How can I get more power from a 3FE

[CBone]

I'm in need of more power from my 3FE, as I live in the Rockies and want to start pulling a pop-up. I've read lots of posts about engine conversions, but is there any other way to get more power from a 3FE? I know that TRD has superchargers for a lot of their engines, but haven't found anything on the 3FE. I am not necessarily looking for a supercharger, but rather just trying to understand what my options are. I am not inclined to do an engine conversion, as that seems costly and perhaps a hit or miss proposition, as I would have to pay someone to do that--my mechanic skills are not at that level-yet .

Thanks for any thoughts or links or other posts that discuss this.

 

[ginericLC]

There really isn't much you can do to improve the 3FE. There are headers available but the factory manifolds are actually pretty efficient. You could do a cold air intake but you'd sacrifice the wonderful filter housing Toyota designed. The best thing you could do to increase the seat of the pants feel is regear the differentials.

 

[RockDoc]

Complete tune-up, play with advancing the timing a bit. Servicing the injectors can't hurt. Might get a bit of a gain out of the exhaust past the manifolds (delete cats, increase diameter, free-flow muffler). All of these things will help a bit. If you are willing to tear into the engine, shaving the head and changing the cam are reported to yield improvements. I've been thinking of picking up a second head and doing a good "fluid-flow enhancement" job on it, but so far that's just a pipe dream.

A lot of benefit can be found in looking at things behind the engine. Make sure you transmission kick-down cable is adjusted right, one out of adjustment will have the engine running at too low of rpm. Getting this right will make the truck behave completely different on its own. I swapped in an extreme valvebody from Wholesale Automatics in Aus (lock up in 3rd, quicker shifts, more responsive down-shifting), big difference in performance especially when you are at highway speed. Those who have swapped in a manual have loved the results.

As genericLC said, changing the diff gearing can give you better performance. Several of the guys with 3FE powered 80s have done this. What size tires are you running? I run stockers on the pavement, and 33's on the trail. This jump in size (with stock gearing) makes a HUGE difference in performance.

 

[REKCUT]

Important to know what you set-up is now. Are you totally stock or have you modified your truck?

 

[Wile E Coyote]

There's a FAQ covering this, but the two folks above hit many main points already.

 

[CBone]

Truck is stock at this point, but planning on OME and probably 33's. I'll check out the FAQ, thanks.

 

[REKCUT]

If your bone stock then the most important thing you can do is make sure you are tuned up and everthing is working. There are many threads on how to get more power but short of a different engine, there is nothing you can do that is going to give you a 30% or 40% increase in power. Each of the possible fixes will just give you very small increases. I have de-smoged my truck, added headers but neither of those games me as much an advantage as the original tune up and carb rebuild. I dont know that re-gearing would be a good idea untill you go to the tire change you talked about. Doing it with factory spec tires will give you more low end help but kill you on the highway.

 

[sdbrassfield]

exhaust and gears...

 

[GAS-A-LOT!]

TURBO.... hmmm.. yup...

Home made backyard turbo....

some guys on here have done it....

 

[lovetoski]

Do all the simple things above: tune-up, injector cleaning, bigger exhaust.

That might give you a small improvement.

Gears will make the biggest difference. The 3FE hits it's hp max at ~3500 rpm. (Don't remember the exact #). Changing diff gears means you can use the hp more easily. It will have an impact on top cruising speed, but because of the deep OD, it's not as big an effect as you might thing. Use one of the various on-line gear calculators to check the speed/rpm/gear options.

Another part of this is to accept that it's a slow tow rig, esp in the hills. Gearing will help it to be a more capable tow rig, but it will still be slow.

If this is serious problem, then an engine swap is your best choice.

 

[silicon_toad2000]

All the basics will work on the 3fe as any other engine. Mainly headwork to imrpove the gas flow of the engines. a nice 3 angle vlave job on the valve seats, Port the intake and exhaust tracs and match port the manifolds so gas flow is not interuppted by a step when flowing from the head to the manifold. Make sure the gasket doesn't get in the way either.
One for the urban myth section, allegedly if all the spark plugs are facing the centre of the combustion chamber it's supposed to give you a pony or two.
To get significantly more power from any engine without super/turbo charging it you have to do so by providing more torque at higher revs and without throwing some bucks at balancing the bottom end i doubt the 3fe is up for too many more revs.

 

[DBS311]

Mate the 3FE head with a 2F block, re-gear, throw in an H55F 5 speed, build a new exhaust (hi-flow cats and muffler), and that's about the best you're gonna get. Turbocharging is always an option, but it doesn't sound like you are a candidate for that.

 

[cody c]

you could get more power by increasing the displacement to 5.7, also you could decrease the weight by putting in a 5.7. Know where im going with this?