4.0 Exhaust options

[MT Runner]

I’ve been reading more and more about some exhaust options for the 4.0.
I know there are a few opinions out there on what the best way to go is for power gains and driveability.

I tow a small camper, maybe 3500lbs fully loaded, in the summer, so a little extra torque and power is what I’m looking for. I don’t need that extra power, as it’s towed just fine the last few summers, but if I can get a little extra, that’d be great.

I just installed the Gibson catback not too long ago. The next thing I’m looking at is headers and/or Y pipe.

So the question is, what are the thoughts on what exactly to do there?

I’m thinking of possibly doing the URD Long tube headers, but if I went this route I don’t know that I’d go with any kind of aftermarket Y pipe. I know the long tube option deletes the first set of cats and I’m a little hung up on that. It’s not a deal breaker necessarily, or I wouldn’t be considering it, but I’m not super excited about deleting the cats and relying on a an O2 sim to get me by.

Also considering short tube headers to retain the cats, and then maybe an aftermarket Y pipe with that.

What are the pros and cons of going with either of these options, taking into account the 4Runner will tow a few times a summer but is also my daily driver.

Best power gain in general? Best low end torque for the towing? Best driveability in daily driving?
Cost is a factor at some level, I don’t plan on dropping $2k on the exhaust right now.

 

[riceandpho]

urd has the 4runner y-pipe, do you state do smog check?
if your exhaust system is using 2.5 inch pipes, its very good. when i went 3 inch pipes, i felt a loss of power, but got more sound, this is with the cherry bomb vortex muffler, then after the muffler started to crack, i swapped it with a flowmaster super 44. the noise is deeper, but again it felt like a loss of power. i came lucky with a borla system, it restored the torque i lost.

 

[UrbanRunner651]

Headers

Just installed some shorties I was sitting on forever. Wanted to keep the Cats up front (easier selling..) Had them delete the secondaries (02 sensor is in front so no CEL) and do a custom Y pipe back to the front of the muffler. Threw in a resonator delete with tip re-route and she sounds great. Definately notice a little extra pep but I kept the stock muffler since it was still in good shape and didnt want to get too loud. Should be deals coming up with the holidays, grab some shorties from JBA or Dough Thorley. If the price is right grab the crossover too either from DT or URD as Pho mentioned. Everything above, Including having both front converters replaced because I didnt want to deal with it again in a couple years, cost me just under $1,200. Quality mandrel bent stainless & I also provided new gaskets and studs from the dealer.
Hardest part is typically finding a shop to do the install.

Not much else to gain torque/HP without dropping 5k over at URD..

 

[Morphyne]

You may be better off selling your 4.0 and buying a V8. after all of your hard work and cash spent you might be better of doing that.

 

[MT Runner]

You may be better off selling your 4.0 and buying a V8. after all of your hard work and cash spent you might be better of doing that.

I’ll be keeping my current 4.0 for a while. Not trying to be snarky here, but I was wondering how long it would take for someone to recommend selling the V6 and get a V8.

I’ve honestly never regretted not getting the V8 in the 6 years I’ve had my V6. I don’t want to turn this into a V6 vs V8 argument, but I just don’t quite see the benefit of the V8 for my specific needs, especially the earlier years of that engine when you take everything into account. The 4.7 is a great engine, I’m not saying it’s not. Just not a fan of the all time all wheel drive and the 15 MPG’s it gets on the highway for a relatively modest increase in power over the 4.0.

If I’m not mistaken, the V6 has 10 more HP and 40 less ft/lb tq than that early V8. If I can spend $1500 or so (including the catback I’ve already done) on exhaust for my 4Runner, which I’ve spent a lot of money on with other mods, and gain somewhere in that 15-20 range for both HP and Torque, then I’d be sitting pretty good. In theory I’d be about 25-30 more HP and only about 20 less ft/lb of torque over the V8. And I can change to 2 wheel drive and get 20+mpg at the same time. That’s what I’m going for and I’d be very happy with that.

 

[07V8]

I’ll be keeping my current 4.0 for a while. Not trying to be snarky here, but I was wondering how long it would take for someone to recommend selling the V6 and get a V8.

I’ve honestly never regretted not getting the V8 in the 6 years I’ve had my V6. I don’t want to turn this into a V6 vs V8 argument, but I just don’t quite see the benefit of the V8 for my specific needs, especially the earlier years of that engine when you take everything into account. The 4.7 is a great engine, I’m not saying it’s not. Just not a fan of the all time all wheel drive and the 15 MPG’s it gets on the highway for a relatively modest increase in power over the 4.0.

