Posted: Sep 07 2005 at 2:19am | IP Logged

I've had my 2005 Frontier 2.5l I4 for about a month, and I'm curious what I can do to free up some power..

Its 2500cc and only 154 Hp?

My Brothers Yamaha R1 at 1000cc puts out over 180HP!!!!

This engine is 2.5 times the size - where can I get more power - I'd like an exhaust, intake and reprogram the computer..

Am I the only one - are there any mods?

Posted: Sep 07 2005 at 10:10pm | IP Logged

If you want a good top end, and better gas mileage.  Get a toneau cover or bed cap.

Plus you're thinking way off when it comes to your brother's R1.  You have to think power to weight ratio.  Plus the fact the bike isn't meant to pull anything like the frontier can.

Posted: Oct 02 2005 at 2:51pm | IP Logged

Ok... lets do this... you take your intake and exhaust, against my bed cover... and lets see who can go faster. 

It'll take that motor more power just to go faster, do to the drag that tailgate will create. 

I gained more top end speed by adding my bed cover than I did adding my intake and exhaust. 

Posted: Oct 03 2005 at 10:36pm | IP Logged

So just put the tailgate down ! no extra weight of the cover.

Posted: Oct 04 2005 at 5:52pm | IP Logged

Ummmmhmmmm.  Recent study found putting a tailgate down does nothing for you. 

And besides, the bed cover I have weighs about 10 pounds.  (and the more weight you have on the rear wheels, the more traction you'll be able to keep.

Posted: Oct 05 2005 at 4:22pm | IP Logged

Aerodynamics to a truck is as important as motor oil when you are trying to squeeze every last bit of HP performance and speed out of your engine. I too have a soft (roll-up) top toneau bed cover and I immediately noticed improved gas milage after installing it.  

If you want to gain power and/or speed out of your 2.5 then re-gearing maybe the best answer to your problem, but warning this will be expensive unless you can perform the gear removal and instalation of the new gears yourself....

Most older 4-cylinder engines had modest compression ratios but were balanced with a very long rod stroke and crank shaft turn.  Re-gearing could help reduce the drag on your engine thus allowing the engine to produce HP more efficiently. The best part about re-gearing is that you can create more power and/or speed depending on what gears you are going to use but it can all work to your benefit without ever touching the engine at all...