Easy ways to gain a little power on a 4.0?

[Declan Anderson]

Are there any simple/easy ways to boost power on my 2002 4.0?

 

[sheep herder]

Supercharge it.

 

[racsan]

lower rear gears- works well with any engine!

 

[JMF661]

Paint It red!!!!

 

[Curious Hound]

Always drive with the wind behind you.

TRS decals.

Ok, seriously. Not much. Keep it well maintained and do the electric cooling fan conversion.

 

[Dirtman]

Engines is goes vroom.

 

[Dirtman]

Back in the olden days when you bought a car/truck the engine was generally really choked and inefficient to try and get them to meet emission and reliability standards. This meant you could do all sorts of things to add heaps of power to it. You could buy all sorts of parts to improve performance.

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, modern engines are designed for peak efficiency. This means they are already generally making the most power they can and there's not alot of modifications that will do anything. Think about it, your 4.0 makes around 200 horsepower, 40 years ago a 4 liter engine would be lucky to make 90 horsepower.

Small things will net you a few HP like an eletric fan, headers will change the power band a bit, a tune can change the ignition timing curves but in the end they are all marginal improvements. The only true way to get any significant power gains is to force more air down its throat via a turbo or supercharger. Then you can start messing with different cams, different rocker ratios, higher compression pistons etc but now you are talking thousands upon thousands of dollars.

So to answer your question bluntly. No. There are no cheap and easy ways to add more power.

 

[Broosedamoose]

I've added headers, dual exhaust, done the e-fan conversion and have a CAI but as stated, they were only minimal gains. I feel the best bang for the buck was getting a tuner with some custom tunes. It really wakes up the engine and you can "feel" the difference!

 

[Roert42]

For the most power gains;

Supercharge it.

For the Most fuel efficiency;

Always drive with the wind behind you.

Best all around upgrade;

TRS decals.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Lose some weight....

 

[DILLARD000]

...simple/easy ways to boost power on my 2002 4.0?

Before adding the complication of performance mods,
be sure you've first taken care of notorious failure items inherent to your 19yr old V6~4.0L~SOHC:
~ Become OCD About Oil+Filter Changes
~ Replace OilPressurized TimingTensioners
~ Replace Plastic ThermoStat Housing with Alum ThermoStat Housing
~ Replace PlasticTanked 1CoreRadiator with AllAlum 2\3\4CoreRadiator
~ Replace Plastic HeaterControlValve with AllMetal HeaterControlValve
~ Replace Coolant Hoses\Clamps\Pump\Fan+Clutch, Flush+ReFill
~ Replace Ignition CoilPack+Wires+Plugs + Exhaust OxygenSensors
~ Clean\Replace AirFilter\MAFSensor\ThrottleBody\IACValve\EGRValve+DPFESensor+Tube\VacuumHoses\PCVValve+Hoses
~ 5r55e Tranny ATF+Filter Change; Consider Rebuilding ValveBody, Additional GrilleTrannyCooler, Replacing ColumnShiftOverDriveButton
~ 1354 TransferCase ATF Change; Consider Replacing\Spare ControlModule+ShiftMotor
~ Change Differential Fluid
~ Service Brakes+Fluid
~ Service Suspension+Tires
~ Replace InstrumentClusterBulbs+DashCenterPanelBulbs

 

[adsm08]

Weld two .5L cylinders to the front of the engine. Then you have a 5.0L V8.

 

[8thTon]

Before adding the complication of performance mods,
be sure you've first taken care of notorious failure items inherent to your 19yr old V6~4.0L~SOHC:
~ Become OCD About Oil+Filter Changes
~ Replace OilPressurized TimingTensioners
~ Replace Plastic ThermoStat Housing with Alum ThermoStat Housing
~ Replace PlasticTanked 1CoreRadiator with AllAlum 2\3\4CoreRadiator
~ Replace Plastic HeaterControlValve with AllMetal HeaterControlValve
~ Replace Coolant Hoses\Clamps\Pump\Fan+Clutch, Flush+ReFill
~ Replace Ignition CoilPack+Wires+Plugs + Exhaust OxygenSensors
~ Clean\Replace AirFilter\MAFSensor\ThrottleBody\IACValve\EGRValve+DPFESensor+Tube\VacuumHoses\PCVValve+Hoses
~ 5r55e Tranny ATF+Filter Change; Consider Rebuilding ValveBody, Additional GrilleTrannyCooler, Replacing ColumnShiftOverDriveButton
~ 1354 TransferCase ATF Change; Consider Replacing\Spare ControlModule+ShiftMotor
~ Change Differential Fluid
~ Service Brakes+Fluid
~ Service Suspension+Tires
~ Replace InstrumentClusterBulbs+DashCenterPanelBulbs

Hmm. Is there anything you can keep?

 

[JMF661]

Hmm. Is there anything you can keep?

Instructions: Throw used truck away, buy new truck.

 

[Roert42]

Hmm. Is there anything you can keep?

Keychain.