First Gen Tundra Best Exhaust setup

I have a 2001 Tundra AC with the 4.7 V8. I have a various parts and engine mods and it seems like the truck is running worse after I added everything. I think I need a tune but I also think I need a new exhaust setup. Not to mention My truck is throwing a code for underperforming exhaust/cats. What is the best exhaust setup in general and what would work best with what I have?

Parts:
JBA Shorty Headers
12 hole injectors
K&N cold air intake
Throttle Body Spacer

 

Be prepared for everyone to tell you the stock exhaust is just about as good as it gets. I've wanted new exhaust too but, only to make my rig sound better. The Spinteck Pro Street 6000 looks to be the best bang for your buck. Dirty Deeds is the the high dollar option a lot of people will recommend.

 

Yup. That's pretty much what we warn everyone about on here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

Stupid shit you don't want to do to a 1st Gen...​

• • ...
  • Skip "cold" air intakes and aftermarket cold air/oiled filter crap. You know, the stuff K&N, AEM, others sell. Dyno testing on popular YouTube channels proved Toyota's OEM filter produces more overall power than aftermarket kits, while also filtering particulate more aggressively, keeping the engine cleaner. Those kits may work on other engines, but Toyota really dialed things in on our trucks to eek every last bit out. Those kits may make more growl, feel more torque-y, but dyno charts tell a different story. The only dependable way to squeeze out power or pep semi-inexpensively w/o forced-induction is with long-tube headers, or re-gearing.

 

Oh, and the underperforming cats (P0430 / P0420), that's really common with folks that went with new headers on here. Only "fix" has been using foulers. And it only works sporadically. It's the nature of the beast.

If you had stock headers and only one of those codes, I'd say it was a bad sensor. But knowing others who have aftermarket headers are fighting the same codes, it's likely not the sensors.

 

I would check this thread to see which sounds nice to you:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-exhaust-clips.60466/

Also check out the mega thread. Lots of useful info including exhaust. As far as I can tell, only long tube headers will increase performance, but can cause emissions issues and check engine light.

I've heard throttle body spacers are kind of a myth, but who knows. It's probably not hurting anything. That k&n is probably gumming up your maf sensor with oil though. You should probably clean the sensor and consider a dry (not oiled) filter from afe.
https://afepower.com/
Just measure your k&n and choose a dry filter of the same size.

 

I installed this cheap resonator back exhaust when my muffler rusted out and fell off my rig in December (long story, in my thread) https://www.tundras.com/threads/dri...ecial-05dc-refresh.133376/page-4#post-3407335

I just needed something fast and it has worked nicely so far. Sound is good, throaty without drone and just loud enough to give it some growl.

$168 DNA MOTORING CBE-TTU00-47L Stainless Steel Dual Muffler Catback Exhaust System [Compatible with 00-06 Toyota Tundra]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077GKB275?ie=UTF8

 

See what happens if you ditch the TB spacer. Did you clean the MAF and the throttle body already?

You might want to buy some MagnaFlow cats.
You might need to replace all four o2 sensors.

I wouldn't worry about the catback section of exhaust, until you solve the issues at hand.

No other codes? When you say "running like shit", could you be more elaborate?

 

The problem with this thread, you’re going to get a bunch of opinions. It’ll just confuse you more. Tundras are different, as you’ve learned. What you’ve done should’ve made your truck better, not worse. But, obviously it’s worse.

The best way to fix this problem is to choose one person to trust and to listen to. That’s it.

I’m happy to be that guy So here’s whatcha do:

take off the shorties and put stock manifolds back on it.

take off the throttle body spacer.

And do these mods:
Throttle body coolant bypass.
Stock air box mod
Plugs n coil packs
Gears (if you have larger than stock tires)

feel free to call me directly. 760-877-4234. Keith

 

Sweet. Thanks for all the feedback. Definitely sounds like I have too much going on with my tundra engine and maybe I need to simplify it.