Which performance upgrades really work?

[03v8sport]

I have an 03 4runner with about 32k miles on it and wanted to upgrade a few things to get some extra power out of it. Are Cold Air Intakes really worth it? is there a noticiable amount of power or does the ecu adjust for the change and then scale back the power?

Are chip upgrades the way to go to maximize power? Also, Ive seen some cheap "turbochargers" for less than $100 that claim to be like a tiny electric turbo such as this one http://www.turbonator.com/index.html?id=adWords1 and other supercharger/turbocharger mods that make some tempting claims but i havent seen anyone on this board substantiate it.

Any thoughts on the best way (other than the 4000-5000k supercharger.. i want to spend under 500) to maximize hp?

thanks

 

[Casper]

Intake/exhaust...thats about it.

 

[AlexJet]

Yes, I agree with Casper. Intake and Exhaust are main things you can do. I've done my Intake. It cost me 300 and gave me 11hp. I was quoted for Exhaust at 1200 and it will give another 15hp. So small calculation and it shows that Intake will give you for the money you spend. And I DO feel the difference with my Intake. Some guys in the forum also have Cold Air Intakes and some Cat Back Exhaust. Most of them are happy with it.

 

[Casper]

Yes, I agree with Casper. Intake and Exhaust are main things you can do. I've done my Intake. It cost me 300 and gave me 11hp. I was quoted for Exhaust at 1200 and it will give another 15hp. So small calculation and it shows that Intake will give you for the money you spend. And I DO feel the difference with my Intake. Some guys in the forum also have Cold Air Intakes and some Cat Back Exhaust. Most of them are happy with it.

AHHH, i hope thats not right...1200 for an exhaust?

 

[mikes4runner]

Yes, I agree with Casper. Intake and Exhaust are main things you can do. I've done my Intake. It cost me 300 and gave me 11hp. .

I would like to see the Dyno sheet on getting 11HP out of a CAI

If you were to do a CAI/exhaust you should also go with a fuel managment system and a good tuner.

The " turbonator" is not a turbo system and will do nothing for you. Snake oil.

I have found that to get some real HP out of modern day cars/trucks it costs more then $500.:


Mike

 

[03v8sport]

Cool thanks for the info.
Any suggestions on a good tuner and fuel management system?

 

[mikes4runner]

Cool thanks for the info.
Any suggestions on a good tuner and fuel management system?

I would look around in your area( where you live ) for a good shop that work on imports, most deal with specific systems but will do others if they are good tuners. I could recomend some if you lived in MD/PA.

maybe someone with a 4th gen will chime in as you can see mine is a 2nd gen.

But as I have found with my MR2 Spyder Air/exhuast/fuel managment+ tuner can do wonders.

Mike

 

[Casper]

The problem is that one would need to know proper Toyota ECU code to tune fuel delivery, ignition advance and throttle map. And no one that i know of knows 4runner code...

Im sure that if a high end toyota tuner felt like dealing with ECU code off a 4runner they could.

At this point, us 4th gen'ers are stuck with intake and exhaust upgrades. I might be wiling to believe 11hp with an intake of a v8 powered 4runner as if the intake charge is kept cool enough and the intake runner is setup for proper velocity charge, it should make a big enough difference. Problem is, no one is making them right now for 05's+

Im about to take on this and design my own for my 05 and if it makes enough power and is reliable, im going to put out the parts needed and steps for the board.

 

[hawaiian_runner]

Reference your turbonator question....make sure you run to the library and check out september's issue of popular mechanics. article is called "bogus MPG gadgets"... was reading the article while i was getting my new REVOs put on at the tire shop and let me tell you it was rather amusing. if i remember correctly, they conducted a test on several gadgets like the tornado and apparently none of them worked as promised....one actually caught the vehicle on fire and the tornado, the turobonator's cousin, decreased engine performance by 10% and some even decreased MPG by 20%. great article and good read. whatever you decide, ensure you stick to the mods that have been proven over time.

 

[AlexJet]

AHHH, i hope thats not right...1200 for an exhaust?

I'm afraid to tell you so, but it's true. Borla Cat-Back is 1200 Cdn + Tax.

 

[AlexJet]

I would like to see the Dyno sheet on getting 11HP out of a CAI

...

Mike

I do not have a paper one. After installing the Cold Air Intake I went to some tuning garage and test it. I saw graph on the monitor and it gave me the gain of 11hp to the stock one. I was so impressed and didn't ask for paper one.

 

[Casper]

I'm afraid to tell you so, but it's true. Borla Cat-Back is 1200 Cdn + Tax.

Cripes brother, you should just drive cross de boarder and pick one up..i dont know if it would be any cheaper but 1200 bucks is flat stupid

 

[mikes4runner]

I do not have a paper one. After installing the Cold Air Intake I went to some tuning garage and test it. I saw graph on the monitor and it gave me the gain of 11hp to the stock one. I was so impressed and didn't ask for paper one.

Nice

Mike