What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

If I keep this motor in the truck it likely will eventually get a Turbo. Luckily I have a 5spd, and the 4.88s help a alot. A bit draw to the TDI is Fuel Eco, I enjoy trying to keep that as high as possible for some of the trips that I need 250-300 miles worth of range. On my last trip I averaged 18 overall some sections being up around 22mpg. The TDI likely would improve that, not sure what the turbo would do. They can drink fuel when your in boost or keep the efficiency of the stock motor.
I replaced the head around 280K due to a burned Valve and found the pistons still had cross hatching in them which makes me hopeful that this motor could take 6-8psi without much work.

 

The motor can definitely take that. My 3rz sees 11psi peak with over 300k mi on it.

 

I just filled up for the first time after my TDI swap and even with my foot in it a lot trying to feel it out I got 26.5mpg.

I’m not complaining one bit. Specially compared to the 16.3mpg average I had been logging with Fuelly with the 3rz in it.

 

I'd love that just for the extra range alone.

 

I think an aux fuel tank would be way cheaper. Lol

 

On two-lane passes a generous helping of RPMs in 2nd or 3rd gear is usually plenty for me to get stuck behind the car in front of me anyway...

 

Even with low boost (3-5psi) mine has made a big difference

 

I tend to stick around 3-3500 and not push it much further. I've had the truck for long enough that I'm just used to it. I used to commute from Gunnison to Denver nearly weekly so I just got used to being in the slow lane up all the passes.

 

And boost noises. I always enjoy hearing the turbo on my ranger and super duty.

 

I really had to wind out my 3rz when it was NA or with the low boost SC going up mountain passes. Sitting at 4-4.5k for minutes at a time. I don't have the patience for the slow lane though so that at least had me keeping up with middle lane traffic speeds

 

Same, even SC it wasn't really as powerful as I would have liked so I ran it well into the 4k rpm range all the time

 

3-3.5k is a good spot to be on a climb but it really doesn't seem to mind 4k. Trying to keep speed up on a steep divided highway is a whole different thing from winding through switchbacks though. I can imagine 285 being unpleasant.

 

I find 70 worse than 285 and 50, just since I've driven it so many times and the 50mpg speeds up the switch back passes aren't and issue. But dodge truck traffic and people going 80 up the passes on 70 is where it's a struggle.

 

For sure I70 is the worst, I only said 285 because you said Denver to Gunnison.

One of the upsides of Colorado Springs is that I rarely need to drive I70.

 

I'd start with the 2.0. Starts at 150hp at least. I've heard of egts being a concern with heavy rigs and tdi.

 

Line-X to replace the falling apart Duraliner plastic bed liner:

 

New coils, plugs and wires at 221k miles. Fixed the weak spark I was feeling, supercharger builds power better now, throttle response is improved. Easy job, just kind of a pain to do on the side of a road.

 

Went for a short drive

 

Me too!! i did throw on a URD short shift kit last night and starting to like it, first impression.. i was about to tear it out. But decided to put a couple hundred miles on it in the NM mountains and it was much better.

 

Installed new reinforced spindles with new hubs and bearings. Also, redid the brakes and new LBJs and oTREs.