I am running 33" tires one mine with stock gearing that's why I rev it so high. I have a had it up past 5500 rpm before. I have shaved heads on my 3.0 so the powerband is now a little different. My air intake isn't stock since I am running a cone filter also running a 2.5 catback exhaust the timing isn't set at stock either the power curve picks up at about 2600 and builds from there.

 

You can turbo charge the 3.0 someone has done it already using a custom exhaust manifold and a grand national turbo. I think he only like spent $700 on his setup. He never had it dynoed though so I can't tell you what he gained in HP.

I want to have mine dynoed sometime to get some real HP #'s.

 

I think he used to post over on the Pirate board...I'm wondering if his is still running? It was pretty stock and I've always wondered about running those cylinder pressures and the poor headgaskets.

I've brought this up before and a few disagree with me, but if you look in the AFM at the opening from the airbox, it's got a pretty small cross sectional area...it even appears smaller than the throttle body. So I think bored out TB's and Some of the 22re's have discovered that an old Supra and MR2 AFM was a simple bolt in and allowed better flow. I've done some searching in the past, but haven't found one to try yet.

How difficult would it be to wire in a MAF from a 3.4 and swap out the ECU? T-100's ran the 3.0 in '95 then used the 3.4 in '96. Did Toyota really make a new wiring harness for just a couple of years run?

 

I guess I am not getting the point here about 3.Slow. If you have it, modify it and quit crying about it, don't be afraid to get down to the nuts and bolts of it and tear it up. There are many simple mods that you can do that produce horsepower as well as fuel economy(if you can keep your foot out of it)and they don't cost alot either and if you're willing to spend a little time and a little more of your hard earned they will go a lot faster. I for one have built the crap out of my Runner and I have'nt spent alot either.(under 3Grand) I have modified everything from a cold air intake, throttle body, heads, headers, cat, exhaust suspension and gearing and my Runner Hauls Ass. I know my runner Hauls Ass, because whether it's eatin' up Chevy's, Ford's or Heeps on the street or passing everthing in sight going up the 15 Cajon pass to the River haulin' MY TWO SEADOO's, I have built my Runner to be fast, because I was tired of hearing from my buddies about how 3.Slow my Runner was, so quit cryin' about it and modify it. Once again The Golden Rule "If A Man Can Make It Another Man Can Modify It.

 

Well put! For a little more encouragement, Ivan Stewart won many a race with the 3."slow" under the hood. The motor is capable of serious power gains.

After hearing of some of the recent rebuilds on the 4X4wire board, I'm once again thinking of building my 3.0 when it finally goes.... ( I was set on the 3.4 swap)

Frank

 

HOLD ON NOW GUYS!!! Why dog the 3.0 like this..This is a v6 guys and is was one of toyota's 1st v6 motors...It may be a dog when it comes to high end power but when geared right and a set of flow masters the sucker comes alive..All u guys lookin for speed need to buy a v8 camaro or somthing...I personally think my 3.0 is just right for my 89 4x4..I go where i want to..And i personally have smoked 2 powerjokes and a couple pissed off bumble bee's(euro cars)...But i will admit why the hell do the 3.0's have problems with headgaskets...and parts are out ragious..I can't find n-e 3.0 motors n-e where around me..either they just don't die or they are just rare around my neck of the woods..and another thing why didn't toyota just put the 3.0 out of the camry's in the trucks and 4runners?? I've driven a 91 camry with the 3.0 d.o.h.c and those things seem to have much more top end power then the 3.0 s.o.h.c..

 

The 1st an 2nd gen 4Runners were truck based vehicles meant to hit the trails. Top end power isn't much use on the trail and really isn't much use in town for normal, day to day driving. Torque that comes on low is useful, which is what the 3.0 does. Add a heavier flywheel to help get its 4000+ lbs moving from a stop and it'll do the job. Not fast. But it'll get me out there and back in comfort.

Now more torque down low would have been nice...like their 3.0 4cyl, turbo, intercooled, diesel that is sold in the rest of the world...and over 25 mpg to boot. Man, I hate marketing execs.

 

HI
the best thing you can do for that motor is to install a COMPLETE EXHAUST system including HEADERS. If you ever look at that system its just plain ugly.
Mark

 

Let me beat this dead horse for awhile!
The 3.0 is an excellent engine, the biggest problems with the 3.0 is that it can't breathe, it's conjested! The cross over used on the 3.0 is a crime, an absolute mis - engineered crime! It's the biggest power robber affecting the 3.0. If you get rid of that x-over, put some headers on the 3.0 and allow her to breathe, SHE comes alive!! As far as the HG recall goes that all happened because of the federal rules and they had to switch to non-asbestos HG's!
The 3.0 will run forever! I have over 300,000 miles on mine, granted I rebuilt it awhile ago at 297,000 original, but that's a lot of original miles before my HG started to leak! I get 21 - 24 mpg w/31" tires, I have no complaints with the 3.0! I learned to love the 3.0 when I worked for Toyota doing HG recalls day in and day out! 95% of the recalls were 1991 - 1995! It was a rarety that I did one on the 1988 - 1990 years!
Well we beat this horse to death again!!!

 

I think the next thing I am going to do is headers and a nice full exhaust. In Alabama we don't have inspections so would a "catless" free flowing exhaust be ok or are there too many 02 sensors involved? I also heard that in order to replace the headers, the engine has to be pulled, is that true?