A more gutsy 4r?

[motorheadwannab]

Hey guys I'm new here, just sold my baby...'04 subaru wrx sti :-( and bought a '96 4runner with 150k! It is a sweet truck i'm not going to deny that...thats why I bought it! I recently made a 900 mile drive across 3 states up and down hills in my then 3 day old 4runner. It ran like a champ except it didn't have the guts I was expecting going up hills. It is a limited so it well equipped but I was still disappointed. I have read all about the intakes (seems like a legit first mod) and was wondering if anyone had pictures of their airbox with no front (proved best on gadget). I had a 95 maxima modded out that I gutted the airbox, basically left just a filter attached with not much of a box. I am excited to be here and will be posting many more questions i'm sure but just to start off I'm not a noobie when it comes to cars I do all my own work and even rebuilt my maxima engine alone. Thanks!

 

[lee]

the only thing that will give you the oomph youre looking for is a trd supercharger.

that is around $3-4K, then you have to do fuel mods to make sure it runs right. also you have to use premium (91+) fuel.

it will get you from stock 183hp to 260 hp though!

 

[motorheadwannab]

Ya...f/i isn't an option not only for money concerns but because the engine does have 150k on it and I would like to keep it for a while...I know that an exhaust will free up some hp but what about just like a madrel y-pipe?

 

[ebelen1]

Intake (or deckplate mod) plus exhaust will give you very minimal gains, probably no more than 10 hp. It's fun to do but the 3.4 is pretty efficient unless you want to go force-fed.

 

[grimpy]

Don't get larger tires or else you will cry... I get smoked by granny's in their dodge neons...

 

[neliconcept]

if you want serious power but no FI

pretty much rebuild engine. port polish intake. bore out the head. new racing cams. higher compression. computer upgrades.

things like that sort. if you dont wanna spend that money. do the supercharger because the other way will rival the supercharger in cost.

 

[motorheadwannab]

How much does it usually run for a supercharger, i'm assuming it is not a diy, i've never done f/i myself. how much has it cost most people in the end? any ideas? thanks

 

[RunnerUp]

you can get the supercharger on ebay new for around 2k....

after you get that you go to www.urdusa.com and get the fuel upgrades for it, and after that you get your transmission valve something or another cant remember the name right now upgraded and your done... for about 4k installed

 

[RunnerUp]

oh... and with the second generation supercharger you could so do it yourself...

check out

www.yotatech.com

they have TONS of info on everything 3rd gen 4runner, just remember to use the search button before posting

 

[ebelen1]

I've done a ton of research on the s/c and w/o install costs, you're looking in the $5k range for everything. What I mean by everything is the s/c, fuel upgrades, valve body upgrade if you have an auto, fuel pump, colder plugs, tranny cooler, simple engine management to control fuel, etc.

Install would still be dollars if you can't do it yourself to boot...

 

[motorheadwannab]

Thanks for the great info guys, that hard to know what to do i could almost rip out the engine and put in a newer one or buy a newer truck if i sell the one i have now and throw that $5k into it.

I don't know that it would be worth the $ to put it into a 150k engine, i know toyota's will go forever its just hard to put that money into a high milage engine.

 

[ebelen1]

I don't know that it would be worth the $ to put it into a 150k engine, i know toyota's will go forever its just hard to put that money into a high milage engine.

This was exactly my thought process. Instead of dropping $5k into my 4runner to make it go faster, I think I want to drop $5k into a S14. For about $10k, I can have a really fun car and still have the 4runner to lug stuff around.

 

[marko3xl3]

I REALLY don't know where you are getting 5k from. That was way back when.

With patience you can pick up a used S/C for $1k.

URD kit (considering it's new) = $1k

Tranny upgrade = $600

That's "only" 2.6k.

Now I'd probably say 3k to cover misc things like a new belt, supercharger oil, gauges and whatnot.

And even if the S/C is brand new, it's still only $4k total.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

It can be done easily for around $3k as long as you do the install but most shops will do it for about $500.

 

[ebelen1]

I REALLY don't know where you are getting 5k from. That was way back when.

With patience you can pick up a used S/C for $1k.

URD kit (considering it's new) = $1k

Tranny upgrade = $600

That's "only" 2.6k.

Now I'd probably say 3k to cover misc things like a new belt, supercharger oil, gauges and whatnot.

And even if the S/C is brand new, it's still only $4k total.

S/C for $1k, good luck if it's in good shape. Let's say $4k above. How about shipping for the VB upgrade? Not to mention labor to pull it off and down time for your rig?

How about injectors, fuel pump, tranny cooler?

Go ahead and get one for $3k. I bet you can't.

 

[ebelen1]

It can be done easily for around $3k as long as you do the install but most shops will do it for about $500.

$500 for the s/c install only. Think about all the other things that have to happen: drop your gas tank for the fuel pump, pull out the valve body and reinstall, get timing to work.

This is for everyone else that hasn't done the research, everytime you want to do these kinds of upgrades, always make sure you have extra budget for things that will go wrong or extra things that add up. Colder plugs aren't cheap. You start adding up tranny coolers and other items, and you realize it's dollars. That's the only message I'm trying to send, not that it's not worth it. Just be prepared to pay.

BTW, if it was that great, why are people pulling them off and selling them used?

 

[RunnerUp]

and on ebelens side.... there was a guy on yotatech that was selling his SC that had been sunk underwater for 2hrs for 2k.... ebelen makes some really good points, but if you have 4-6k to blow on something, make it the SC, i sure would love 260hp!!

 

[marko3xl3]

S/C for $1k, good luck if it's in good shape. Let's say $4k above. How about shipping for the VB upgrade? Not to mention labor to pull it off and down time for your rig?

How about injectors, fuel pump, tranny cooler?

Go ahead and get one for $3k. I bet you can't.

What's the bet for. I am accepting it by the way.

I don't know how far I have to go, but I assuming the rules would be:

1) make it all work like new
2) all fuel mods
3) small things that would considered "should do"

I am gonna start making a list now... I'll keep you updated.

 

[ebelen1]

What's the bet for. I am accepting it by the way.

I don't know how far I have to go, but I assuming the rules would be:

1) make it all work like new
2) all fuel mods
3) small things that would considered "should do"

I am gonna start making a list now... I'll keep you updated.

You just don't get it but good luck. Make your list but the proof of the pudding is when it's on your rig. For someone that's not done many mods on your truck, I'd love to see the dyno charts and pics of your s/c.

Also, one thing I didn't bring up in earlier threads that's included in my $5k price is exhaust. Since you have all that extra fuel and air going into the motor, you have to get it out. I would do at a minimum, headers, bigger piping and a muffler.

 

[marko3xl3]

You just don't get it but good luck. Make your list but the proof of the pudding is when it's on your rig. For someone that's not done many mods on your truck, I'd love to see the dyno charts and pics of your s/c.

Also, one thing I didn't bring up in earlier threads that's included in my $5k price is exhaust. Since you have all that extra fuel and air going into the motor, you have to get it out. I would do at a minimum, headers, bigger piping and a muffler.

You could least check on my YT profile :/

I am planning on upgrading the exhaust to a 2.5 system, so that's already included.