Top Performance Modifications for Pickup Trucks

Trucks are already powerful machines. They're built to work for you. But what if you want more? A bit more horsepower couldn't possibly hurt. If you're interested in more power, you may want to make some of these top performance modifications for pickup trucks. These modifications can take your workhorse from adequate to exemplary in no time.

Aftermarket Exhaust

Adding an aftermarket exhaust system can significantly improve your truck's performance without costing too much time or money. This quick and easy modification can bolster your truck's horsepower. Most of the time, cars and trucks come with stock mufflers designed to quiet down the vehicle rather than optimize efficiency. By replacing this with something like a tuned cat-back exhaust, you can feel up to 20 horsepower in improvement while hearing the difference as well.

Cold-Air Intake

Installing a cold-air intake doesn’t add much power, but it does achieve more efficiency. By ensuring that your truck can run more efficiently, you will see performance boosts. This is because cold-air intakes take in warm air from outside the engine compartment and then cools it. When it is sucked back into the engine for combustion, it is denser. More density means a higher amount of oxygen burned at that volume, creating more power and efficiency.

Engine Tuners

When seeking the top performance modifications for pickup trucks, you may have stumbled upon engine tuners. These may be chips, programmers, or modules designed to boost engine output. Some manufacturers claim to get an improvement of up to five miles per gallon, though your mileage may vary based on your driving style. While effective for boosting power, they can negatively impact the lifespan of your vehicle if you don't know what you're doing.

Superchargers and Turbochargers

Superchargers and turbochargers can add a boost to your vehicle. These are both known as forced induction systems. In other words, they compress the air flowing into the engine, which then boosts power. Remember, denser air means more oxygen, which equals more power.

The primary difference between the two is that a turbocharger utilizes exhaust steam as energy, running it through a turbine that then spins the compressor to make it turn faster. On the other hand, superchargers use the crankshaft to produce power, which is connected to the engine by a belt. This allows for more fuel to be added to the combustion charge to boost power.