The conversion looks great. I think our bed is just as big, but there is very little space to stand left because we got the LWB.
Well first of all, weight is very important.
What you can do with the engine is turbo charge it. There are kits available or you can do it with used Toyota parts.
I thought about it too, but didn't do it.
I think the best way is too add the turbo charger (used or kit) without changing the fuel pump. Normally the fuel pump is changed to add more fuel with the turbo pressure increasing. That will get you the most power but for thede engines not the highest reliability. The engine will get heavily loaded that way when you are making long climbs in hot weather.
Without changing the fuel pump, it will still run better than without the turbo, but it will not get that much burdened. In fact there is a chance that the engine head actually runs cooler than before.
I would add an EGR meter on the dashboard, with an alarm beeping function. That will warn you for running the engine head hot.
Keep in mind that the 2.4 2L engine (which is the same as the 2.8 3L and 3.0 5L) was sold with a turbo and different fuel pump. But none of the turbocharged versions of this engine are as reliable as the naturally aspirated version, which can do really high mileage like 500.000 miles. Turbo versions of this engine do not make that.
That is why adding a turbo without changing the fuel pump is the best way, in my opinion.