2014 Toyota Tundra
Refreshed styling, both inside and out, is the name of the game for the 2014 Toyota Tundra. Compared to the previous year, the 2014 full-size Tundra looks taller and wider due to the significantly more chiseled front and rear fascias. Apart from the doors and cab, the 2014 Tundra uses all-new sheet metal. Inside the cab, the entire dash and center console has been updated, with easier to read gauges, radio and HVAC controls. Powering this refreshed second-generation half-ton pickup is a choice of three engines:
- 4.0L V6 - 270 HP 278 lb-ft
- 4.7L V8 - 276 HP 313 lb-ft
- 5.7L i-Force V8 - 381 HP 401 lb-ft
TRD-like Forced Induction
In 2008, Toyota introduced a factory available supercharger for the Tundra equipped with the 5.7L V8 engine, pushing the power rating to over 500 horses. 2013 Tundra owners can still net this kind of gain (and without factory pricing!) with an aftermarket roots-style supercharger. Run via a belt off the crank pulley, a twin-screw Tundra supercharger features two internal scrolls that compress the inlet air. Internal to the supercharge head unit are two rotors - a male and a female. These scrolls counter rotate (squeezing the air between them) creating a pressurized air charge that is then fed directly into the manifold. A roots-style supercharger, whilst working on a similar principle, compresses the air on the outside of the rotor and then flows it along the perimeter of the housing. In effect, this creates a longer, more turbulent path for the air to flow and is therefore less efficient. A mild supercharger setup on a 2014 Tundra will run at 6-8 psi, which is good enough to add an easy 120-130 horsepower. In order to accomodate this kind of power, the stock fuel injectors will need to be changed to a larger capacity and the engine will require a new tune. That said, the complete twin-screw style supercharger kits on the market today for Toyota Tundra pickups usually include new fuel injectors, thus owners will only need to arrange for a new tune on their own. For those that want to turn up the power even more, once the supercharger is installed, boost can be increased by simply replacing the crank pulley with one that will increase the RPM of the head unit. Of course, engine internals, transmission and axle strength must be taken into consideration when going beyond 6-8 psi.
Muscular Wheel Arches
Fender flares on a 2014 Toyota Tundra are used to project a powerful stance while allowing the use of a wider tire. Hugging the wheel arch, aftermarket fender flares can add up to 1.5-2" of additional coverage, meaning you can stuff a fatter tire without fear of getting a ticket due to the tire sticking too far out. In terms of construction, all fender flares are made of some combination of thermoplastic with embedded UV-protective properties. They are lightweight, resist scratches and scruffs and also retain light impact ability. Style wise, fender flares are always delivered unpainted, in a black finish. Most elect to leave them this way, as the black natural finish does look good with all paint colors, and it also does a good job of hiding scrapes that can happen when pushing through brush. On the other hand, for those that want to color match their fender flares to the truck, thermoplastic flares are easily paintable and require no prep work apart from being cleaned. Many flare sets include rivets that are spaced along the top perimeter. This look is very popular in the off-road world, yet these rivets are almost entirely for show. While some fender flare kits do require additional drilling, most do not and attach to factory bolt locations or use specialty automotive tape.
