At the 2011 Moab Jeep Safari, the Spanish Trail Arena trail show draws a crowd. After a week of pounding the trails, Jeep owners know their vehicles better than ever before. For many JK Wrangler owners, the weight of aftermarket accessories, big wheels and tires, and in some cases a pair of retrofit Dana 60 or 9-inch axles, has inflated the curb weight to the 3.5-ton level and higher!
While the 2007-2011 JK 3.8L V-6 is a rugged and durable engine, its 205 horsepower is hardly a match for the 7,000-plus pound curb weight of many trail running Wranglers. Faced with the dilemma of a throroughly built up Jeep 4×4 that meets every other requirement, many owners consider a V-8 swap or serious engine modifications.
A V-8 swap to a Chrysler 4.7L or 5.7L hemi will certainly fill the horsepower void; however, there are downsides to a V-8 conversion. Aside from the mass of the new engine, there are issues of fitment, accessories mate-up, exhaust changes, cooling upgrades plus a lot of fabrication work. With a large number of these popular vehicles in the market, boosting power on the OEM 3.8L V-6 is a viable alternative.
STS Turbo tucks neatly behind the transfer case. Remote mount aids air cooling, which improves air density on this installation.
A mirror view of the turbo above the skid plate and out of harm’s way.
One of the most innovative products for solving the 2007-2011JK Wrangler’s performance void is the STS turbocharger system. At Moab, a prototype system was on display in a JK Wrangler. The kit included the STS Turbocharger, air-to-air intercooler, STS/Turbosmart BOV, upgrade fuel injectors and the tuning package.
At a reasonable boost level, with engine reliability in mind, the STS Turbocharger adds 100 horsepower. One of theunique features is that the entire package fits beneath the stock hood! How? Because the turbo unit mounts beneath the chassis at the rear of the powertrain—not under the hood.
A JK Wrangler with remote mount turbocharger on the chassis dynamometer. (Chart and data courtesy of Squires Turbo Systems, Inc.)
The STS Turbo kit could well be the remedy for your overweight JK Wrangler. If you like everything about the 3.8L V-6 model except its stock horsepower output, consider this kit. STS made remote mount turbocharging a sensible alternative for high performance cars. Now that technology is available for the 2007-2011 JK Wrangler!
For direct access to the STS Turbo website, more details and current pricing, click here!
Jeep Wrangler ‘STS’ Turbo Kit Specifications
Turbo
STS 480hp capable Turbocharger (upgrades available) Wastegate STS/Turbosmart 38mm Wastegate Blow-Off Valve STS/Turbosmart 52mm Blow-Off Valve Intercooler Large Front Mount Air-to-Air Polished Aluminum Intercooler Tuning Diablosport Predator, 42lb/hr Direct Fit Fuel Injectors
