bigslim

My son is almost ready to buy his first truck and has his heart set on a Tacoma 4x4. He'd eventually like to put a mild lift on with 33's for some wheeling, but nothing too severe (he can't afford the repairs). He has been saving, but budget is still a little limited. It seems that we can find a few extra cabs with reasonable mileage with the 2.7 and manual transmission that are within his price range (under 10K) but its very hard to find similar trucks with the 3.4. While I've read great things about the reliability of the 2.7, would it be OK for 33's down the road?
Any other advice would be appreciated as well.
Thanks for the help.

tacomakid16

it might be a little bogged but it should handle them ok if anything its the steering and axles that dont like the 33's my buddys got 35's and he just cant go very fast. NO HIGHWAY!!

WATRD

It's all about the gearing. The 2.7 is a great motor and will perform just fine with 33's, especially if if the diffs are regeared to match.

91_4x4runner

Even if it isn't regeared, I still think it'd do fine. There are people pushing larger tires than that with the 2.7

Beartracker

The 2.7 is very underrated on here and other sites without a bit of merit to the reasons why. The 2.7 is one of the best engines Toyota ever built next to the 2.4. There is no lack of power and you can cruise down the highway at 75-80 all day long and you can bury the speed-o meter anytime you want too. Off road it will go just about anyplace the big boy's will go but it wont be as fast. Drop in low range 4 wheel and low gear and it will climb a wall if you want to.
Some guy's are just Hot Dogs and have the need for speed in there veins. Give them a 6 banger and they want an 8 and if you dropped an 8 in a Tacoma or 4 runner they will want a 400 Mo-par under the hood.
The 2.7 is just right for anyone but don't get the idea that it's slower or somehow weaker so it's just right for a kid. That's just not true.Mike

jetboy

I used to cruise down the road with an 84 pickup 22r and 35's. Combined with the right gears (5.29) it wasn't a problem at all. I could cruise highways at 75. Hills were sometimes 55mph, but it was that way on stock tires. I wouldn't be afraid of 33's and a 2.7. Might need gearing changes, but I'd try with stock gearing and see. Plus if he want's more the supercharger is always an option down the road.

Joshs98Runner

The 2.7 is a great motor for a 16 year old!

Beartracker

Yea, and for 30 year old, 50 year old , 60 year old and ......... Lol.

FingerMan20

I have 80K on mine, with 275's (it wants 235's stock), and beyond a shadow of a doubt, it feels more torquey than some 6's I have driven. 33's won't even phase it. It'll grin and ask for 35's!

LOL.. 35's are too much for stock gears, but 33's won't affect the feel of the engine. Mileage might go down 1-2 mpg, but if you regear, you might be able to get it right back.

Beartracker's right, too. Everyone spends so much energy on the 3.4 that they forget that the 2.7 has decent power (150 hp and 177 lb-ft) and economy (mine gets about 22 mpg 50% city/50% highway). They haven't been out as long as the 22RE's, but I believe the motors meet the reliability and exceed the power and efficiency of the 22RE.




edit: My highest recorded mileage was 27 mpg! Mfg's estimate is 23!

Skrillah

I agree....you can't go wrong with the 2.7, little maintenance (i.e. no belt like the 3.4) and is rarely underpowered. Certain instances I wish I had a 6 but not many...test drive the two and compare. I think you'll be surprised

etan

man i wish i could have gotten a 4x4 tacoma when i was 16.nothing wrong with a 2.7.

89silverpu

33's on a 2.7 would be fine, even 33's on a 22re (2.4) would be fine. Some people even have 35's or more on the 22re

BC_4runner

tell him to buy a earlier pickup or 4runner...cheaper very very reliable and also its easier to work on(good for a 1st ride )

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

says who? The 2.7 is a very easy engine to work on!

86toysr5

i jus got a 97 2weekss ago with 2.7 and it gets up and goes they wanted almost 7k for it after talking and trading my 86 i got it for 5800 and the only major thing is that it needs a leaf spring it has 156k and it gets up and goes

bktaco

the only reasons to go up to the 3.4L engine are the need for towing, or the need for speed. both of them are good reasons. however, if you do not tow (ie, town truck) and especially if you are economy minded, the 2.7L is the new and improved 22RE.

with minor modifications, there are only a few times that i truly wished for more power. i do not tow, but once or twice a year i will have a large enough load going over multiple mountain passes, and i jog the gears a little more than i'd like to. but with proper air and exhaust flow, the engine will work nicely up through 4000 rpm no problem.

Beartracker

The mountains I live in can be a real challenge for any engine, V8, 6 banger or my little 2.7. But it scoots around these mountains like it's made for it. Sure there are times when I wish I had about 20 more horse power on the really steep mountain passes but as a rule it does just fine. It may not climb as fast as some of the others but I'm not in a hurry. Off road it will go where the big boy's go and I swear my 01 ,2.7 Tacoma always has a smile on it's grill and it's eyes ( lights) look much brighter with a twinkle to them when we are off road and playing in the rocks and mud, Lol. Can you tell I love my Tacoma? Mike

rdlsz24

Wow didn't realize they were that peppy. Makes my 105hp and 140lb/ft 22RE sound weak lol

Rob

Beartracker

Rob, Yea they have a little more pep then the 22RE has but that doesn't mean they are a better engine. The 22RE has proven itself over and over as the leading 4 banger in the industry. There are two guys who live close to me and they have been oil well tenders here in WV for many years. They drove Tacoma's with the 22RE in them around these mountains and off road every day for many years. One had 348,000 miles on it and the other had 318,000. They were both the original engine and were never rebuilt. There boss gave them new Tacoma's in 02 with the 2.7 but the old Tacoma's are still running and the new young guy's that do summer maintenance (cut grass and weeds around the wells) got them, Last I heard they are still running!Lol. Mike