Performance mods that work well for first gens (excluding superchargers)

Hey y’all!

list some of the performance mods you’ve done to your first gens that were beneficial and improved your trucks noticeably in horsepower, torque, handling, sound etc.

 

There really are not many. Read this thread. https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

It breaks down honestly what you can expect. Very few improvements have any proof by way of dyno evidence. There is dyno-proven evidence that cold air intakes, like what you say is n yours, can actually cause worse performance, at least for the 2UZ/V8. That thread does cover the mods others have found worked, though.

This is really the wrong truck to buy if you're looking to race it or significantly lift it without huge expense. There's far better vehicle options out there with lots of bolt-on-ready upgrades for more HP/TQ from the big three.

 

I got the V8.

 

change your gears to something a bit lower, will feel just like you gained HP from the additional mechanical advantage

 

I see what you mean shifty, but I have the v6 as stated in my profile box above my post. I also know that this engine is similar to the Tacoma v6 (obviously I’ve heard they both have different heads and etc.) I do intend to make it as quick as I can because most people build the first gens as either lifted or over landing vehicles, and I mean I have a v6 truck so I mean I can’t create an actual race truck but I intend to do the most I can physically to achieve that goal somewhat of it being a race truck style build

 

Should probably lead with the “mods for a V6” to point that out. Trophy trucks and NASCAR trucks are about the only race trucks I know of. Your 4.0 won’t be either of those. Gimmicky air filters and tunes won’t do much either. Bolt on exhaust may add a pony or two, but the V6 exhaust note won’t give you the same feels as the V8. Gears are a great way to add some mechanical advantage, possibly at the cost of MPG. There’s not a lot of performance mods for these motors that isn’t really involved, like a supercharger. Thus is your lot in life. Best bang for the buck? Sell it and buy a V8 truck.

 

For the 4.0 the only n/a mod I’ve noticed make a difference is good headers. Short of that? Boost

 

I know a lot of people say “just get a different truck” or “sell it” but I don’t really want to, I don’t want to own a truck everyone builds up or an engine everyone builds. I also understand the supercharger but until then when I can afford one (those price tags are hefty) I want to work my way to that point and put other mods that will help in the future or for now show at least a little power until I can actually afford a supercharger. Also thanks empty lord I’ve actually been looking into headers, any suggestions on brand to pick?

 

It's almost like car makers don't just leave lots of easy to acquire performance out just 'because'.

In most cases, stock is as good as it gets for vehicles, without major changes to the powertrain. Its not like the old days where you could put a new carb and valve springs on your VW and double your horsepower. Modern engines are highly engineered to get every bit of performance they can in that package to compete with everyone else who is doing the same thing.

 

I understand the will you have to make your truck stronger and faster, I admire that. But that old adage from my youth always seems to be legit,.."There's no replacement for Displacement.

 

Good luck??

 

Power without boost? Here ya go https://store.briancrower.com/collections/1grfe-stroker-kits/products/bc0368?variant=4507577155

 

What gears did it come with? Stepping up from 3.9 to 4.1 / 4.1 to 4.3 will help. Or even 4.56 if you don't do much freeway driving and/or don't mind higher rpms.

4.3's are hard to come by. 4.1 is readily available from 1st gen sequoias. If you're 2wd it's even easier, as you only have to deal with the rear 3rd member and swapping the pinion flange.



Handling? Upgraded sway bars / add a rear bar.
There is a bolt on 19mm rear that's not too expensive and you can grab a 28mm front bar from the 1st gen sequoia that had a sunroof. It's a direct swap.

 

this is a great response!! mine is 2wd and has from what the specs say on it a 4.08

 

How old are you? Sounds like you’re very young and looking to spend as little as possible to make a truck fast that’s never going to be fast. Fast, reliable and cheap, pick 2. Fast and reliable isn’t cheap, cheap and reliable isn’t fast, Fast and cheap isn’t reliable.

 

Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday !

 

Having had 2 first gens in the northeast, I’m a big fan of their progressive weight reduction system personally. As the years go on the frame slowly rots away making the truck lighter and lighter. Best bang for your buck performance mod hands down.

 

Rear sway bar noticeably improved road handling for me.

 

Turbo. And a 5.3 from an '06-07 z71 because aluminum block.

 

I saw your engine size under your avatar before replying, but what I'm saying still applies. I think what everyone is saying above this reply aptly solidifies things.

