Chip or programmer

[GreenMachine]

I just bought a 2003 jeep tj,

And I am already looking into an intake, not sure if i should get a snorkel or cold air, as I dont want to cut a hole in the side of my car,

but I am wondering if there are other easy ways to gain Horse Power and Torque, other than exhaust,

Thanks guys

[w squared]

Please don't call it a car 

What type of engine does it have? Four-banger or the I-6?

How much horsepower and torque do you want to add? What's your budget?

You can bolt on a supercharger, swap in a Chevy V-8, or build a stroker....

Or you can run a free-flowing air intake and get a "performance" exhaust.

You can even rice it up and put in a throttle body spacer (You know we all love the pookmobile, Dana  )

As far as "easy ways" go, you best bet would probably be to combine a free flowing air intake system with an exhaust system that will reduce backpressure. As far as chips go...I don't know offhand what works or doesn't on a TJ engine...or if any of them work.

Oh...and again, I'm not at sure about this on TJ's, but I think that most snorkels are designed to work with the stock airbox and they may or may not be compatible with a "CAI" unit.

[Corey Kruchkowski]

There is no chip, or programmer, on the market that does anything worthwhile as far as performance is concerned to a 4.0L MPI system.

Best money spent = cam. Comp 68-232-4

Second best money spent = intake (big throttle body) and exhaust (headers, lose the cats).

Forget the Chevy thing, waste of money if you build the right stroker.

How to build the right stroker?

Read here:
http://telusplanet.net/public/cdkruchk/Stroker%20Recipe%202009.pdf

[fony3]

I was looking into it chips and programmers myself a while back. You do get a few people saying they notice gains, but for the most part the consensus is that any gains it may add are extremely minimal and not worth the cost. Your best bet would be to start by opening up your exhaust and air intake (unless you want a snorkel).

[parabs]

There is no chip, or programmer, on the market that does anything worthwhile as far as performance is concerned to a 4.0L MPI system.

Best money spent = cam. Comp 68-232-4

Second best money spent = intake (big throttle body) and exhaust (headers, lose the cats).

Forget the Chevy thing, waste of money if you build the right stroker.

How to build the right stroker?

Read here:
http://telusplanet.net/public/cdkruchk/Stroker%20Recipe%202009.pdf

That is pretty interesting...I have been looking all over for CNC port and polished heads for the 4.0l and havent found anything..yet.

I would definatly like to build up a 4.0l, and it is reasonably cheap all things considered.

[S-FLY]

Look at the Edge Trail Jammer kit -- although I think most of the power from that comes from the bigger throttle body.

[GreenMachine]

Okay thanks,

I already opened up the intake a bit

[dac]

I've tried/have the edge kit, header and cat back.  With 31's and 3.73's seat-of-pants it felt like it went better than a rubicon 31's and 4.10's.  For what it's worth though, I think re-gearing and some sort of traction aid would have been better for what I spent.  Mind you with the 33's I have on it now it still motors down the highway in 5th without too much trouble, depends how windy it is.

[GreenMachine]

A guy from work has it too.
He said 100 hp? Rides on 33's and can still burn out in 4x4?

[GreenMachine]

any stores in Calgary that would have it in stock? And ideas on price?

[dac]

Whwn I picked mine up the best place for price was Mopac on 16th.  I'm not sure if anyone would have it in stock?

[esi]

It won't gain you 100HP. they are around 180-200 stock. maybe 40 extra hp from the kit

[parabs]

40hp is huge!  That is a 20% increase, and you would defiantly feel that...100hp, no way, I really cant see that.  In mustang speak, the stock 5.0l had 215hp, and a 20 hp intake had a real big increase from the seat of the pants feel..

The advertised numbers are misleading on any "power adder".  Ideally, you want to see a dyno graph of your combo (stock in your case) vs the addon(s) you want and the post install dyno thrash.  26 hp is great, but not at 4600rpm unless that is the engine speed where you drive.

Coming from a world of mustangs, exhaust is great to start with, then a free-er breathing intake, followed by some nicely port and polished heads and a cam.  you will wake that engine/Jeep up.

The question really is, how much do you want to spend?  And, how much time can you have it down?  I ask this because these 4.0l are pretty relaible, and in my experience with my mustangs, the more power added via aftermarket, the more headaches and $$$ spent to keep it working right.

[GreenMachine]

I don't mindnspending up to 500. Maybe a bit more and it is my everyday driver, so minimal down time.

[Gearhead]

So far  Cory has made the best suggestion, that is a nice camshaft however I'm not aware that Comp cams makes a cam for late model 4.0l engines.  Comp makes great products , they're just not up to speed with a couple of things as far as Jeep engines are concerned. I wouldn't waste  any money on an aftermarket programer or piggyback device.    $  500 isn't  gonna get you much at all ,   increase youre budget  , lower youre expectations  and don't waste  money on junk like  pretty coloured anodized throttle body spacers .