Throttle Bodies

Today our performance throttle bodies are offered for most Ford, Dodge, GM & Jeep auto & truck models with almost all units also 50-state EPA legal making them a top choice with enthusiasts. As has been the case since our first units back in the eighties, each BBK “Power Plus Series” performance throttle body is designed & produced in the USA using a new fully CNC machined 356 aluminum alloy housing assembled with an array of the highest quality components for great drivability and maximum performance.

Our latest units for the new generation of platforms such as Mustang, F150, Camaro, Challenger & Charger, Ram, Silverado & V6 Jeep are built using all new drive by wire throttle control units making them a true bolt-on and plug-in upgrade. As with all of our BBK performance products, all throttle bodies are designed to operate with the factory or aftermarket tunes.

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Back in the 1980’s Detroit’s auto manufacturers were transforming all there engine platforms to direct port fuel injection which included an entire array of new components such as fuel injectors, air intakes, mass air sensors and throttle bodies. When BBK founder Brian Murphy began selling products for this new breed of American Musclecar, it was the 1988 5.0L Mustang that he purchased as his first development vehicle.

Whether carbureted or fuel injected the basic design of all engines is pretty straight forward, more air in & out efficiently as possible equals more horsepower. After starting with a new direct bolt in shorty & equal length design header, Brian and his team quickly started addressing the intake side which resulted in ported out throttle bodies and mass air meters. After a short successful period of offering these modified parts, our engineers soon began tooling up new high flow castings that would allow for more sizes and overall much better performance levels.

As the initial building blocks of what would eventually become a full line of our world famous “Power Plus Series” performance throttle bodies, these first Mustang 5.0L throttle bodies were quickly joined with new units for such vehicles as the 305/350 equipped Camaro & Corvette models. Since those early days BBK has added new auto & truck applications each year now making our performance throttle body offerings the most popular and most comprehensive in the aftermarket.

How does a throttle body work?

Like a carburetor a throttle body controls the amount of air that enters an engine for a given RPM. However, unlike the carburetor a throttle body does not direct fuel into the motor as instead a direct port electronic fuel injector sprays fuel into each cylinder. The position of the throttle angle measured by the throttle position sensor does tell the computer how long to keep the fuel injectors open in order to keep a proper air to fuel ratio for optimum performance and mileage. Mechanical fuel injection was around in the late 1950’s but it was really the 1986 Mustang 5.0L that brought modern day electronic fuel injection to the forefront and created performance brands like BBK for this new aftermarket medium. With its computer-controlled throttle body & fuel injection the 5.0L quickly became the modern day affordable muscle car and created a large aftermarket that continues to grow and flourish to this day.

What does a larger throttle body do?

While electronic fuel injection changed how fuel & air enters a motor, it’s still how efficient the engine can process the air into the engine that creates the most performance and horsepower. Thinking of a motor as a big air pump is a simple way to think about performance. Add more air and fuel and you get higher horsepower as the explosive force in the cylinder is stronger with each ignition. Turbocharging and superchargers simply pump more in such as having high compression and results in higher horsepower. If a restriction like a small inefficient throttle body limits airflow into the engine, horsepower and torque will simply be limited. This is even more noticeable on a supercharged application as the supercharger cannot push in more air if it can’t get it through the throttle body or air intake due to a restriction.

How much horsepower will a performance throttle body add?

While each engine varies based on size, compression and whether its normally aspirated or turbo / supercharged – a typical range of 8-14 rear wheel horsepower is typical on most normally aspirated models with upwards of 20+ horsepower for turbo & supercharged applications. Since 1988 our R&D team has used extensive testing and dyno tests all of our Power Plus Series Throttle Bodies to ensure maximum performance right out of the box. Much of that information can be found throughout this website.

Will I need a custom tune?

