CAMTuning's 2025 TRD Off Road Performance & ECU tuning build

[CAMTuning]

Was your new turbo like the one by turbokits that has the same housing size as oem but larger compressor and turbine wheels? Or, was your turbo a different design altogether?

Just curious because the turbokits one seems like it is being sent out to customers already and it would be interesting to know if, at the moment, it is best to hold off on installing it or something similar (i.e., "larger" turbos) before other supporting mods and tuning are available.

You mentioned the turbine side design maybe being suboptimal for this testing. I have also seen other mods in development for the intake side of the engine. Things like the turbo compressor inlet elbow, boost tubes, and throttle body inlet elbow seem to be categorized as restrictions or things that can be improved upon.

Do you think it is worth it to look into optimizing the intake path in this way to maximize the amount of air mass into the cylinders? As in, would this increase in air density allow the engine to pump enough air through it to get back into the optimal turbine operating range for your new turbo with larger turbine? Assuming no choking of the flow from the pressure the compressor is producing. Or, did you mean that the problem is simply in the new turbo design at this point?

Not the same, so I wouldn't make any assumptions about their turbo, especially since mine definitely has an issue. I'm getting good at swapping it now!

I haven't seen any results from the other kit - good or bad.

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[CAMTuning]

1-year update on the truck.

Just crossed 11,500 miles. Still my daily and it gets driven and logged constantly.

This has also been my main test platform over the last year. A lot of dyno time, a lot of back-to-back testing, and a lot of real-world miles to validate changes instead of just relying on quick results.

I’ve used it for development work with SXTH Element (intake and intercooler), FAF downpipe testing, different fuel setups, and a lot of calibration changes across different conditions.

I also had a custom turbo built for it as a development piece. It wasn’t cheap and it failed almost immediately. I kept that public because that’s part of doing this the right way. Not everything works, but you learn quickly and move forward with better direction.

Point is—everything I offer is based on this kind of testing. This truck isn’t theory, it’s what I’m working on and logging almost every day.

Appreciate all the support over the last year. There’s more coming—new turbo options, proven combinations, and some bigger partnerships.

 

[CAMTuning]

Quick update: while reinstalling the stock turbo today I discovered the upgraded turbo already has compressor wheel contact with the housing and noticeable shaft play after less than 20 miles of use.


That obviously shouldn’t happen, and it likely means the turbo wasn’t operating correctly during the dyno testing. For now the stock turbo is going back on while I sort this out with the manufacturer.


This is exactly why I test combinations on my own truck before recommending anything to customers.


I wouldn't assume the turbo combination couldn't work since today's testing was not valid.

After a long wait, I have received my turbo from repair and plan to install it again in the next week or so and post new results.

 

[CAMTuning]

After a long wait, I have received my turbo from repair and plan to install it again in the next week or so and post new results.

Better late than never, but I did finally get around to installing that turbo last weekend. I'll have time to tune it, hopefully in the next week or two. Kids are out of school, and work has been busy, so my personal toys have taken a back seat. Good news is that Tacoma and 4Runner remote tuning are going excellent.!

 

[nickyp]

Hi CAMTuning,
Did you ever test the intake & intercooler combo on the stock tuning?
Also, what do you think the results would be if the stock intake was kept, but the intercooler was added and tuned to 91 octane? I guess I'm interested in how limiting the original intake actually is, I'm nervous to lose the filter efficiency of the stock intake.

Thanks!

 

[CAMTuning]

Hi CAMTuning,
Did you ever test the intake & intercooler combo on the stock tuning?
Also, what do you think the results would be if the stock intake was kept, but the intercooler was added and tuned to 91 octane? I guess I'm interested in how limiting the original intake actually is, I'm nervous to lose the filter efficiency of the stock intake.

Thanks!

I did test all combinations on the stock calibration.
I didn’t test a tune with the stock intake plus intercooler. I feel it would be close to the stock intake plus tune, maybe with a little room for increased boost and spark advance. That would allow for a bit more power, but more consistent power through repeated or extended pulls.
Keeping the stock intake is something I understand the reasoning for, and will still net really impressive gains with a tune.

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