Gears do make a difference. You are correct. But multi-hole injectors are not terribly expensive, if they could be cross-referenced to match, and better atomization can make a world of difference.
Tuners don't do a lot in my experience, at least without bad side-effects.
What about truthful, unbiased reports on performance spark plugs? I personally stick with stock spec plugs, but am up to try anything to improve the performance of a 3.7.
How about real, unbiased opinions with factual flow charts and dyno testing on bored throttle bodies? Specifically using a stock throttle body bored out rather than a million dollar "hope and dream" custom option.
Any positive results or opinions on bored cylinders and oversize pistons?
Porting heads?
Opening up exhaust affordably (no headers available, but any pinch points in the stock exhaust that can/should be removed and/or left alone to improve exhaust flow without negating necessary back-pressure)
Doing gears is all fine and dandy, but all of these things could be done in combination to increase performance for less than the cost of gears, carriers, plus install....Nevermind carrier break on the d30a and the wasted $1500 spent on a steel D30 housing, considering cost of that vs. cost of SFA being negligible in difference.
Not everyone has $1000 to throw down in one go on R&P sets plus bearing and shim kit plus carrier (if necessary...I know the 8.25 doesn't have a carrier break outside of stock option gears, not sure on d30a) plus cost of professional install since you CAN NOT install gears on your own and expect them to be correct your first time out.... It is too expensive to get wrong.
I certainly could toss $300 on new performance injectors and perhaps performance plugs, and since I do own and have access to exhaust bending equipment, I can entertain those thoughts as well. I could even mill up some new manifold flanges and bend up some higher flow manifolds. Heck, for the cost of a gasket set and some time, I could port and polish the heads myself...but I would need some specifications to go off of.
I guess maybe I'm going more in depth than you want to. I understand your frustration with the same question being asked over and over. That is the reason I got away from cherokee and comanche sites...I'm sick of the idiot questions and lack of basic comprehension of the search function.
But on this subject, on this forum, I have searched. There are no *good* responses that actually go into detail. People like you, Tom, and TJKJ and others who have been around the block and poured more sweat and blood into this site surely have seen some of these options be discussed, tried, and proven or disproven. Perhaps all of that data can be correlated into one thread and stickied so you can simply link it for these, removing any real necessity for you to bother getting frustrated or delivering the same bland response over and over.
Thanks,
Pat