Hi guys,
I own a '97 Tacoma x-tra cab SR5 (auto ). It is bone stock with almost 60k miles. I got it used a few years ago for a good price and knew it would last me forever. I am looking to do some mods to get a little more umph out of the motor. If I travel with it, it seems to be starving for air to me. I was wondering what you guys have been doing for better HP and torque as well as more MPG.
The reason I am looking to mod is that the exhasut has a hole in it. I don't know if it is the muffler or before the muffler. I know TRD makes a cat back system, but over $400! Are there any alternatives? I also saw some write ups saying a modified stock air box with a Amsoil filter does better than the K&N FP1K system. Is this true, or....? i have also heard stories that the stock headers are restrictive enough to cause warping of the head. I'm not sure if this is true but it seems to me that they would be a major source of the restriction.
Let me know what you guys did and what kind of cost were talking about. I just want to get a little more out of this motor. After driving my Maxima the 190hp just doesn't cut it. I don't want to spend huge amount of money, I already have a money pit in my Datsun 280Z (turbo motor, coil overs, 12" disk brakes, etc). Thanks for all your help guys.

 

Deckplate. 20 bucks for everything max

 

Sorry for being stupid, but what is a deckplate? Is that the metal plate that protects the undercarage?

 

Do the deckplate mod with the Amsoil filter and redo the exhaust 2.5in and go with an aftermarket muffler (magnaflow, dynomax, vortex, etc)

 

Look at my signature for the deckplate.
I second the deckplate and the amsoil filter!

Biggest bang for the buck is the supercharger but it will be about $2k bones.