You gotta understand: At least once every 4-6 weeks, someone posts on here with virtually no exposure or experience but wanting to turn their new-to-them 1st Gen Tundra into something that:

• "Sounds fast" (obnoxiously loud exhaust to get attention, which just makes people think, "goddamn, what an insecure, little-dick attention-seeking a-hole!)
• "Big gains in HP/TQ" (which often starts with them adding a cold air intake or similar, not targeting you w/this, just sharing real-world historical stats)
• "Riding on 35s" (But wanting to do that for under $1,000 - $1,500 spent on tires, and usually have no idea the necessities or consequences w/running 34"+ tires)
• "6 inch suspension lift" (Again, w/impossible $1k budget, some already have installed garbage cheapo kits, mix & match w/spacers, truck already damaged etc.)

One of the best things you can do is remove the CAI you put on your truck to start. They're worse on filtration and allow extra garbage to pass into your top-end.

If you want things to feel peppier, look into gearing, but as with bigger tires, just know: If you do this, your speedo/odo will no longer be accurate unless your truck has wheel speed sensors (tks @assassin10000 for clearing up, this is not an issue for '05-'06, but is an issue for '00-'04). If impacted, you can Yellow-box to compensate.

Like I said in the thread I linked, headers are about the only to eek out double-digit performance on a naturally aspirated 1st gen platform. I won't front: I wanted the same as you when I got my truck. But Toyota didn't build this truck for rally racing, they built it with reliability in mind 1st, longevity 2nd, and balanced performance 3rd.

Bottom line: There are virtually zero good, easy, bolt-on performance options for these trucks if naturally aspirated. If you want big gains, you need forced induction. The multi-hole injectors are an unproven gimmick. Cold air intakes are dyno-proven to offer no performance gain, and even performance loss (they look and sound cool though). Programming/tuning kits are a often gimmick. Unless you're doing the work yourself, and you can tear into the engine and do significant modification, I'd be shocked if you could net 30HP/30TQ gain for less than $1k-$2k without ditching NA and going FI and/or rebuilding internals. I know - nobody wants to hear this. But it's just reality.

Whatever you do, just don't be the asshole who throws a big fartcan exhaust on your truck to make it sound more powerful. Just owning a 1st gen makes you cool enough.

 

I too am a fan of the "Superleggera" method. When I was cleaning my frame, I must have pulled 25 pounds of rust out of it!

 

ebay turbo, smaller tires, lower it, remove as much weight as possible, that's about it.

 

Superleggera method, I like it. You’re even increasing your available payload as it progresses.

 

FYI the 05-06 use wheel speed sensors for speedo, so gearing doesn't affect the speedometer. Just tire size.

 

Good catch. Thanks for that. I'll edit that point.

 

This might be me but it wasnt on purpose! Threw the MBRP exhaust on my 03 after the previous one rusted out (stupid magnesium chloride) and its obnoxious as hell.

In the 15 years of owning my tundra I have done most of the "upgrades" listed above but not for the same reasons. My CAI came after the stock box kept filling with snow and choking the engine (flaps in wheel wells still intact), installed the DD injectors cuz i thought they might help towing my sled trailer, and am on my second aftermarket exhaust because mag chloride is corrosive. Not sure if its a combination of the three or what but I have seen improved fuel mileage and maybe slightly more HP gain...maybe. Would I do it over again? Yeah, maybe with slight changes. Its slightly obnoxious under high RPM but it kinda sounds like a diesel at idle.

https://imgur.com/a/cRQEwI3

 

I don't find that exhaust note to be annoying. I'd need to hear it revving. I'm thinking more along the lines of glasspacks, open headers, etc. Right now, your truck just sounds like you've got lopey cams.

I'm thinking back to one (or two) kids who came on here recently saying they wanted REALLY LOUD exhaust, like, they were intentionally doing the upgrade for attention seeking, to sound powerful. Kinda like all the ricers who put coffee can exhaust tips on their trucks to make obnoxious fart noises.

 

Its faster if you manually shift, too.

Stock manifolds, cats, and resonator with a bassani 1-2 muffler and cowboy duals. I like the way my truck sounds under load, but kinda wish it had a bit more character at idle. (Why i regret missing out on longtube tri-y's)
https://youtube.com/shorts/UUf1r6A-q38?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/LmAA1P5U83M?feature=share

 

This sounds like my neighbor's 2011 BMW x5

But I like it.