chasing 20kw

[TheJesus]

Hi all, new member and new owner of a hilux, apologies i wasnt sure whether to post this here or in technical, please move if needed.

So i just bought an 08 hilux 2.7 non turbo, i use it for work and tow a trailer daily with a ride on and what not, its lacking a little power, especially mid to higher rpm, i think 10-20kw would do it which i dont think is hard to achieve.

My question is, what are the cheapest and least detrimental to the engine to get this? what have you done to yours?
i was thinking of doing the thermo fan conversion which might help the higher rpm, and opening up the exhaust a little for the same reason, any other ideas? someone suggest a chip? are these risky?

Also, i see turbo kits, are these hiluxes the same as the turbo models? (Diff, gearbox, engine etc)? Can you simply put a turbo kit on it or are the components not strong enough for it?

Cheers!

[HK1837]

Sell it and buy a 4.0L V6. Cheapest and easiest way to get more reliable power.

[hiluxxury]

A tune would probably be your best bet to get gains like that. I know there is a bit of chatter doing stuff on the 2.7 tacomas in the US.

I see there are turbo kits available but I haven't seen much info about. Maybe try the hiace forums (if there are any) - I imagine the hiace would have its own following.

[TheJesus]

When you say a tune, do you mean an ECU map?

[HK1837]

You are talking the 4cyl 2.7L EFI 2TR-FE engine? If I remember correctly they are very low geared and run out of puff pretty quickly. I reckon you will be chasing your tail with it, and would be better off with a bigger engine. By the time you fit a better exhaust, fit a piggyback processor and dyno it you will be out of pocket at least $3500 or more and it will still be very low geared. They are very much similar to an old standard Holden red 6, pull hard down low but due to the normal 3.55 or lower rear end on a manual run out of go and revs pretty quickly. Plus were strangled with small exhaust, tiny air cleaners etc. Sure you could spend money to get them going better but in the end you were better off with a bigger engine in the same car.

Is this it?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_TR_engine

[HK1837]

Here you go:

https://www.urdusa.com/urd-mk3-supercha ... -cylinder/

[TheJesus]

Thanks for the info. So you say the exhaust and intake is strangling? They’re relatively cheap mods, i wouldnt buy a whole new exhaust i would just open up the mufflers, and mod the airbox. Would this help much? I heard it might lose my low down torque?

Has anyone tried the LC headers? do they really give a huge boost to low end torque? on a stock exhaust or with a catback?

[TheJesus]

Sorry, by open up the mufflers i mean, replace with straight through ones etc.

[HK1837]

If it is like the V6 VVTi engine, any exhaust work that isn’t done right can result in a loss of lower rpm torque. You really need a whole solution that has been properly developed. Admittedly a V6 exhaust will be dearer but mine including extractors, cats etc was about $2500 with me fitting it. I also had to fit a piggy back XEDE processor to make it work right, which are about $1200, plus move the rear O2 sensors to stop fault codes. I also later supercharged it as it was still underpowered. BUT I only did all this as there was no option to fit a larger V8 petrol engine. If I could have I would have fitted a Toyota 5.7L out of a Lexus LX570 or a GM LS engine. I’d much rather a stock larger engine than a boosted smaller one.
Have a talk to Beaudesert exhaust and see if they have a full system.