Banks turbo for the 4.0?

4.10’s is the gearing I’m going to as well when I upgrade to 35’s.
If I were to re-gear I would go with 4.88 if your trans is a 42rle. Overdrive with 4.10 gear is just a little to high except on a flat road.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bank is no longer making/selling turbo or intercooler kits for the TJ. I've always thought Banks ran a good company. But, this seems like a slap in the face to those who purchased a kit. The guy at Banks couldn't/wouldn't tell me if parts would be available. He just kept repeating, "We no longer sell that kit." Back to the drawing board for me.
 
Sorry to hear that they no longer offer the kit. On the other hand, can't really blame them for no longer making a kit for a vehicle that has been out of production for 14 years. As for parts availability, I may need to have the turbo rebuilt at some later date, but those parts are available from the turbo manufacturer, other than that, I don't see anything breaking that I couldn't fix. If you're interested in buying a kit, I'd be calling around to all the parts companies to see if anyone still have one in stock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: billiebob
Sorry to hear that they no longer offer the kit. On the other hand, can't really blame them for no longer making a kit for a vehicle that has been out of production for 14 years. As for parts availability, I may need to have the turbo rebuilt at some later date, but those parts are available from the turbo manufacturer, other than that, I don't see anything breaking that I couldn't fix. If you're interested in buying a kit, I'd be calling around to all the parts companies to see if anyone still have one in stock.
I've read lots of your posts and have great respect for your opinion. Perhaps you could weigh in for me one more time? If banks is no longer selling the kit or offering service to existing ones, wouldn't that include the programmer as well? What if down the road somebody wanted to swap in a stroker engine? Wouldn't the programmer module need reprogramming? Do you have thoughts on Boosted Techs supercharger? I guess that's two more questions.
 
Thanks for the compliment, I'm just a guy with an opinion like everyone else... :)

Probably yes on the programmer question, I'm sure that's unique to specific years. (I wonder if an existing programmer could be used on more than one installation? In other words, could you use my programmer to flash your computer?) You'd have to check with Banks to see about getting replacement programmers in the future. I'm just a guy who bought one of their kits, I have no connection to the company and don't know what their plans are.

Banks specifically says their turbo kit is not for strokers, I'd guess it's because it was too costly to develop a separate program for an unknown engine (stroker kits come in different sizes from different manufacturers, so which one would you tune the programmer for?)

I don't know much about the Boosted Techs supercharger, so I can't comment. Someone on this forum may have one and can let us know about their experience.

In general, because they are mechanically driven, superchargers tend to have better low-end response, but use some hp to create more hp. Turbos tend to be used in applications where they are tuned to boost high-end hp, since they need some exhaust pressure to work. Since they are driven by exhaust pressure, they use less hp to create more hp.

Anything that compresses air also causes it to heat up, so adding some kind of device to shed heat (an intercooler) will increase air density and therefore power.

These are wide generalities, any system can be tuned to work best at any reasonable speed. For example, Banks uses a relatively small compressor so it spools up to create boost at a lower speed. That's a better choice for the 4.0, which doesn't rev high anyway.

Banks has generally been a good company to work with, sorry if you got someone on the phone that wasn't too helpful. The best customer service company can be ruined by a cranky or poorly-trained employee.

I see that you're in sunny CA, so you also have to consider C.A.R.B. certification. Banks was the only boosted kit that I could find that was fully certified.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rowan River
Bank is no longer making/selling turbo or intercooler kits for the TJ.
Yes, I am disappointed too but AEV no longer sells anything TJ and I could use new flares for the highline.
Beyond that.... Chrysler/Jeep quit stocking, making any LJ specific parts years ago.
as said, the TJ has been out of production for 14 years. if there is no market....

Time to do some hot rodding like the 1960s when you had to do it all by yourself. I'll be building new tubular flares for my AEV HighLine this spring. My son has taken up smithing, welding and fabricating. Should be a good father son project.

I still love both Banks & AEV, they have the best engineers out there.
 
I love the CJ/YJ/TJ cuz it is one of the few vehicles easy to hot rod and customize in your garage on a zero $$$ budget today. The tech on the JK/JL eliminates the hot rodding options. The tech on a TJ is borderline complex at eliminating many customizing options.

In the 1950s guys would sand cast their own parts in the driveway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ElectricWizard
I love the CJ/YJ/TJ cuz it is one of the few vehicles easy to hot rod and customize in your garage on a zero $$$ budget today. The tech on the JK/JL eliminates the hot rodding options. The tech on a TJ is borderline complex at eliminating many customizing options.

In the 1950s guys would sand cast their own parts in the driveway.
Do you ever quit? You aren't going to hot rod any TJ 4.0 on a zero budget. The tech on the JK and JL does not even begin to slow down hot rodding options. They have both turbo and super charger kits for them and they very tunable. That and the TJ tech is not even close to borderline complex. There are and have been tuners that can get into the PCM and tune it for years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: S Spurrier
I'm more of a carburetor guy but yeah if you like computers and millions of tiny wires and multiplexing.... have at 'er. Before getting yer panties in a knot.... there are a few of us who like to do it all ourselves without paying a geek to tweek the computer.

