Hi guys;
I bought a 5000 lb trailer and my 2000 LX470 (125,000 miles) struggles up hills (not so great even without the trailer). I'm due to replace it anyway but would like another 100 Series. I notice the horsepower went up in 2006 in both the LX and the Land Cruiser, along with a slight increase in torque. How much would it help? I'd miss an 100 Series dearly.
Just an idea, get out your calculator and figure:
early 100 series + headers + cat-back exhaust + free flow intake + throttle body = $$$
or
2006 100 series = $$$
Either one should net you about the same horse power and torque. In fact you might see better gains in the older LC.
I'm not advocating either one, but do a little research and see which is more cost effective.
Albeit, you might get a 2006 with less mileage and they will be easier to find with less mileage, but will cost more, same with a low mileage early cruiser, but may be cheaper because it is older but may be harder to find with low miles.
Also take into consideration: are you planning on any suspension upgrades? It will cost more to take out your AHC on a newer LC than having an older LC that is pre-AHC.
Between the upgrade to a 5 speed tranny, and the addition of VVTi - it makes for a pretty dramatic difference IMO. When I was shopping for my 100 series, I test drove a couple 2005s and my now 2006. The numbers may not seem like much, but the mid range torque is better and passing power at fwy speeds is better. Whereas I felt the 2005 was only adequate and I wasn't sure it had enough power for me to live with, the 2006 seemed spot on. It's still no speed demon, but I don't wish for more power even when the car is fully laden for vacation, on almost 33 tires. I had the same 4.7 VVTi motor in my 2005 V8 4runner, where it WAS a speed demon in that package.
I've posted this pic before but I've towed over 6k lbs a few hundred miles and it was a pleasant experience even up hills.
Headers will make the most dramatic difference on an older hundy. K&N intake kit and the like will net very small gains (~10hp/tq IIRC), in and of itself isn't a great mod but with headers and exhaust would round out the package nicely.
A replacement throttle body though? The 100 has a drive by wire electronic throttle. Good luck finding an aftermarket replacement...and even if there was/is one (honestly, I've never looked), there is no empirical data that suggests even a forced-induction setup will outflow the capabilities of the OEM unit, let alone an essentially stock 4.7 with some bolt-ons.
Not trying to be an ass, but this isn't a small block chevy. The TB isn't a flow restriction until you get to power levels that, honestly, are unrealistic for a 100 series.
To the OP: if you have the coin and will be towing on a regular basis, finding a newer 100 series would probably be to your benefit. Not only are you adding more power, but you get VVTi and an extra gear in the transmission. Why polish a turd when you can start with a diamond?
For me, I'm poor so I'll continue the turd polishing.
We should dyno a stock 2006 truck and compare to the DT headers. Whos with me?
On another note the 5 speed gear ratios are shorter but the final drive us taller... 4 speed vs 5 speed. I haven't done the math but I'll bet that makes some difference. Peak Torque on both motors is the same but I'm betting the curve is nicer on the VVTi motor.
184awhp is excellent result. The reason for me to say this was after dealing with some of their flagship engines like 2jzgte etc. the strange thing I learnt was that I had a 06 td amazon and a vvti Cygnus. I found the td faster even though both of them almost weigh the same but on paper the 2uz vvti has more torque and hp than 1hdfte. Only the power delivery graph is different.
184awhp is excellent result. The reason for me to say this was after dealing with some of their flagship engines like 2jzgte etc. the strange thing I learnt was that I had a 06 td amazon and a vvti Cygnus. I found the td faster even though both of them almost weigh the same but on paper the 2uz vvti has more torque and hp than 1hdfte. Only the power delivery graph is different.
Peak numbers certainly dont tell much of the story... if you look at part two of the dyno the headers dont make a huge peak number difference but the improvement is everywhere with larger delta's than the peak differences.
RobRed is right on the money. Its the area under the curve that counts in the real world. Peak increases are great for bragging rights, but gains across a wide rev range are where the real values lives.
struggles up hills (not so great even without the trailer). I'm due to replace it anyway but would like another 100 Series. I notice the horsepower went up in 2006 in both the LX and the Land Cruiser, along with a slight increase in torque. How much would it help? I'd miss an 100 Series dearly.
