SCToy

Regearing will net you a much bigger difference then any mod to the motor. Spend money fixing anything broken, regear, then mod the motor if you're still not happy.

Anything else and you'll just be blowing smoke up your butt if you're looking for more go.

ballin2hard4

westjohn: its got 86k

SC: where can i get that kit from?

87 'runner boosted

try lowrangeoffroad.com. They arent talked about much on here, but ive used them quite a bit on mine. Great pricing and they have a lot of odd ball stuff thats hard to find. I think the regear kits they had (for ring and pinion) were like $190 a set (you will need 2). OOORRRR, you could run out to a wrecking yard and find you a second gen with an auto trans/22re and you will find 4.88 stock gears in those PLUS some (and maybe all, dont know for sure) came with a factory E-locker, wire that sucker up and you have a locker in the rear plus the gears you will need to turn some 33" tires.

83

Yes, the truth is that your motor will never have much hp. If you want it to function more like stock (which is still fairly gutless), regearing will get you there. If you want it to perform better than stock...get ready to spend some serious money. You could easily spend upwards of a grand and only feel a very slight, but maybe noticeable, gain in power.

Proper gearing, a tune up, and good compression (possibly a rebuilt engine if your compression is not good) will get the truck performing like it should. Which is to say, fairly gutless.

Put on a fancy intake, header etc. and be out a lot of money and not really have much seat of the pants feel in power increase.

My truck is more or less completely rebuilt, and it does ok...but I've always had old, 4cylinder, japanese vehicles. I don't expect much. Sometimes, I can get up the pass doing almost the speed limit. Most of the time, I can go the speed limit on slight inclines. 5th gear definitely is a gear that works for me and I can use it. My truck is great off road, climbing hills and getting around in the dirt/rock. But out on the highway, you have to have to VW Bus mentality. Just enjoy driving an old vehicle, and you'll get there when you get there.

87 'runner boosted

I put a cam in mine ($110 or something from lowrangeoffroad.com) and i can definitely tell a difference with it...lots better low end torque.

SCToy

I agree about the cam, it won't choke at as low of RPMs as easily. I got my gears used for a smokin deal, not sure where the best place online to get them is.