First time JK owner

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E_santans23

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Joined
Jun 23, 2025
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Location
Oregon
Hello everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this.

I have an 08 wrangler after driving it for a few months now I’m noticing it lacks power. Needless to say it’s pretty much gutless. I was wondering if anyone has removed the 4 catalytic converters and if so what it did power wise??
 
Instead of removing the Cats and then having more problems just get a Pedal Commander or a similar throttle enhancer. You'll think that you have put a bigger engine in it.
 
E_santans23 said:
Hello everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this.

I have an 08 wrangler after driving it for a few months now I’m noticing it lacks power. Needless to say it’s pretty much gutless. I was wondering if anyone has removed the 4 catalytic converters and if so what it did power wise??
Click to expand...

It is no longer 1974. Removing the cats makes virtually no difference. Certainly not enough to feel. And what little gain there is, is only at high RPMs. Which is not a place Jeeps should be living.
The 3.8L was rated at 200HP brand new. My wife considers that to be enough. I do not. So I bought a 392.
 
tJKrider said:
Well... Unless they are old, compromised, and blocking airflow. That will make a difference! At that point, depending on state regulations, you can remove them or replace them.
Click to expand...

True enough, but that's broken, not removed. The OP is posting from Oregon. In Oregon, and all of the USA, removing the cats is illegal.

Admittedly, the smog laws are not always sensible. For example, it is illegal to change the number or location of the cats, even if doing so results in a decrease in emissions. My Corvette is not technically street legal. Because it has longtube headers, which required moving the cats a bit further from the engine. It will absolutely ace a sniffer test of the emissions, but it's still technically (and stupidly) illegal.

If the goal is more power, there are far better options than a cat delete. You can make all the power you could ever want without messing up the air.
 
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