pygmy warrior
New member
Mine is 3 3/4" X 4".
The 3.4L TRD Supercharger Thread
- Thread starter SCRunner12
- Start date
LiquidFlame
New member
So I posted my SC up for sale, figured id throw it up in here too. If any of you know anyone thats looking for one, shoot me a PM.
feelingstoned
New member
Is there a thread like this on here for a 3.4 99 4runner?
Not sure what you mean, but this is the 3rd gen 4Runner section. That year bracket is 96-2002.
pygmy warrior
New member
I got my decals yesterday and they look fantastic! A big thanks to 4Reak Show for all the hard work!
4Reak Show
New member
Glad you approve. Posting up a before and after
Now it's time to install the unit!
Keep us posted
Now it's time to install the unit!
Keep us posted
4Reak Show
New member
"Worth" is a relative term... Chances are most people don't need the SC. I know I don't. But I'm a unique case wherein I swapped a 3.4 for the purpose of SCing so it was always my end game. And I've never regretted it! If you have the money and like your truck, why not?
"Man I really wish I didn't have the extra power"
-No One, ever.
pygmy warrior
New member
Mine is more of a necessity as I tow a camper that is heavy. I need the extra torque for getting up to speed and going up hills.
pygmy warrior
New member
If you look at the attachment of the dyno chart from Magnuson, you can see at 3500 RPM that the torque increase is about 42%. That's a huge improvement!
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4Reak Show
New member
See, that's a PERFECT example of a NEED. I would guess 75% of the supercharged 3.4's are NOT in that need category. (Myself included) I know that because of its vacuum-operated bypass design it doesn't really produce extra power unless you're gunning it and most of the guys with these engines in 4runners and Tacomas use there trucks to drive on trails or rocks. Neither of which would really utilize the extra power because generally you'd be easing on the throttle and not jamming on it.
And yeah I believe the extra torque rating. It is a substantial difference. It's weird, in my experience it doesn't really make the truck faster, it just really helps it to get over the hump. Like when you're doing 70 & 3,000 RPMs or whatever it feels like it can just keep climbing. slowly but surely it keeps climbing. At least that's been my observation. Maybe having an automatic trans it's totally different so I'll be interested to hear your take on it.
Just keep in mind: it's never gonna quite feel like a v8. I've said it before, the effortlessness of a Chevy V8 in their 1/2 trucks amazes me.
pygmy warrior
New member
Just curious...What would it do if you disabled the internal bypass? Would it build pressure quicker?
4Reak Show
New member
I'm not 100% but I imagine it would be under boost constantly at that point, anytime from idle to wide open. Im not sure if the stock system could handle that. It should be as simple as unplugging the hose from the actuator on the top. My guess is is would be too lean all the time, and even if the stock ECM does keep up (let's say) it would then be adding extra fuel to match. So idling or partial throttle you'd be wasting a bunch of gas. It's pretty neat how they have it set up. With the speed and pressure of your right foot you can pretty much control when/how much it boosts.
Easing onto throttle=zero to minimal boost
Stomping=max boost
Before I installed the 7th on mine I could make it ping all day long at a specific rpm by pressing just right on the gas. But if I eased the gas passed that rpm range, I could then get on it without much concern. I imagine on an automatic it wouldn't be much of an issue since stepping on the gas could downshift, and that raises RPMs to a safer range.
It takes some getting used to, but it's a lot of fun once you learn where the new power band is.
phattyduck
Elite Member
That's not quite how a positive displacement supercharger works. (ignoring imperfections) It takes a specific volume of air from one side of the supercharger (inlet) to the other per rotation. Between the throttle body and the supercharger rotors, there ALWAYS vacuum. The outlet side of the supercharger (where your boost gauge is located) can be anywhere from vacuum to max boost. It is basically a 'multiple' of what is on the inlet side of the rotors.
The bypass valve allows the supercharger to avoid 'sucking' from excessively high vacuum to produce whatever power you are asking of the engine via the throttle plate. This means higher total system efficiency, since the supercharger is able to move air freely at times when compressed air is not needed in the engine.
In the end, the bypass valve is the closest thing to a free lunch you can get with performance. Less power draw from the supercharger when boost is not needed, easier throttle control (low throttle openings makes less power, so is easier to modulate) and does not limit max power in any way. Put your foot down, the bypass closes immediately and you get max boost for that RPM.
-Charlie
I was having a conversation today about this. For the price, I don't see it happening to me and I haven't ever needed the power. If I won the lottery..hard to say cause that would make my life way more comfortable. But you're correct in the Worth versus "Man I really wish I didn't have the extra power". I could only see this when I traveled to Ouray and was doing 80 mph in 3rd gear cause 4th wasn't working right with out temperature climbing in the transmission. A SC at this point would have helped tremendously but I haven't seen enough to warrant the HAVE to have.
I will continuously read this thread and may decide down the line to just do it. I've heard nothing but great things about people who have done it.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Actually, a supercharger would make it hotter. The compressed air generates more heat.
The PO of my 4Runner fried the transmission because of this very reason.
phattyduck
Elite Member
That's for the engine - but that said... the torque converter unlocks at a given power outputs of the engine. It has a limited torque holding capacity when locked.
So, it will unlock at the same amount of power (errrr... torque) output from an engine whether it is supercharged or not. Dropping to 3rd allows applying more torque to the wheels with the converter locked due to the lower gear ratio in the trans.
-Charlie
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
The stock transmission cooler shares the radiator with the coolant, hotter coolant = hotter transmission fluid. That's why a transmission cooler is a good idea for us supercharged folks.
The supercharger does NOT play nice with the torque converter though. Since with a supercharger you're rarely locking up the converter in 3rd gear, it gets super hot on long climbs. Ask me how I know! Before I put in the cooler I was burning transmission fluid way too fast. I like camping in the Sierras but from where I live it's sea level to 7000 ft in about an hour. Heats up the tranny fluid like no other.
pygmy warrior
New member
I finished my s/c install last night. So easy...a caveman could do it!! I took it for a test ride and no problems to report. AFR's are about the same as before adding the s/c, even in full boost. It really woke the truck up. This is the kind of power it should've had from the factory. I can't wait to hook the camper up and give it a real test.
4Reak Show
New member
No sweet pictures???
Awesome man. Keep your ear out for pinging. That's the deadly noise. A little is passable but you want to avoid it. Sounds like a soup can with ball bearings in it. I feel like 7th injector install is more necessary in a manual transmission truck.
