more power in my t100?

[t10096]

I have a 96 t100 3.4l. I want to get some more power. Probably either a supercharger or a swap for a v8. Which would be a better/cheaper/more effective option? I don't have a ton of experience, but I'm hoping to be able to figure out how to do whatever I choose.

[CJM]

97-98 is only years the supercharger will work, something about the computer. It also will not be cheap even if you did get it to work you need to have the trans valvebody done, bigger injectors, bigger fuel pump and usually aftermarket fuel management. Then you hope the trans itself can handle the power without rebuild.

V8 swap would work better, say a chevy 350 or 4.3L. Or just leave the truck alone, its not meant to be fast but have insane gearing and torque.

[MTL_4runner]

The 96-97 years can be supercharged, but you usually need to swap out the ECU for a 98+ version. The problem was the fuel maps in the ECU weren't adequate to run the supercharger. Other than that there's plenty of info on here about how to go about it. Hopefully you have a few spare $$$ because the supercharger upgrade isn't cheap to do right (you need to buy S/C, piggyback controller, injectors, fuel pump, tranny upgrade, 98+ ECU, etc).

If you are considering the V8 swap, IMHO I'd just buy 2001 Tundra V8 and be done with it.

[Crinale]

buying the tundra would be probably cheaper and easier... can find the first gen v8s for <$10k now... and you would know itll work, rather than a swap that may or may not come out correct...

[t10096]

I can't bring myself to sell. I bought her when I was 16 as my first car. I'm trying to turn it into a trophy truck/prerunner. maybe I'll just put a newer 3.4l in it.

[t10096]

Thank you for all your help. I just started looking at forums and they are really helpful.

[Crinale]

well if your going trophy truck/prerunner, engine is not really the first thing you should be working on... start looking into long travel suspensions and rules/regulations in the different race series'. Some require you to have the same engine configuration as stock. IE, your t100 is a N/A v6. Supercharging would be against the rules, and a v8 would be against the rules. Thus the best option you would have is a swap to a more powerful v6. (a friend of mine, and several other people on this board, have run into this issue with SCORE)

if you want to do desert racing, you better do your homework first, its a LOT of work and money.

[t10096]

I don't plan on actually participating in races. I just want to have fun with it. Regulations don't apply, I have looked at a lot of other things icluding long travel suspension. I just didn't post that because I didn't have questions about it. Yet.

[Crinale]

where in the world are you?