I'm a "new" owner of a 1994 2WD. Xtra cab with V6, automatic.

I'm way underimpressed with this engine. Pulling up hills, it has to downshift a LOT. Coming out of overdrive is not enough, it has to drop down to 2nd (I think) to maintain 55-60 on modest hills.

But I can't really tell what's going on. This is my first truck ever, and maybe the gearing is way different from a car. A tachometer would REALLY help.

Any ideas how to put one in? I'm thinking maybe there was another option that included it, would I need to get an instrument cluster from a salvage yard to get a tach? Or does anybody have thoughts on easily available instruments that can be added, maybe to the A-pillar?

Once the tach is in place, I maybe can figure out why this engine is so weak.

 

I know Autometer makes kool tachs. They have a 'mini' size with a pedestal mount...did not know they make a 2-1/16" size. That's able to fit in a pillar gauge pod. That's real small. Hook up is one wire to coil, ground and light. There should be a switch under the cup to select engine size...4 cyl,6 or 8.

butnut

 

There was a similar post just a few days ago:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...&threadid=1180
Unfortunately, I think its problamatic. Or, maybe not problamatic, just a nuisance. I had a 1992 4Runner SR5 V6 a few years ago. I live in Colorado at higher altitude and I do a lot of mountain driving. Going up I-70s Floyd Hill, I would bog down to about 40 mph in 3rd gear at 5000 rpm. It ws really annoying. Especially when the Kenworths would pass me. It was also one of the reasons I traded up to my 96.
The only thing I can recomend is lightening the load.
Make your passengers walk (just kidding).
If you can afford it, re-gear it. Some might say an ignition kit might help, but, from personal experience, 3.0 V6s don't respond well to aftermarket ignition upgrades.
Headers might help give a little more punch. But, have them professionally installed, as they are a royal PITA.
Decrease tire size or add a few pounds to the tire pressure. Both of those will decrease rolling resistance and also may improve fuel economy in the city.
Swap the engine. Hehe. This is my favorite. The 7M-GTE Supra engine seems to be a popular choice

Hope this helps a little!

 

Blue, I was sort of afraid of that. Seems silly, though. I *thought* this V6 was 160HP. The truck is 2900 pounds. I also have an Audi Quattro (must be why my screen name is QuattroDave). Engine has the same HP rating, and the car is 600 pounds heavier. I can leave that baby in 5th gear and haul up any hill. at 55-80 mph.

I now live in California, but moved from Colorado. The mountains and my love of skiing is why I bought the turbo Quattro. I could still blast up hills at 10,000 feet by downshifting.

With the Toy truck, I'm very thankful that I'm no longer at altitude. This thing must be intolerable with a 4 cyl, it's pretty doggy with the V6. So far, I haven't hauled anything with it.

 

First off..Go audi! I have fallen in love with the s8, especially after seeing it in the De-niro movie Ronin.

Although I don't claim to be anywhere near proffecient about engine knowledge, it does seem like you may have something hindering your performance. Is it a stick? Maybe your clutch is slipping? Have it checked out by a mechanic, my 3.4 hauls, I have a friend with a 3.4 Supercharged 98, when we took mine for a test drive the first thing he said was either mine was supercharged or something had been done to the engine, obviously we popped the hood to find no SC, and no records of engine modification, but if this is how a 3.4 feels, a 3.0 shouldn't be too far behind?

 

The 3.0 is doggish IMO. The 92-95s are all the same. My 92 had great power and torque for trails. But getting TO the trail was a different story.
Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of difference between the 3.0 and the 3.4. The first I can think of is of course the .4 difference. But, after that, there is a more efficient valve/head system, direct ignition (whereas the 3.0 has cap & rotor), an improved intake manifold, and a few other things. The only place I feel Toyota got hung up on was the exhaust manifolds. The 3.0 and 3.4 are nearly identical in design. The stock hp on the 3.0 is 150 (I think) and the stock 3.4 is 183 on the 4Runner, 190 on the Tacos. I have asked where 7 horses dissappear. The best respose I got was, "They ran away."
I have heard through this forum as wells as good friends of mine at the dealer that Toyota will be "re-working" the 3.4 a little to increse it to 3.6. I gotta test drive one of those!