No, with our line of BBK Power Plus Series Throttle Bodies our engineers have spent thousands of hours testing these parts to ensure they work with a stock or custom tune on nearly every application. There will be the occasional case when an enthusiast is combining the BBK throttle body with a variety of other components that put the engine outside the factory tolerances and a tune is required to make this extensive combination work properly but this is not the norm.

Will a BBK throttle body hurt my mileage?

No, even though a bigger throttle body is more efficient and will flow more air, under normal driving operations the engine will only use as much air at the given RPM that is most suitable. However, when under wide open throttle the new throttle body will give the engine the needed air to make the new maximum horsepower regardless of the overall modifications. Also, most enthusiasts will comment on the overall improved low-end throttle response improvement they see with the installation of a BBK throttle body. 

How do I know which size throttle body to use?

While we do offer multiple size units for a variety of our throttle body applications, the normal rule of thumb is to go with the smaller of the two sizes on an otherwise stock application and the bigger throttle body if your going to be going other performance upgrades - especially if supercharging or turbocharging. On some models such as the Dodge Challenger & Charger where they went from a 6.1L Hemi to a 6.4L but kept the same size factory throttle body, the bigger of the two BBK offerings makes the most sense.

Are BBK throttle bodies emissions legal?

For many years our R&D team has worked tirelessly to go through extensive testing with the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to obtain “50-State Legal EO Status” on pretty much all of our BBK throttle bodies. In-fact unless its for a race type application or so new It’s still in testing, you won’t see a BBK throttle body without a 50-State E.O. number which means its legal in all states. Check your application for CARB approval number.

Why BBK over other throttle bodies?

Sure, there are a few other companies in the aftermarket advertising throttle bodies but nobody other than BBK can claim to be the originator of the modern-day performance throttle body. In-fact since our first throttle body in 1988, our line of BBK throttle bodies now covers most auto & truck models making it by far the largest offering of performance throttle bodies in the world. Also, since that first day in 1988, each & every throttle body has been 100% designed & built in the USA. We have proudly been able to say “Made in the USA” even when it wasn’t the cool thing to do and its something we really believe in. From 1980’s to current street cars & trucks to resto mods, street rods and even some factory crate motor applications, literally tens of thousands of our BBK throttle bodies are being used everyday by enthusiasts all over the world. When we say BBK throttle bodies are number one its not just a tag line it’s a fact that we are extremely proud of.

Can I install my own BBK throttle body?

Yes, from our first Mustang 5.0L throttle body in 1988 to our latest auto & truck units, each BBK Power Plus Series Throttle Body is designed as a simple do it yourself bolt-on. In-fact most can be installed in less than 30-minutes with basic hand tools. All of our electronic throttle control models even come complete with the new assembled OEM style drive motor to make installation a breeze. Please visit the video section of this website or the product specific page for many how-to installation videos. 

Why don't the OEM factory equip vehicles with a larger throttle body?

In today’s world of maximizing margins by sharing as many components against multiple platforms, many vehicle models are equipped with a stock throttle body that was originally designed for as smaller engine or even a completely different vehicle. Example: On the Hemi models the same size throttle bodies can be found on a 5.7L as a 6.1L or 6.4L, even though the bigger motors require more airflow for optimum performance its easier & less costly to use an existing unit. On the Ford 3.5L Ecoboost F150 models, our top selling throttle body for this application was actually designed years earlier by our team for the V6 Mustang. It just happened that in order to save cost, Ford used the Mustang V6 throttle body on the then all new 3.5L Ecoboost. Fortunately for us and F150 owners the turbo 3.5L requires much more air flow than the Mustang V6, therefore our throttle body ends up producing a significant power increase over the stock part and is one of our top throttle bodies.

What type of warranty is available on BBK throttle bodies?

Unlike many aftermarket companies who don’t offer warranties on there products, since the beginning in 1988 we have always given a full 1-year warranty as standard on all BBK products but also offer up to 3yrs with an extended warranty. Because our engineers design each unit to meet or exceed the OEM standards you can expect your BBK throttle body to typically last the life of your vehicle.