What is the best air intake for a TJ?

[Rdeitz]

I have a stock 2001 TJ (20,000 miles!). Use it to go up on the Rubicon and over the Sierras in winter. Want to get a bit more power at elevation. Saw a lot of places say replace the air intake. I am open to also changing the muffler with a high flow at the same time. But there are like 30-40 different choices on Summit! I go in water and snow - what is the best new air intake on the TJ?

 

[DrDmoney]

The factory intake with a paper filter, just ask anyone.

 

[Steel City 06]

The only way you are going to see significant increased power is forced induction (supercharger/turbocharger) or additional displacement/compression (stroker or V8 swap).

Most other mods are a waste of money. The factory intake and exhaust flows well enough even for heavily modified engines.

A supercharger kit is the easiest way to get significantly more power, but it will cost you a lot. But the results are quite dramatic at all elevations. Here is the most popular kit on the forum:
https://magnumpowers.com/product/ornare-et/

 

[Chris]

Sorry, but you will gain absolutely nothing whatsoever from an air intake. Check out the FAQ on it here:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/cold-air-intake-faq.3087/
The only way to gain real power from your 4.0 is forced induction, a stroker, or some internal engine work (i.e. cam, headwork, etc.).

 

[DrDmoney]

If you want to change the muffler to get a different tone there are many options for cat back systems, I like the Banks Monster exhaust personally.
Also there are no gains to be realized here either.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Where a Wrangler is concerned, an aftermarket air intake is a 100% waste of money when increased performance is the goal. To increase performance you can install a supercharger, turbocharger, smaller tires, regear both axles to a lower ratio, install a larger engine, or remove all heavy bolt on shit like massive battering ram bumpers.

 

[Vasq]

heavy bolt on shit

 

[L J]

welcome

 

[DrDmoney]

BTW Welcome to the Forum from El Dorado!

 

[jjvw]

What is high altitude? More than 13,000 feet?

 

[Rdeitz]

The factory intake with a paper filter, just ask anyone.

OK, I thought it looked pretty good which is why I still have it. Other sites said a KN or other open design would get you a few but I wanted to check. Thanks!

 

[Rdeitz]

BTW Welcome to the Forum from El Dorado!

Thanks!

 

[Rdeitz]

What is high altitude? More than 13,000 feet?

Up to 8000 feet. Try that in Minnesota or Texas!

 

[jjvw]

Up to 8000 feet. Try that in Minnesota or Texas!

Half of Colorado is higher than that, including a whole bunch of highways.

 

[Rdeitz]

Where a Wrangler is concerned, an aftermarket air intake is a 100% waste of money when increased performance is the goal. To increase performance you can install a supercharger, turbocharger, smaller tires, regear both axles to a lower ratio, install a larger engine, or remove all heavy bolt on shit like massive battering ram bumpers.

I had a 78 CJ 7, 258 and put a 2 barrel, eledbrock aluminum manifold, and headers on it and it like doubled what it could do. Seems this 4.0 liter at 195 horse is not using what it can.

 

[jjvw]

I had a 78 CJ 7, 258 and put a 2 barrel, eledbrock aluminum manifold, and headers on it and it like doubled what it could do. Seems this 4.0 liter at 195 horse is not using what it can.

How did the transmission, tire size and axle gearing compare?

 

[Rdeitz]

Half of Colorado is higher than that, including a whole bunch of highways.

I know, driven some of them. Here in CA our summits are 7000 and they can't keep them open in the winter! Better drivers in CO.

 

[rasband]

I had a 78 CJ 7, 258 and put a 2 barrel, eledbrock aluminum manifold, and headers on it and it like doubled what it could do. Seems this 4.0 liter at 195 horse is not using what it can.

Theres more than a few differences in the fuel delivery systems. We are 14 years out from the last 4.0L and the best we have so far is a turbo or supercharger, and then some unsubstantiated claims (proven false claims?) about throttle body spacers, cold air intakes, etc.

By now, the cream would have risen to the top.

 

[Steel City 06]

There are other power mods that might help, but require tuning as well as significant mechanical work. Aftermarket camshafts, performance heads (like Clegg or Edelbrock), poor man's stroker (4.2 crankshaft), porting, etc. For all that effort you might as well build a stroker.

And the strokers do have significantly more power over stock. For example, the Golen 4.6:
https://golenengineservice.com/jeep-engines/
And that's without forced induction. Add PSI to a stroker and you get an easy 400hp...

 

[Rdeitz]

How did the transmission, tire size and axle gearing compare?

Not comparing the 2. The CJ had 4:56's and 33's with a Detroit locker. But after manifold and headers I could go 100mph over the summit. Huge difference.