Big cam, ported/polished heads, more fuel, more air, deck the block(or head), bore the motor. Higher octane fuel, Nitrous if your class allows it. Larger valves, lightened flywheel. No power steering, manual transmission, gears, roller valve train, No A/c. Im not sure what type of "racing" your doing with this jeep, but if you can get rid of the t-case, driveline and front axle and go to 2wd, that would eliminate the rotating assembly in the front, and that would reduce drag. or convert to locking hubs. electric locking would be best if you can find them. unlock while driving, lock em when 4wd is needed. Thats about all you'll be able to do. You'll be able to do it all with a MPI motor, but carburators are more simple. You can crank up the fuel/air mixture and not have to mess with a computer.
If i could find my book, i could give you the HP/TQ numbers for a stock 2.5L carb, TBI, and MPI.
Your going to end up putting more money into this than you probably want to, just to get a decent amount of power. i wheeled one with 4.10 gears and a 5spd for a year, it SUCKED.
The MPI upgrade is not that hard. I have the intake you need. It bolts to your head. Get a standard 4.0L TB, which is bigger then the 2.5L TB, a wiring harness and computer for the engine. You will basically need to also get a body harness too since the conector is different at the firewall. You could rewire the MPI wire harness but trust me when I say it is much easyer to pull the dash, 4 bolts on top two on botom and take the old harness out and swap a new one in. I have dont it. It is tim consuming but worth it IMHO! I went from an 84 carbed motor to a 94 MPI motor in my 84 xj. Let me know if I can help. I think between Old Man and myself we have been there and done that on the 2.5L's!
