Modifications

Downey V6 Headers - Last Thanksgiving, I bought a set of Downey's ceramic coated V6 headers.  They arrived with everything needed to go ahead and install them (minus the tools of course) so that's what I did.  You can read a write-up on my install here . Once I found the setup I liked the most with the headers (intake/exhaust piping), I was very happy with my purchase.  This mod has been by far the best mod I've done to my engine yet.  I would recommend this mod to anyone looking for the biggest bang for their buck.  Taking into account all the different exhaust setups I've tried and what I paid to get the heads tapped, I probably spent in the neighborhood of $1000 to get the performance to my liking.

Jacobs Pro Street Ignition - I bought this kit from Performance Products for about $450.  For that much money, I did expect more performance than what I got out of it.  Basically, get it if you want a punchier throttle throughout your entire RPM band.  I think this kit shines the best during interstate driving when passing... the throttle is a little more responsive and shows improved acceleration at top speeds.  The installation is very simple, with the hardest part being where to mount the coil.  The spark plugs will need to be re-gapped based on how your engine already performs.  This is something I learned AFTER I bought the kit (pretty convenient, huh?).  It's basically trial and error... try one gap, then try another and see which one works best for you.  I finally settled on .058 of an inch.  Overall I'm happy with the kit and I think it works well with the headers in that it burns all of the air coming in, giving more exhaust which the headers take care of very effectively.  Click here to see a few pics I took of my system.

Air box Mod - This is probably the cheapest mod that I have done to my engine, and one of the most effective.  This is a very simple mod that anyone could do to their truck/car.  Basically what I did was went out and bought a K&N air filter and took it home.  When I got home, I unclipped the top of the air box and held it to the side.  Then I unbolted the bottom of the air box and removed it from the engine bay.  With my Dremel tool, I cut the entire bottom of the box out, leaving the sides intact to offer some sort of protection against mud/debris.  After that, I bolted the box back in, dropped in the K&N air filter, then re-attached the top of the air box.  I then went for a drive and immediately noticed an improvement in HP and torque.  I would compare this mod to being almost the equivalent of the FIPK that K&N offers for $200.  My overall cost was (assuming you already have a dremel tool or some sort of cutting device) the price of the air filter... $40, which makes this a very cheap, yet very effective mod.  However, if you do a lot of creek crossings when you're wheeling, this mod probably isn't for you... as water will get into your engine easier.  I've also been told that dirt roads that stir up a lot of dust will get soaked up into the filter, turning the oil in the filter into some sort of clay.  I check my filter and throttle-body periodically and haven't noticed anything that would suggest dirt is getting through.  The picture on the left basically illustrates how it was done.  I also removed the shroud that covered the drivers side headlight for a little more flow.

Electric Fan - I installed an electric fan to help free up some extra horsepower that the engine used to turn the belt driven stock fan and clutch.  When I removed the stock fan, I was surprised at how heavy it actually was.  I estimate it weighed in at about 15-20 pounds, maybe more.  With the electric fan, my engine stays cooler at idle and the only stress it's putting on the engine is on the alternator, or so I've been told.  I still noticed a few more HP increase from doing this swap.  Click here for another write-up I did on this install.

Headlight Harness Upgrade - It is no secret that the older Toyota trucks have poor night-time visibility due to wiring that's too small and power that branches off a different system instead of straight off the battery.  I learned of a wiring harness that Autobulbdepot.com sold that would take care of these hindrances.  Basically the harness uses one of the stock plugs as a switch, and powers the headlights straight off the battery.  Click here to see how easy it is to upgrade your system.  I plan to add the Hella H4 replacement headlights and upgrade the bulbs to PIAA Super Whites when the funds come in.

Update: Autobulb depot seems to have gone out of business. However, Daniel Stern's website can show you how to create your own. He also sells top notch lighting products. I bought my Hella eCode housings and some very efficient German made bulbs from him. I do not recommend getting PIAA Super Whites, because many have said they wash out easily and don't produce much usable light.