7 Jeep Wrangler Performance Upgrades for a Better Ride

By Mike Cote - December 3, 2018

Top Products For Adding Horsepower and Torque

Sometimes that stock power just isn’t quite enough to get you where you need to go, whether it’s up that rock face or getting out in front when the lights flick green. But knowing where to start when upgrading the performance of your Jeep wrangler can be tough. So, we’ve put together a list of the top 7 performance upgrades for you and your Jeep to help answer the question: “how do I increase horsepower in my Jeep Wrangler?”. You’ll find a range of mods from simple bolt-on upgrades to the more serious weekend projects, but no matter which you choose, you’re bound to see a big difference in the grit of your truck. Here are some of the 7 best Jeep JK performance upgrades.

1. Upgrade your Air Intake for best bang-for-your-buck

Feeding your motor crisp, fresh air is the key component to getting Jeep Wrangler increase horsepower and torque. With a custom aftermarket air intake pumping massive volumes of air through your system, you’ll see improved MPGs and feel more punch at the pedal. A simple air filter upgrade can give your Jeep JK 3.6 or 3.8 a performance upgrade you need for that little extra up-and-go.

• Straightforward DIY installation for any weekend warrior
• Crafted to the exact specification of your Jeep’s engine
• Saves you money – most high-flow filters are reusable

Product options:

• K&N 77 Series Metal Intake Kit
• K&N 57 Series FIPK Air Intake (50-State Legal)
• aFe Magnum Force Cold Air Intakes
• aFe Momentum Cold Air Intakes
• Airaid Intake System
• Volant Cold Air Intakes
• K&N 63 Series AirCharger High-Flow Intake Kit
• Spectre Cold Air Intake

2. Smooth, controlled power with a Throttle Body Spacer

Lifting your throttle body by only as much as an inch can make the difference between sub-par performance and hair-raising horsepower and torque. Help your Jeep Wrangler performance reach new levels with a blast of cool, dense air right into your engine.

• Helps your engine burn fuel more efficiently
• Easy, bolt-on installation – no drilling or cutting
• Made with a custom-fit for your Wrangler model

Product options:

• Rugged Ridge Jeep Throttle Body Spacers
• Taylor Cable Helix Power Tower Throttle Body Spacer
• Jet Power-Flow TBI Spacer
• EconoAid Throttle Body Booster
• aFe Silver Bullet Throttle Body Spacers
• Airaid PowerAid Throttle Body Spacer
• Volant Vortice Throttle Body Spacers

3. Mod your exhaust for power and a throaty roar

Your Jeep has more horsepower potential than they led you to believe down at the dealership. Pull the trigger on restrictive factory flow and get your power back with a bolt-on exhaust upgrade that offers increased hp and torque while keeping your ride’s EGTs out of the red zone. Not just a great Jeep Wrangler engine upgrade, a new exhaust can help to bring the perfect tune to your ride every time you pump the gas.

• Precision-tuned to your specific Jeep Wrangler
• Improves fuel economy to save time spent at the pump
• Mandrel-bent tubing for unrestricted flow

Product options:

• MBRP Exhaust Systems
• Magnaflow Exhaust Systems
• Flowmaster Exhaust Systems
• Gibson Exhaust Systems
• Borla Exhaust Systems
• Banks Monster Exhaust System
• aFe Exhaust Systems
• JBA Performance Exhaust

4. Dial in your ride through a custom tuner

The ultimate “how to increase horsepower Jeep Wrangler” upgrade, a tuner gives you the power to dial in almost every aspect of your Wrangler 3.6 or 3.8. When paired with any of the other Jeep performance parts listed here, you can get the most out of your mods and see up to triple digit gains in horsepower and torque.

• Tuned to your specific driving style with multiple modes
• High-resolution touchscreen lets you clearly see your readings
• Delivers instant improvements with plug-n-play installation

Product options:

• DiabloSport inTune i2 Tuner
• Hypertech Speedometer Calibrator
• DiabloSport Trinity T-1000 Programmer
• Superchips Flashpaq Tuner
• Jet Performance Module
• TruXP Xtune Performance Tuner
• Bully Dog Triple Dog GT Tuner (49-State Legal)

5. A much needed power boost with Exhaust Headers

One of the most obvious Jeep Wrangler horsepower upgrades, aftermarket headers replace your restrictive stock manifolds with a precision built set that maximizes exhaust flow. Make sure your rig has the horsepower, torque and throttle response it takes to crawl over any rocky crag.

• Improves engine scavenging
• Built tough to outlast any adventure
• Draws in more oxygen for improved efficiency

Product options:

• BBK Performance Exhaust Headers
• PaceSetter Headers
• Doug Thorley Headers
• FlowTech Headers
• JBA Cat4ward Headers
• Banks TorqueTube Exhaust Headers

6. A bigger Throttle Body for bigger power gains

The more air your engine pulls in, the more power it can put out. One of the most valuable Jeep Wrangler engine upgrades can be installing a bigger throttle body, the larger unit pays off in big ways by delivering axle-twisting torque, noticeable horsepower gains and super-speedy throttle response.

• Precision-fit in your specific Jeep model
• Easy, DIY installation with a bolt-on design
• Several sizes to suit your performance preference

Product options:

• BBK Power-Plus Throttle Bodies

7. The ultimate in horsepower upgrades: a Supercharger mod

Stop wondering how to increase horsepower in your Jeep Wrangler and start asking yourself just how much power you can unleash. When you find yourself almost vertical on a mountainside, let’s hope your Jeep has all the power it can handle. You’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief as you feel the game-changing horsepower and torque provided by a custom supercharger. A supercharger works by compressing air straight into your engine for an immense increase in bang, it’s easily one of the best Jeep JK performance upgrades available.

• Vastly improves throttle responsiveness
• Bolt-on installation requires no modifications
• Custom-assembled with premium components

Product options:

• Whipple Supercharger Kits
• Edelbrock E-Force Supercharger Kits
• Magna Charger Supercharger Kits
• Vortech Supercharger Kits

With great power comes great responsibility, and with any one of these performance upgrades (or all), your responsibility is to enjoy them as much as possible. This list of the best Jeep performance upgrades will suit all Jeep models, including the JK Wrangler 3.6L and 3.8L engine models.

To be sure you get the right parts for your exact Jeep, you can use the vehicle finder tool at ExtremeTerrain to narrow down parts that are specific to your truck. Along with model specific upgrades, you’ll find great deals on all the accessories you could dream of, to make your Jeep perfectly suited to your lifestyle.