Greatest non-Supercharger horsepower gain mod (on 2.5 gen 5.7)?

I'm looking to better understand what mods have the best gains without a installing a full-blown supercharger. My concern around forced induction is it compromises longevity and reliability.

Some thoughts that come to mind:
Intake
Headers
Exhaust
a tune

Any experience with these from anyone?

 

The stock intake is already a cold air. Adding aftermarket will make noise, but not power.

Ask @dirtydeeds about exhaust, headers, and a rune but don't expect big gains. Some, but nothing like what a supercharger will do.

You should also read up on how well the 5.7 works/lasts with a supercharger.

Basically, learn to love what it already gives you or get over the fear of a SC.

 

Thanks Godzilla. Yeah, I figured as much but wasn't too sure. I'm also not interested in making more 'noise', especially if it doesn't make any real gains.

I guess my only non SC option is a few bumper stickers. Each will add 5hp!

 

Gears. 5.29s. Then get a custom tune for the gears.

I seem to remember you got gears already? Are you looking to supplement the performance increase from that? The tune would be the next step if you haven’t done it yet.

 

Don't get me wrong, you'll get some gains from headers, exhaust, and a tune, but for the money a SC will do more.

What is making you seek more power? If you have bigger wheels and tires and haven't regeared then that'd be your best bet for a better feel.

 

yessir. i'm running 5.29 now and love it. i'm looking into a tune now but would like that tune to factor in any other mods made.

 

I’ve read on here that a tune for the 5.29s specifically is necessary.

 

I'm thinking about adding this badge... It's an easy 20 to the wheels, and should delete that pesky traction control. (I really wish this person would've cleaned off the birdshit, but that's another matter)

 

Start spending your money here.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/new-exhaust-system.137060/

Get the cat back, add down pipes or American Racing headers and a tune.

Your welcome

 

Not at all

 

Honestly, I'm not convinced (yet) that I need a tune with the 5.29 I'm on. I've also read that the increased tire size and added weight combined with the deeper gears can "cancel" each other out to some extent.

 

Intake leave stock
Exhaust SPD performance
Tune yes absolutely
Gears yes
Light weight harmonic balancer, fan and water pump pulleys- Yes they work
Solid offroad motor mounts

 

I’m going by what these guys said in @mart1nezdaniel’s other thread:

Makes sense to me. YMMV

 

"Should be" and "in my opinion" are NOT the same as "is necessary"

I don't have an opinion on it, only 65K miles of driving experience with 5:29's and 37's and zero need for a tune. I was also hauling 9K lbs 2-4 times a week for 35K of those miles.

Want a tune, get you one.

 

It is not. Makes it better but most certainly not necessary.

 

I would do:

-Gears
-Tune from @JustDSM (OTT)
-Exhaust from @dirtydeeds

And/or save for a used supercharger

 

Actually, “is necessary” is an opinion, too. Drivetrain knowing the actual speed and not banging off the redline on the 1-2 shift seems pretty necessary to me. Sounds like a problem I need to avoid with the way I drive. Others have stated that they should have had tuned for their 5.29s long ago. Again, YMMV

 

I say just get the supercharger. In this moment you’re thinking things like “I’m gonna keep this truck forever” or “ I’m going to hit a million miles with this truck.” We all say those things, but let’s be honest. You’re probably not going to do that. We all get tired of things and want to try new things, or your needs change and the truck doesn’t work for you anymore, etc. I say just supercharge it and make it the truck you want to truly enjoy for 150k-200k miles. Plenty have made it 200k+ without engine or trans issues while being supercharged. That’s still better than most domestic half tons will do if left stock. It will likely last that long problem free if you follow some recommendations from the SC gang for supporting mods/tuning and don’t floor it at every light in town on a daily basis. If you can afford a nice truck and a supercharger, you can also probably afford an engine or trans rebuild if that ever did arise many miles down the road as a result of the supercharger if you really do plan to “keep it forever”. Deals can definitely be had buying a used supercharger too like @snivilous said.

 

Pressing the tow/haul button every once in a while blows my skirt up enough.

 

The point went over your head and "Is necessary" came from you. "Others have stated", the two examples you gave are opinions. There are just as many that have said tunes on NA tundras are a waste of money.

My experience tells me something very different than anyones opinions.

Like I said, you want a tune, get one.

 

I agree with this part. The power bump from tuning a NA engine is not much more than pushing the tow/haul button.

I’m planning on 5.29s w/ 37s. I will also tune for better shifting, removing the speed limiter, and to generally clear up the slight confusion those gears and those tires cause the truck.

