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Carb upgrade for better performance?

AnnDee4444

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As stupid as this idea is... I think I'm going to entertain it.

To convert a 3.6 to a carburetor you will need:
  • A carburetor capable of supporting approximately 300 HP
  • Intake manifold that no aftermarket will probably ever build
  • A lower pressure fuel regulator (which probably means new pump as well)
  • Some way of tricking the ECU to run without the fuel injection system. At a minimum this would mean a tune that ignores the o2 sensors and uses a timing curve that is based on the TPS & RPM (which is not how it's done corrently). That is unless you are planning on installing a distributor into the non-existent hole...
  • Speaking of TPS, you'll need one of those too... and a throttle cable (unless you plan on a DBW carburetor, then you'll need an actuator to control the throttle)
  • I have no idea what sort of input the automatic transmission would need to run, but you would probably need to somehow run a piggyback that calculates engine load. Probably just best to use the manual transmission.
  • Many more things I am forgetting.
After all that you will have a Jeep that runs worse, gets worse gas mileage, won't pass emissions testing, and a lowered resale value. Oh, and probably also worse throttle control, which is why you started this project in the first place. Sounds like a great plan :like:.
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aldo98229

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GATORB8

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I have a 2019 Wrangler Sport S JL 2dr, was wondering about adding a new carb for better throttle control and what I need to accomplish that?
thanks
We've all been new before, don't take the flaming too rough. There hasn't been a carb in a wrangler for over 30 years.

As the guys who responded to your Throttle Body Spacer thread, there's plenty of snake oil out there, but there is likely no worthwhile engine performance modification short of forced induction ($$$$). You could consider a tune, but realistically this isn't a race car and spending 2x on fuel to squeeze out 30hp on E85 isn't going to be worth it for you.
 

Sean L

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As stupid as this idea is... I think I'm going to entertain it.

To convert a 3.6 to a carburetor you will need:
  • A carburetor capable of supporting approximately 300 HP
  • Intake manifold that no aftermarket will probably ever build
  • A lower pressure fuel regulator (which probably means new pump as well)
  • Some way of tricking the ECU to run without the fuel injection system. At a minimum this would mean a tune that ignores the o2 sensors and uses a timing curve that is based on the TPS & RPM (which is not how it's done corrently). That is unless you are planning on installing a distributor into the non-existent hole...
  • Speaking of TPS, you'll need one of those too... and a throttle cable (unless you plan on a DBW carburetor, then you'll need an actuator to control the throttle)
  • I have no idea what sort of input the automatic transmission would need to run, but you would probably need to somehow run a piggyback that calculates engine load. Probably just best to use the manual transmission.
  • Many more things I am forgetting.
After all that you will have a Jeep that runs worse, gets worse gas mileage, won't pass emissions testing, and a lowered resale value. Oh, and probably also worse throttle control, which is why you started this project in the first place. Sounds like a great plan :like:.
It would be more worth it to do a full engine and transmission swap at that point. Throw a 318 and a 3 speed Torqueflite in there and it will run all day. lol
 

Zandcwhite

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We've all been new before, don't take the flaming too rough. There hasn't been a carb in a wrangler for over 30 years.

As the guys who responded to your Throttle Body Spacer thread, there's plenty of snake oil out there, but there is likely no worthwhile engine performance modification short of forced induction ($$$$). You could consider a tune, but realistically this isn't a race car and spending 2x on fuel to squeeze out 30hp on E85 isn't going to be worth it for you.
Livernoise e85 tune only gains 30 hp peak, but up to 51 hp along the curve. 30 hp sounds unimpressive, until you realize that’s a 14% gain. I’m not sure how you could spend 2x as much on fuel? E85 typically gets 20% worse fuel economy, but with regular non-premium gas at $4.50/gal locally E85 is only $2.50/gal. It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out burning an extra 20% in fuel that is 45% cheaper is still saving money.
 

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As stupid as this idea is... I think I'm going to entertain it.

