concern if running a soft squishy suspension. But those eibachs will act as a stabilizer of sorts to mitigate body roll. If it makes ya feel any better i took mine off and the truck has a 6" lift and i have never felt it to be unsafe. It will change handling characteristics for sure, but unsafe? Not with stiff suspension. It feels so so much better and the offroad capabilities are just that much better! Its an easy reversal if not satisfied, ya got nothing to lose except 10 min.

 

I don't like the idea of the motor inhaling hot air... that takes away from performance which you are seeking. Like Digiratus said, it will be louder @ wide open throttle... which is a cool sound, I like it.

The OEM intake tubing can only handle so much volume. My MAF is located just after the air box, it can only processes so much air intake. If super charging, you would increase the tubing size from the box to the TB and run a conical filter of sorts to suck in all of the air being pulled into the motor via the supercharger. Normally aspirated, again, the DPM will decrease HP. Hot air & HP don't play well together.

On my monster 2.7, lol, I modified the inside of the box to maximize my cold air intake. After a wheeling trip, I checked the filter to verify. The pattern on the filter indicated that a much greater area of the filter was being utilized. Power increase, probably not, sound cool, hell yeah.

My opinion, don't do the DPM, modify the box.

Good luck.

 

Not buying it bro', been there done that AND, I re-geared. Of all Toyota sites, no one can prove the DPM increases HP.
Go back in time to a 60's or early 70's muscle cars. Changing the OEM air cleaner to an open element Moroso air cleaner didn't provide HP, just made the engine look bitchin'. It will actually cost you fuel mileage cause you were in the throttle all of the time to hear the 750 double pumper secondaries kick in.

If you increased tire size, did the DPM mod AND your fuel mileage went up... you should be a Toyota engineer.

 

Thanks man, ok couple thoughts 1) I live in the mountains about 6500ft. So I am wondering if having a DPM might be a different story in my elevation? 2) what did you do to modify the stock box? Also have you hear about the 90 mod?

 

Tbh the deck plate mod doesnt really suck in "hot" air. Its quite a ways from the engine and on front side where air is circulating in when your moving. Hot or cold it doesnt give any noticeable gains. Do it if you want the sound.


On eibach coils i ditched my sway bar and liked it much better without.

 

... I suggest you tape a thermometer to the side of the air box.
Yeah, it's damn hot under there which is why the OEM box has a small portion of tubing going through the fender well to grab cooler air.

Good luck OP.