If I’m not mistaken, the V6 has 10 more HP and 40 less ft/lb tq than that early V8. If I can spend $1500 or so (including the catback I’ve already done) on exhaust for my 4Runner, which I’ve spent a lot of money on with other mods, and gain somewhere in that 15-20 range for both HP and Torque, then I’d be sitting pretty good. In theory I’d be about 25-30 more HP and only about 20 less ft/lb of torque over the V8. And I can change to 2 wheel drive and get 20+mpg at the same time. That’s what I’m going for and I’d be very happy with that.

15mpg highway? I got 21mpg stock and 18mpg now heavily modified.

Your V6 with an exhaust will sound like every other riced out Honda Civic special.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I'm guessing with just the exhaust, you will at most gain 5hp at the top end and lose 10hp in the bottom end of the RPM range.

Talk to Gadget at URD he will give you more exact numbers on the 4.0.

 

[MT Runner]

15mpg highway? I got 21mpg stock and 18mpg now heavily modified.

Your V6 with an exhaust will sound like every other riced out Honda Civic special.

Putting aftermarket exhaust on a V6 is tricky, I agree they can sound like crap with the wrong exhaust. Also a matter of opinion obviously. I already have a catback on it and I like the exhaust tone. Not stock, but not annoyingly loud either. While adding headers to the mix may make a small difference, since I’ve already done the catback, I don’t anticipate the addition of headers to make a huge difference in sound from what I currently have.

Is your mpg hand calculated? Or what the mpg rating says on the dash?
I’ve honestly never heard of someone with the V8 getting 20+ mpg, ever, let alone regularly. My brother in law has an 03 V8, stock, and have another friend with the same engine/year with a small lift. Both say they’ve never broken 18 mpg and regularly are in that 15-16 range.

Anyway, all kind of a moot point. I like the 4.0, I’m not getting a V8. I’m just looking for a little extra power out of the V6 if possible. Short of a supercharger, I know exhaust is about it for options.

 

[MT Runner]

Talk to Gadget at URD he will give you more exact numbers on the 4.0.

Thanks, I’ll reach out. I planned on talking to them a bit more too, just curious to see if anyone on here had some real experience with different setups.

 

[jrm]

I think youll need to do something

to the intake @ the same time to get anything noticable..

 

[MT Runner]

to the intake @ the same time to get anything noticable..

From just about everything that I’ve read over the years, a new intake doesn’t do much to these engines. The intake from the factory basically is a cold air intake already and is very well designed.
It certainly wouldn’t hurt anything, but doesn’t sound like it helps much either.

 

[jrm]

It can be as much as

From just about everything that I’ve read over the years, a new intake doesn’t do much to these engines. The intake from the factory basically is a cold air intake already and is very well designed.
It certainly wouldn’t hurt anything, but doesn’t sound like it helps much either.

removing the charcoal filter and/or installing a smooth bored intake silence replacement. But it has to be combined with a cat-back. I did this with a 3rd gen and it seemed it improved perf.

 

[BackOff]

I like the V6 better too.

Guys over on TW have been playing with N/A engines for a few years now...Toyota left a few ponies out.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/n-a-power-gains-dynos-w-mods.229882/

I am happy with the things I have done, just a bit more pep to my runner.
It is louder, not rude or ricer...sounds meaner...fits the look better.
Check out my build for details...even did a sound/dyno run for you guys/gals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWgyjegQB8g&feature=youtu.be

The URD MAF brought it all together.


Be nice to see these supposed Dyno runs back in '09 we keep hearing about, with this reported loss of HP numbers on after market air intakes...

 

[MT Runner]

I like the V6 better too.

Guys over on TW have been playing with N/A engines for a few years now...Toyota left a few ponies out.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/n-a-power-gains-dynos-w-mods.229882/

I am happy with the things I have done, just a bit more pep to my runner.
It is louder, not rude or ricer...sounds meaner...fits the look better.
Check out my build for details...even did a sound/dyno run for you guys/gals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWgyjegQB8g&feature=youtu.be

The URD MAF brought it all together.


Be nice to see these supposed Dyno runs back in '09 we keep hearing about, with this reported loss of HP numbers on after market air intakes...

Thanks Backoff, I haven’t ventured over to Tacoma World much. Looks like there is quite a bit over there related to performance. Looks like I have some reading and research to do! I don’t want to go overboard or start to get into anything that’s going to hurt the reliability and longevity of the engine. But if I can do a few things here and there and gain some reasonable power, that’s what I’m after.