Topic: 88 Wrangler Performance Ugrades

[bwarren]

I'm the pretty proud owner of an 88 Wrangler with just under 49,000 original miles.

I LOVE the vehicle (except it's a little bit underpowered  :( )!  I'm looking for a recommended path for upgrades.  I've read SOME about replacing the throttle body, installing a spacer, electric fan, header, exhaust, etc.  An extra 10-25%  horsepower is ideally what I'm looking for.

Thanx in advance for everyone's comments.

[shark3471]

I am in the same boat as you with my 89 but I have triple the amount of miles as you. I recently asked this question because before 91 yj 4 bangers were equipped with a TBI (throttle body injection) rather than the later MPI (multi port injection) which means that the available modifications dont fit our rigs. When I asked this question one of the other guys on the board, Guardian 7, helped out and was pretty informative about what can and cant be done currently he is testing TB spacers for TBI 4 bangers  and he also got a new exhaust manifold becasue they seem to be the first thing to go. If you look down a few posts you can find one entitled 89 TBI mods this should help you out. If not drop guardian 7 a line he seems pretty informed on the TBI engines.

[chardrc]

wow i have over 100k more miles than you do on my 90 yj.. amn thats low milage for age

[jeepers]

I'm the pretty proud owner of an 88 Wrangler with just under 49,000 original miles.

I LOVE the vehicle (except it's a little bit underpowered  :( )!  I'm looking for a recommended path for upgrades.  I've read SOME about replacing the throttle body, installing a spacer, electric fan, header, exhaust, etc.  An extra 10-25%  horsepower is ideally what I'm looking for.

Thanx in advance for everyone's comments.

 For anyone who has installed and "felt" a diff... the butt dyno is not very accurate. Take it and have it DYNOED prior and after for proof positive. Or ask someone who has. There was an article in popular mechanics or science (forget which) but they put to the test several of the "back page" ads, and not ONE of them added any MPG or HP, all of them either were a wash or assisted you in LOOSING HP and MPG... The TB spacer does nothing on a fuel injected engine,(In FI & MFI The fuel is injected DIRECTLY at the back of the intake valve! Where is the "mixing and atomization" there) as the whole point of the spacer is to allow for better fuel atomization... but this can only happen on a carb and TBI engine! Even at that, put into the mix different hight of the spacers for different rpm range of use. That also goes for headers and a tuned exhaust.
Electric fans don't take any power from the engine directly, but indirectly from the alternator to get the extra DC power needed to run the motor on the fan.

First thing to ask your self is, do I want to drive and enjoy my Jeep, or do I want to spend a lot of money and sometimes aim it "BALLS TO THE WALL" over rocks, through mud, or down the 1/4 mile ? ? ?
I'v had and done both, and I find I enjoy my 89 YJ stock which runs 99.999% at little cost other than fuel, under powered as it is and "22 mpg hwy", to the looker that costs $$$$$$$$ and have to work on as many hrs as I get to play with it.

The FANS may OOOOOU and AAAAAAAH that - - COST-A-PLENTY - - but you will find they are never around to help you fix it. (or pay the cost)

 Ok,
Watch out for the......Snake oil.....let the feeding frenzy begin!

[Guardian7]

There seems to be lot’s of different opinions on Jeep performance mods, personally, many of the small mods have added up to more power gains on my 89 and cost was fairly low. For example, after going to electric fan (flex-a-lite) I found the fan actually only runs when the vehicle is stopped at a light or off-road when crawling in low gear and no airflow is available through the radiator due to insufficient speed. As I thought more about this I began to realize previously the engine had been turning a power robbing mechanical fan which was really only needed occasionally, therefore now, brake horse load on the engine via alternator will be much less due to the very occasional operation of the thermostat controlled Electric fan. Take your time and research the mods.
http://www.4bangerjp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1801
http://www.4bangerjp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15
http://www.4bangerjp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29
http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/jeep/2.5Lpower.html
http://www.hesco.us/