To convert a 3.6 to a carburetor you will need:
  • A carburetor capable of supporting approximately 300 HP
  • Intake manifold that no aftermarket will probably ever build
  • A lower pressure fuel regulator (which probably means new pump as well)
  • Some way of tricking the ECU to run without the fuel injection system. At a minimum this would mean a tune that ignores the o2 sensors and uses a timing curve that is based on the TPS & RPM (which is not how it's done corrently). That is unless you are planning on installing a distributor into the non-existent hole...
  • Speaking of TPS, you'll need one of those too... and a throttle cable (unless you plan on a DBW carburetor, then you'll need an actuator to control the throttle)
  • I have no idea what sort of input the automatic transmission would need to run, but you would probably need to somehow run a piggyback that calculates engine load. Probably just best to use the manual transmission.
  • Many more things I am forgetting.
After all that you will have a Jeep that runs worse, gets worse gas mileage, won't pass emissions testing, and a lowered resale value. Oh, and probably also worse throttle control, which is why you started this project in the first place. Sounds like a great plan :like:.
Companies like MSD make electronic ignition systems that run off the crank trigger so you can run a carburetor. But only for engines like the GM LS series V8 and maybe a couple others. Not for the Pentastar or the turbo 4.
 

GATORB8

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Livernoise e85 tune only gains 30 hp peak, but up to 51 hp along the curve. 30 hp sounds unimpressive, until you realize that’s a 14% gain. I’m not sure how you could spend 2x as much on fuel? E85 typically gets 20% worse fuel economy, but with regular non-premium gas at $4.50/gal locally E85 is only $2.50/gal. It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out burning an extra 20% in fuel that is 45% cheaper is still saving money.
I was exaggerating at 2x, but holy crap your gas is expensive. It's actually the inverse here. Two closest stations with E85 ( 10 + miles away) are about $3.50 for E85 and <$3.00 for regular.

So, 20% extra cost for each gallon + ~20% less efficient.

Jeep Wrangler JL Carb upgrade for better performance? 1633444420932
 

AnnDee4444

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Companies like MSD make electronic ignition systems that run off the crank trigger so you can run a carburetor. But only for engines like the GM LS series V8 and maybe a couple others. Not for the Pentastar or the turbo 4.
I am aware, but figured the OP's style was more like distributor with points. And no vacuum advance. 6-volt.
 

Zandcwhite

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I was exaggerating at 2x, but holy crap your gas is expensive. It's actually the inverse here. Two closest stations with E85 ( 10 + miles away) are about $3.50 for E85 and <$3.00 for regular.

So, 20% extra cost for each gallon + ~20% less efficient.

1633444420932.png
CA has the highest gas tax in the nation, trying to force us to go electric. I don't think they tax the e85 the same, thus the huge discrepancy.
 

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Bullwinkle

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I have a 2019 Wrangler Sport S JL 2dr, was wondering about adding a new carb for better throttle control and what I need to accomplish that?
thanks
[/QUOTE
Pardon my ignorance, lets get you smart asses on a Bull...Anyway, not knowing what to do with my new jeep is why I asked!
 

LittleDog

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@Bullwinkle loved your show.

Glad to see you made it out of those posts alive. Lots of stuff to learn with these new jeeps.

When I got mine, I was really looking forward to getting flat fenders and putting cup holders in them, but apparently that's not a thing.

Stick around and absorb some great knowledge found here, but maybe with a sewer-grade filter. And maybe hold off on buying the Add-a-leafs.
 

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@Bullwinkle
You'll make it through the newb flaming. One benefit of your question is that you now have a bunch of semi knowledgeable old farts subscribed to this thread.

Try this, answer these questions, and I bet you come out of this with a better game plan than you came in with.

2019 JL Sport S
3.6L? Auto? Current mods?

What do you want to do with it? DD/Rock Crawl/Trail Ride/Clean it after mudding/impress the waitress at the drive in?

What are you current mod priorities and why? It seems from your posts that engine performance is a priority, what's driving that? Most of us probably started out our journey to gear head wanting to put a CAI/TBS/Exhaust/stickers on whatever we were driving at the time, and have identified that it can a poor use of money on the JL.
 

Buckster

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Hang in there @Bullwinkle
If you are interested in better throttle control/response, look at go go thingy or something similar
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