V6 Exhaust for 4 Cylinder - Toyota Cheap Tricks

Jun. 01, 1999 By Charles King
During a regular trip to my favorite truck parts recycler (junkyard), I noticed a not so coincidental similarity between the 6 cyl. exhaust and my stock system. The two systems are virtually identical. Bends, brackets, etc. are all aligned.

The differences include a larger diameter for the 6-cyl. pipe and a much larger muffler.

I bought the entire 6-cyl. system (from the catalytic converter, back) for about $45.00. For another $20, a local muffler shop spliced it to my system, right behind the converter. (Of course the recycler would not sell the 6-cyl. converter. "It's against the law.")

The larger pipe dropped nearly a full second off of my crude but pratical 3rd-gear pull test, from about 9 seconds to 8 seconds; indicating a significant gain in mid-band torque. The test essentially consists of a 20 mph rolling kick-down. By measuring elapsed time to 60 mph, I can easily assess performance mods without variables of shifting, etc.

Other mods that I have incorporated include a K&N air filter, an enlarged throttle-body opening from L-C Engineering, and a mild cam from TRD. The K&N was not too pricey but I'm not convinced of much improvement. The throttle body didn't seem to do much either. (I had already opened up the exhaust.) The cam added about 1000 rpm, or so, to the peak of the power curve and the top-end. But, you really have to flog it to see the difference.

Considering all the mods that I have tried,the 6-cyl. exhaust was by far the most cost effective performance upgrade I have found.

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