What other "improvements do you get with a supercharger"? I've read that it will help with the mpg's could that be true?. My engine has 220k on it and it hasn't skipped a beat but with that many miles I was leaning on the regearing. I'm interested in the SC but you read so much different info that I'm just not sure that it would be good for a new engine. I've read that it's hard on the lower end of the engine and that if you have an automatic you'll need to get some kind of upgrade on the valve body. What's true and what isn't? There's someone selling a 2nd gen. SC with the 7th injector, pulleys and mapping software. So if you buy a SC do you need to get all of that extra to make it run right? Lots of questions here.
Supercharger or regear?
- Thread starter coho51
- Start date
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
Increased horsepower, far improved acceleration. Not deal breakers for most but again I don't know how I could live without it now, I drive a customers vehicle, even when re-geared and they feel anemic compared to my SC'd truck. My SC was dealer installed ~5 miles, zero issues to speak of (other then throttle body issues that are resolved without additional parts needed). Come to think of it I would feel more comfortable putting them on a brand new engine than I would a high mileage one. I'm running a 100% stock SC install and auto trans setup with the exception of minor tweaks to the cooling system on the throttle body. I've never had pinging or any other failures attributed to the SC, thus I've never considered the 7th injector, etc. The 03/04 Tacomas have a different fueling system on them that theoretically can ramp up fuel better than the earlier systems.
With 220k on the truck I would re-gear and rebuild your axles while your at it... preventive maintenance and some upgrades at the same time.
01tundra
Explorer
IMO a SC would be a bandaid for the real problem, you don't currently have proper gearing......
Get the truck geared correctly for the size tires you're running first, then if you decide you want more power, add a SC afterwards.
And, the lower gears are going to help you off-road a lot more than a SC will.
Get the truck geared correctly for the size tires you're running first, then if you decide you want more power, add a SC afterwards.
And, the lower gears are going to help you off-road a lot more than a SC will.
NothingClever
Explorer
coho, I imagine you're right back to square one...confused about which road to take. My recommendation is to contact somebody knowledgable, skilled and experienced with Toyotas like Kurt (4 years with a SC on his personal DD, dozens more on Toyotas and probably countless regear work orders behind him) and pick his brain. Another recommendation is to steer clear of the TTORA forums. You have to sort through so much chaff to find the wheat that in the end you waste a lot of time trying to self-educate. Truthfully, I think either option will be great. I chose the re-gear because, for me, it was a simpler solution (install and forget...no fuel mapping concerns at all) and less costly. Best of luck in your decision-making!
Thanks to you all I have found a direction. First I will regear and when the motor gets tired I get a newer engine and SC it. Does anyone have ideas about SCing a rebuild or less miles engine. I know that takes this is a whole new direction but I'd like to find out peoples experance with that question also. I've learned so much here that I'd like to keep this going.
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
I'll take you down the road I planned on going.
My 4Runner was getting up there in mileage 230K, and I had another motor from a donor vehicle 110K. I opted to have it rebuilt and use non expanding head bolts to help with any boost issues down the road.
I didn't redo the exhaust and still haven't but it will need new cats and a muffler. Headers were an option but with the minimally increased horsepower that comes with them I opted for none.
I bought a SC from a gentleman in California for $800, it was a 2nd gen with most of the parts, I also purchased a new tensioner and 2.2 pulley from URD. Side note: Underdog Racing Development (URD) was very helpful. Gadget is his name and he knows a hell of allot about SC's. URD offers the additional equipment to get your SC where it needs to be. I think my setup would only require the 7th injector system.
Engine was rebuilt and ready for the SC but sadly I was not, I was still about $1000 away from making it a reality. When it was all said and done it could have been done for about $2000. Plenty of folks with modified maps to try and what not so that wasn't an issue, but I thought over the idea of having to tune the damn thing over and over trying to get it just right. I'd like the 265 rear wheel HP that the SC and URD kit may produce but it ultimately wasn't worth it for me. The SC has to undergo an oil change every 30k, that is almost less than once a year for me and up to two weeks of down time. I'm tired of tinkering and just want to drive my vehicle. With 4.88's driving 65-70 I average 16-18 mpg with varying levels of ethanol.
You might wonder what became of the SC, well I put it on ebay and was contacted by a gentleman from Australia. The buy it now was more than double what I paid for the SC and within days the SC was on a boat headed down under destined for a Prado.
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My 4Runner was getting up there in mileage 230K, and I had another motor from a donor vehicle 110K. I opted to have it rebuilt and use non expanding head bolts to help with any boost issues down the road.
I didn't redo the exhaust and still haven't but it will need new cats and a muffler. Headers were an option but with the minimally increased horsepower that comes with them I opted for none.
