80mm throttle body upgrade - snake oil or real performance?

[buzzice]

Has anyone changed their stock 3.6 throttle body to a larger 80mm throttle body and has any evidence to claim increase in efficiency and performance?
I have seen some questionable and honestly, sketchy people doing this on their Chargers/Challengers with no numbers or data to prove anything. Typically these idiots just rev the engine while the camera records the exhaust sound. One individual claims 20-25hp gains....right. This smells of the throttle body spacer gimmick.

There are a few companies offering a 80mm throttle body kit with a spacer for $420+. Ram 5.7 HEMI throttle bodies are plentiful at local junk yards....$20-50.

I would love to hear some constructive commentary on this upgrade for a Jeep JT with a 3.6: is this worth considering or just a waste of money?

Thanks!

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[ShadowsPapa]

It's possible it might gain a little in the top end, but generally, a larger throttle opening, similar to larger intake runners, drops low end torque.

I'd only be interested in DYNO tests, and results at the RPM these usually run at.
Anyone who shows a few HP at the very top end - who cares.

 

[NC_Overland]

Without a tuner, it’s absolute snake oil. It’s like this with every modern vehicle. People feel throttle response and think it’s more power.

 

[Chasm]

Without a tuner, it’s absolute snake oil. It’s like this with every modern vehicle. People feel throttle response and think it’s more power.

It gives throttle response? That's what this truck is missing. How much $$?

Has anybody tried the throttle body spacer? I know the whole "more plenum volume increases torque" works on most carbureted engines (some with more tradeoffs than others) but I don't know if the same applies to EFI.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It gives throttle response? That's what this truck is missing. How much $$?

Has anybody tried the throttle body spacer? I know the whole "more plenum volume increases torque" works on most carbureted engines (some with more tradeoffs than others) but I don't know if the same applies to EFI.

Get the pedal monster if you want to feel throttle response. Generally larger throttles don't help but can hurt low end response

 

[NC_Overland]

It gives throttle response? That's what this truck is missing. How much $$?

Has anybody tried the throttle body spacer? I know the whole "more plenum volume increases torque" works on most carbureted engines (some with more tradeoffs than others) but I don't know if the same applies to EFI.

No. Not like it gains low end torque. That’s not going to happen. It just makes the throttle pedal more sensitive. It’s literally a waste of money. Don’t do it unless you’re planning thousands of dollars on other mods to support it. I don’t even think it would give you any high end power without at least a tune to support it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

No. Not like it gains low end torque. That’s not going to happen. It just makes the throttle pedal more sensitive. It’s literally a waste of money. Don’t do it unless you’re planning thousands of dollars on other mods to support it. I don’t even think it would give you any high end power without at least a tune to support it.

That's just it - the engine is a system of parts that must work together and be tuned for each other.
These operated in low lift valve mode a fair amount and it's just not going to need the extra air. The intake manifold is part of the equation, as well as valve duration, lift (cam profiles) the tune, exhaust. If you could get more HP and not lose somewhere else, I'd bet Jeep would have done it.

 

[Andybluemojave]

I worked on the wife challenger - polished intake, RIPP coil packs, high end plugs, throttle body swap, bolt on exhaust, and tune.. with hellcat box and K&N - all that motor work netted me 16hp at the tuner.... No real difference in performance and reduced gas mileage as I enjoyed the sound. My wife thought it felt a bit faster in the high end of the RPM, but about $4k in parts = unimpressive gains... We sold all the parts and bought a scat pack..

 

[Hemy5587]

I have the 80mm ported throttle body, also have an air intake, AFE Y pipe, Superchips Pulsar tuner and Pedal Commander. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Would it have been cheaper going with gears instead of all that? Only you can answer that for yourself but I am happy with my set up because my butt dyno (or placebo effect) tells me that there is a difference. Maybe someday I will also go with gears instead of my stock 3.73s and all of that should just be bonus over the gears increase.

 

[BennieD]

It gives throttle response? That's what this truck is missing. How much $$?

Has anybody tried the throttle body spacer? I know the whole "more plenum volume increases torque" works on most carbureted engines (some with more tradeoffs than others) but I don't know if the same applies to EFI.

I put on the rough country throttle body spacer and really can’t tell any difference

 

[Stan H]

No. Not like it gains low end torque. That’s not going to happen. It just makes the throttle pedal more sensitive. It’s literally a waste of money. Don’t do it unless you’re planning thousands of dollars on other mods to support it. I don’t even think it would give you any high end power without at least a tune to support it.

Correct on You-Tube there is a Guy with a JL and He put a throttle body spacer on .While it was on a DYNO, and it gave ZERO gains. It literally did nothing . You are correct waste of

 

[MrBones]

Might be a benefit if you installed a blower otherwise waste.

 

[Hootbro]

I always looked at these things the same as a CAI, you might get some short term gains but unless you have a tune, the PCM will remap to account for it to bring things back into expected parameters.

 

[Ward]

Try 10 lb. lighter tires next switch & feel that difference.

 

[Stan H]

Get the pedal monster if you want to feel throttle response. Generally larger throttles don't help but can hurt low end response

A thick soled pair of boots works good also.

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