Bench racing is a lot like bench Jeeping: mostly it's a lot of bull. And the same can be said of many of the products designed to improve the performance of your Jeep engine. But truth be told, practical experience with on-the-trail testing is one of the best ways to see what really works and what should be left behind.
On a recent trail ride, we decided to ask a few Jeep owners about their modifications and how well they worked over the long run. As always, internal engine mods such as cams and trick internals usually produced good results, but for the most part, those we surveyed thought that simple items worked best. Top on their list of improvements was better breathing through specialized air filters and headers that rid the rig of spent gasses. But many a carb style and modification was also noted, with a healthy dose of ignition products to spark the mixtures. And when all the mods are properly mixed, significant improvements can be had.
Check out some of the ideas we found, and see if you can use them on your own engine. Though some of the parts are vintage, junkyard shopping for that special part is half the fun. And since most of the parts are available from your local Jeep specialty shop or mail-order house, you too can benefit from what trail riders have found.