I bought a SC from a gentleman in California for $800, it was a 2nd gen with most of the parts, I also purchased a new tensioner and 2.2 pulley from URD. Side note: Underdog Racing Development (URD) was very helpful. Gadget is his name and he knows a hell of allot about SC's. URD offers the additional equipment to get your SC where it needs to be. I think my setup would only require the 7th injector system.
Engine was rebuilt and ready for the SC but sadly I was not, I was still about $1000 away from making it a reality. When it was all said and done it could have been done for about $2000. Plenty of folks with modified maps to try and what not so that wasn't an issue, but I thought over the idea of having to tune the damn thing over and over trying to get it just right. I'd like the 265 rear wheel HP that the SC and URD kit may produce but it ultimately wasn't worth it for me. The SC has to undergo an oil change every 30k, that is almost less than once a year for me and up to two weeks of down time. I'm tired of tinkering and just want to drive my vehicle. With 4.88's driving 65-70 I average 16-18 mpg with varying levels of ethanol.
You might wonder what became of the SC, well I put it on ebay and was contacted by a gentleman from Australia. The buy it now was more than double what I paid for the SC and within days the SC was on a boat headed down under destined for a Prado.
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cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
Where are you hearing the SC needs an oil change every 30k? Most conservatively say 90k and you can buy the oil kit at your local dealer and swap in an afternoon, I'm at 115k on my Tacoma and plan to do it at 120k or whenever I see my front seal weeping. I think you made the right decision for your needs and admittingly if I had an earlier Taco/4Runner which mandated the 7th injector... I would likely skip the SC too.
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
To tell you the truth I can't remember where I read that, I want to say it was Eaton site, but that could just be an instance where the oil companies recommend an oil change every 3-5k. What a waste, I run synthetic and change every 15k. I have a 02 4Runner and URD suggested using the 7th injector instead of the 6 injector kit.
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Just got her back today with the 4:88s in. I was told that with the 33 inch tires those gears would bring her back to stock rpms. Now since I don't remember what stock rpms were I'm not sure if this is right or not. So after break in I drove home and at 75 mph ( by GPS ) it ran 2900 rpms. This was pretty steady when going up hills and on flat, didn't jump around like it use to. Now what I was expecting was running a lower rpm. My old gears on the flat would run 2200 rpm until a slight hill or some wind would hit her then it would jump to 3500 rpms and it would kick up and down all the while. So the question is IS is this right with the steady 2900 rpms? Also when I'm going 75 mph on gps my speedo is saying 93 mph. Can that be fixed?
NorthernWoodsman
Adventurer/tinkerer
Okay, I'm subscribing to this thread.
I also have a small lift, 2 1/2" total maybe via OME, BJ spacers and new rear leafs, running 33x10.50x15 BFG A/T's on my 94 Extra-cab truck with the 22RE. I have noticed a small decrease in mpg's (from 21 hwy down to 18-19 hwy) since the 33's were installed and I want them back! Gas ain't cheap ya know. I was/am hoping that installing 4.88's will bring me back to close to stock mpg's, rpm's and other acronyms. More precise gearing would be 4.83 or 4.84 according to my math, but I've never seen those for sale and some used 4.88's are closer to my price range.
Anyhow, I can cruise on the flats at 65-70 in fifth gear and I'm right at 2900-3000 rpm's. I'm hoping this drops when the 4.88's are installed. Don't even ask about hills....S.L.O.W.
What motor do you have? Do you have an automatic or manual transmission?...I guess auto by your description. Let me know what you figure out with the GPS discrepancy. I just bought a GPS and need to learn to use it so I can check mph on my truck as well.
I also have a small lift, 2 1/2" total maybe via OME, BJ spacers and new rear leafs, running 33x10.50x15 BFG A/T's on my 94 Extra-cab truck with the 22RE. I have noticed a small decrease in mpg's (from 21 hwy down to 18-19 hwy) since the 33's were installed and I want them back! Gas ain't cheap ya know. I was/am hoping that installing 4.88's will bring me back to close to stock mpg's, rpm's and other acronyms. More precise gearing would be 4.83 or 4.84 according to my math, but I've never seen those for sale and some used 4.88's are closer to my price range.
Anyhow, I can cruise on the flats at 65-70 in fifth gear and I'm right at 2900-3000 rpm's. I'm hoping this drops when the 4.88's are installed. Don't even ask about hills....S.L.O.W.
What motor do you have? Do you have an automatic or manual transmission?...I guess auto by your description. Let me know what you figure out with the GPS discrepancy. I just bought a GPS and need to learn to use it so I can check mph on my truck as well.
NothingClever
Explorer
Your speedometer can be corrected but don't ask me how...I'm a Luddite with a manual transmission :smiley_drive:.
NothingClever
Explorer
That right there is proof that Sovereign is a good man. Only a true hero would brave the TTORA forums to go in and pluck out a nugget of wisdom from amongst the stagediving forum punks over there. I've tried but I get lost....all those kids there speak a foreign language I simpy can't understand.