And yes, after trouble shooting the lockers... even the TJ is stupidly complex.

But first you need to be old enough to understand what hot rodding is.
Tuner cars are not hot rodded cars.
And I prefer rat rodding anyway.

Glad you found your niche in tuner tach and marketing to those who like to pay for it rather than do it.
Me? I only do it for myself.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: KCNoDots
I'm more of a carburetor guy but yeah if you like computers and millions of tiny wires and multiplexing.... have at 'er. Before getting yer panties in a knot.... there are a few of us who like to do it all ourselves without paying a geek to tweek the computer.

And yes, after trouble shooting the lockers... even the TJ is stupidly complex.

But first you need to be old enough to understand what hot rodding is.
Tuner cars are not hot rodded cars.
And I prefer rat rodding anyway.

Glad you found your niche in tuner tach and marketing to those who like to pay for it rather than do it.
Please stop.
 
I decided to install the Banks Turbo (Sidewinder) with an intercooler. Did it about 4 months ago and wanted to share some of the outcomes so far. I would be happy to answer questions on either the install or other observations, but let me start with these.
First, prior to the install, I was able to do a full freeway tank drive at 65 miles per hour. It was 13.8 mpg. After the install, I drove the same distance at the same speed. It was 15.2, or 1.4 mpg better. I also did a commute tank test before and after, which included a 3000 ft. pass climb. Before the install my mpg was 13.2 and after was 15.1. That was a nearly a 2 mpg increase. I should add that my jeep has 2" lift on 31" tires and a modified exterior that causes additional drag.
Second, the torque is amazing. Yes, you could see the increase quoted on the stores webpage, but I want to share my experience. From a stop, it accelerates as fast as any new car now. In fact, not that we broke any laws, an LJ challenged me at a light just to see what would happen. Let me say it wasn't even close. And, no, I didn't take his pink slip.
Third, and this is my favorite, the horse power is instantaneous and monstrous! Before the install, I could only climb the pass at 60 mph. before it would drop a gear and push the RPMs to 4000+. After the install, I could do 80 mph IN OVERDRIVE! Not that I drove over the speed limit ;).
Hope you enjoyed reading this. And as I said, hit me up if you have any other questions.
 
I decided to install the Banks Turbo (Sidewinder) with an intercooler. Did it about 4 months ago and wanted to share some of the outcomes so far. I would be happy to answer questions on either the install or other observations, but let me start with these.
First, prior to the install, I was able to do a full freeway tank drive at 65 miles per hour. It was 13.8 mpg. After the install, I drove the same distance at the same speed. It was 15.2, or 1.4 mpg better. I also did a commute tank test before and after, which included a 3000 ft. pass climb. Before the install my mpg was 13.2 and after was 15.1. That was a nearly a 2 mpg increase. I should add that my jeep has 2" lift on 31" tires and a modified exterior that causes additional drag.
Second, the torque is amazing. Yes, you could see the increase quoted on the stores webpage, but I want to share my experience. From a stop, it accelerates as fast as any new car now. In fact, not that we broke any laws, an LJ challenged me at a light just to see what would happen. Let me say it wasn't even close. And, no, I didn't take his pink slip.
Third, and this is my favorite, the horse power is instantaneous and monstrous! Before the install, I could only climb the pass at 60 mph. before it would drop a gear and push the RPMs to 4000+. After the install, I could do 80 mph IN OVERDRIVE! Not that I drove over the speed limit ;).
Hope you enjoyed reading this. And as I said, hit me up if you have any other questions.

My experience with torque, power, acceleration, etc. was similar although my mileage did the opposite and dropped a bit. I don’t get more than about 13 mpg on the highway and 11 mpg around town. This is with 32” tires and a 2 inch lift.
 
I'm strongly considering this as an option for my LJ but I worry that 37s and a ton of extra weight is already hard on my 42rle, I wonder how long it will live with a turbo.
 
The Banks turbo exceeds the torque rating of my NSG370 by a fair amount but it hasn’t failed yet.

My thought on this is that as long as you don't drive like a jackass, the transmission should be fine. If you're the type who wants to drop the clutch and do burnouts, then all bets are off.
 
My thought on this is that as long as you don't drive like a jackass, the transmission should be fine. If you're the type who wants to drop the clutch and do burnouts, then all bets are off.
Well... I mean... Not every time... ;)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Chris
I'm strongly considering this as an option for my LJ but I worry that 37s and a ton of extra weight is already hard on my 42rle, I wonder how long it will live with a turbo.
Had a Banks turbo on my 2006 LJ auto for 3+ years with no trans problems. The 42rle is a computer controlled transmission and the computer limits the torque to trans to a safe level. Shouldn't be a problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rowan River