And yes I do think it’s necessary to get the full benefit of the regear.

 

said another way:

 

Basically! You could easily spend 5k on longtube headers, catback exhaust, 5.29 gears, intakes and custom tuning. All that for what, 50hp? Just spend the 10k and get something that actually makes a huge difference throughout the whole rev range and will leave you smiling every time you get on it. Then just forget some of those other mods, they wont be needed anymore. The worst case is to spend 5k on the half measures and still not be satisfied and end up supercharging anyway.

 

Gears and tune for me. I basically want a return to stock performance with better shifting on my giant tires. I really did buy this truck with the intention to keep extremely long term. I don’t typically get bored and trade vehicles often.

Maybe I will get a blower down the road, but every time I get on the supercharger thread, it seems like my time and attention put into my truck would triple at least just running, monitoring, and tweaking a blower. Just my perception from reading that thread…

Ok, so this might not age well…how about gears and tune to start…

I don't mind putting $5k into my truck and then $10k later.

 

I get the apprehension if you’re keeping up with the SC thread. Most guys in there are always tweaking things whether it’s needed or not. Never satisfied! That’s just the nature of some people, it’s their hobby. You can in fact have a set it and forget it supercharger experience if you wanted. Myself and @nobodyintexas are probably more along those lines. 600+ hp and all we really do is change the oil every 4-5k and put gas in it. Don't forget Toyota used to send these off from the dealer supercharged with no boost gauge, no AFR gauge, nothing special. Just put premium in it and enjoy. That said, I think it’s in your best interest to monitor a few things but it’s not difficult or time consuming by any means.

 

I'm in the same boat as @Terndrerrr. I want a SC but the rabbit hole is deep. Are you of the opinion that dropping a SC in is all that is needed and can forget it, or are there true "must have modifications" to keep things functioning properly to go along with it?

 

There’s absolutely a lot of other things on top of dropping in an SC after to ensure you get the most out of your SC.

It’s not just an SC alone.

 

apologies to OP for S/C blather.


I'll jump in:

in short-

I installed a Harrop "stage 2"

it came with a smaller pulley (85mm down to 80mm).

also came with bigger fuel pump.

also came with bigger injectors.

i had a dependable shop install and dyno tune it. (Peitz Performance in Katy,TX)

it purrs.



then I put in a 77.5mm pulley...because....well...because Harrop is on this forum & made that size for us.

it still purrs.


it gets 20mpg on the hwy.


it is truly amazing that you can bolt a really nice S/C on your truck and it runs "normal".
the bypass is awesome.

and when you squeeze the skinny pedal, that motor comes alive.

 

The simplest, and closest to “set it and forget it” setup IMO is the magnuson kit as it comes, which should ideally be supplemented by a wideband AFR gauge and boost gauge. A custom tune is probably not needed, but for the best performance and no knock a custom tune over the magnuson provided one would be ideal. You could call this “stage 1”. Whipple also has a good “stage 1” package. Harrop is lacking as “stage 1” due to their lack of larger injectors and tuning, but with the necessary mods for “stage 2” it ultimately ends up being the same scenario as the other options.

If you’re going to step it up a notch to what we will arbitrarily call “stage 2” then I would consider any of the blowers (my personal favorite is still the Harrop which I would choose again.) This would be the supercharger kit supplemented with the same gauges and tuning. On top of that stuff is other needed items which is where the differences arise depending on which kit you go with.

Magnuson kit: Stage 2 would entail a smaller pulley, larger than provided injectors, and larger than provided fuel pump, custom tune, SABM if desired.

Harrop kit: stage 2 would entail a smaller pulley, larger injectors, leave the provided fuel pump, and a larger airbox (you can buy the magnuson airbox), custom tune and SABM if desired.

Whipple kit: stage 2 would entail a smaller pulley, leave the provided Injectors and fuel pump, and a larger airbox (magnuson airbox.)

Once you have all of these things installed and it’s properly tuned, you really just drive it and enjoy it. Monitor your AFR from time to time to make sure it’s not running lean at WOT, but that’s pretty much it. There are of course more mods you can do beyond the things I mentioned to improve power and longevity (think trans valve body or meth injection) but that’s all you really need to get up and running safely and making 600+ crank horsepower. Sorry for the long winded answer and derailing the thread away from Non SC mods, but it’s too nuanced to put it in much simpler terms IMO.

 

i have one of the Toyota dealer sc trucks, almost 100k miles, so far so good. i have literally never done anything to it other then take care of it.