YouTuber Shows Why a Turbo in Your Jeep is Better than a Hemi-swap
Pennsylvania-based NFI Empire claims its turbo 2013 Jeep Rubicon has the same power of a Hemi but with better fuel economy.
We love great builds, so we can’t help but talk about this turbocharged 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited in a video by YouTubers Truck Central. It started life as a Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition, but things have taken a more modified turn. First off, turbo? Yep, you heard that right. Why a turbo? Justin Fried, the owner of the Wrangler, explains to Truck Central Host Joe Fallon: “One of the huge benefits with doing a turbo kit is just, straight up, the cost savings. You can save about $25,000.” Well, he goes on to explain that a two- to three-week swap to a Hemi can get pricey. A turbo delivers the same power for a fraction of the price.
Fried then takes us through the Jeep’s exterior modifications, which have been carefully selected for both style and function. Though he talks about articulation, we’d have to take a few deep breaths before taking a Wrangler Unlimited this nice rock crawling. NFI Empire, Fried’s company, is in the business of customizing Jeeps, so we imagine this one is as much a showcase of the shop’s work, as the vision of their owner.
We thought the hidden steps were a nice touch too. Fried explains that the units from Rock Slide Engineering use a magnet to detect when the doors are open and deploy as needed. The difference between them and regular steps? You can stick these into a rock and they’ll still work afterwards. The performance is definitely there with the turbo kit. The engine comes on boost at 2,500 rpm with the turbocharger they’ve equipped. Power is roughly equivalent to a Hemi V8, fuel economy is better, and there are essentially no permanent modifications made to the frame of the Jeep. The downside? It sure doesn’t sound like a Hemi.
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