2.5L 4 Banger... Is there a way to get more power?

I have a 01' TJ with the 2.5L 4 banger. I don't mind having it I just wish I could sqeeze a little more power out of it. Any suggestions?

Here is all I have in my 4cyl TJ.

Jet Chip II, ScreaminDemon Ignition, 24lbs injectors, 32mm TB & Spacer, Airaid Intake, Electric-Fan, Banks Header, DynoMax Super Turbo Cat Back, and the most important 4.88 gears.

At the end it is still the 4 cyl but I can keep up with traffic without a trouble with my 33" tires but I wont win any race with it.

Thank you for all of the great information. That is quite the list and quite helpful. One of my next purchases will be the TB spacer as well as an Airaid Intake. I realize whatever I do it will still be just a 4 banger but I don't want to fear a headwind on the interstate either. My goal is to keep up with traffic.

I have 3- 4 Bangers here at the house. Two are 98 TJs and one 99. The best thing we did to squeeze more power was to install a cold air intake (Airaid) with a throttle body spacer and installed a throttle body off a 6 cyl TJ. The bore size is bigger on the 6 cyl but will bolt right up to the 4 cyl intake. We found used TB on ebay for about 35-40 bucks. Just make sure the connectors match up correctly. This swap alone made a huge difference and was very cheap.

If you are on close to stock size tires, than the previous mentioned mods are the best. But if you have bigger tires, the best thing you can do is re gear. In my Jeep, none of these mods were really needed except for gears. It was the only dramatic difference. But yes, I still have all the performance mods I could get my hands on

TOYZ_2 wrote:

I have 3- 4 Bangers here at the house. Two are 98 TJs and one 99. The best thing we did to squeeze more power was to install a cold air intake (Airaid) with a throttle body spacer and installed a throttle body off a 6 cyl TJ. The bore size is bigger on the 6 cyl but will bolt right up to the 4 cyl intake. We found used TB on ebay for about 35-40 bucks. Just make sure the connectors match up correctly. This swap alone made a huge difference and was very cheap.

So will I need a cold air intake for a 4 or 6 cylinder?

IntenseBlueSwamper wrote:

If you are on close to stock size tires, than the previous mentioned mods are the best. But if you have bigger tires, the best thing you can do is re gear. In my Jeep, none of these mods were really needed except for gears. It was the only dramatic difference. But yes, I still have all the performance mods I could get my hands on

Right now I do have stock sized tires but I will eventually be going to 33's along with a 4" lift. I was thinking of 4.56 gears also.

For a set up that size you will need 4.88s at least. I run a similar set up on 33s, with 4.56s, and I have the 4.0L. With all the extra weight on there I could still use more power.

IntenseBlueSwamper wrote:

For a set up that size you will need 4.88s at least. I run a similar set up on 33s, with 4.56s, and I have the 4.0L. With all the extra weight on there I could still use more power.

Great to know.... thanks!

lonestar rubi wrote:

CONVERSION!!!!

I'm sorry I guess I don't know what you mean.

He is "suggesting" an engine swap.

IntenseBlueSwamper wrote:

He is "suggesting" an engine swap.

That is what I thought. My reasearch has shown that it would be cheaper just to buy a fixer upper Jeep with a 4.0 in it rather then go through all of the hassel of an engine swap. Bottom line is that I'm not that mechanically inclined.

My wife has the 6 cylinder and yes it is faster than my 4 banger, but i do get a little better gas mileage than she does. My older son went wheeling months ago with some guys at Kleins Ranch and after wheeling all day they assumed he had a 6 cyl. He told them it was just a 4 banger and their comment was they would never talk bad about a 4 banger again.......

Big Mike wrote:

IntenseBlueSwamper wrote:

He is "suggesting" an engine swap.

That is what I thought. My reasearch has shown that it would be cheaper just to buy a fixer upper Jeep with a 4.0 in it rather then go through all of the hassel of an engine swap. Bottom line is that I'm not that mechanically inclined.

Too bad. I know someone selling a 4.0L with auto trans and T-case and harness for $800.00 (firm). The engine has about 140K miles and the trans has about 10k miles, rebuilt by Jasper Auto.

jkx0778 wrote:

Big Mike wrote:

IntenseBlueSwamper wrote:

He is "suggesting" an engine swap.

That is what I thought. My reasearch has shown that it would be cheaper just to buy a fixer upper Jeep with a 4.0 in it rather then go through all of the hassel of an engine swap. Bottom line is that I'm not that mechanically inclined.

Too bad. I know someone selling a 4.0L with auto trans and T-case and harness for $800.00 (firm). The engine has about 140K miles and the trans has about 10k miles, rebuilt by Jasper Auto.

This is a good deal! If you decide to do it you will need to weld new frame motor mounts since the location is different.