Decided to supercharge over a swappina to a Hemi

[Flyin6]

I darn near pulled the trigger on installing a 5.7 Hemi ar AMW. I was talking to them, and I started to get a little uncomfortable. When I needed to plop down $23K to get a spot, then wait months to get it done, well, I just didn't like that. So I started researching other shops about getting the AMW kit installed. And that is where it fell apart. I was told the swap would take longer than expected because parts/complete kits had been hard to get. This is not an AMW bash thread, just an explanation of why I went with the supercharger.

So after discovering the GPEC5 computer could be unlocked, I started looking around. I finally settled on Ripp Superchargers. I have a history with the Vortech unit, so there is a familiarity there. Talking with Ripp I got a warm and fuzzy so I ordered one...And on Black Friday, I got a pretty fantastic deal.

All I want out of any power adder, including a Hemi, is to be able to drive cross-country at 70-75 comfortably without straining the engine or constantly revving it and downshifting. The Ripp unit increases the Jeep's rear-wheel horsepower from 220 to 370. That's fine, but more importantly, while highway driving, the supercharger will provide 1-2psi boost, which completely covers the lack of power from the 3.6.

Another point for me was that the 3.6 is lightweight. Adding a supercharger still keeps the weight below that of a Hemi. It also keeps factory architecture, and finally, I can keep my snorkel.

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[JTdiRtyD]

Hp is great, but whats it doing to torque at cruising rpms? I would guess with 1-2psi you'll see a small bump in tq while cruising.

 

[ericw.]

The power is nice, can't complain AT ALL about supercharger noises. My buddy had one in a JKU and it never failed on him, only a couple minor things that were annoying but it was reliable.

Congrats!

 

[cb4017]

Awesome. Keep us informed. Something I may consider some day.

 

[ericw.]

What about fuel mileage?

On an extended overland trip a few years ago, we all brought extra fuel. The supercharged wrangler with us drank it all and we had to bail early to get gas.

Did he have a heavy foot?

Usually adding forced induction doesn't effect fuel economy very much, but it does cause people to use their gas pedal more often. lol

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

be able to drive cross-country at 70-75 comfortably without straining the engine or constantly revving it and downshifting

I think this is more the product of the 8-speed transmission, so many overdrive gears, and a vehicle shaped like a brick. Like, it's not hunting gears because it can't maintain speed in a gear but because it can't maintain speed as optimally as it could in the lower gear (thinking fuel economy). It's not like a 90's 4-speed that's shifting off vacuum (though I'd imagine that's in the calculation somewhere?). I'd be curious what a remap of the shift points and/or programming of the TCM would do.

Supercharger will get you up to speed, but at cruise I doubt the difference would be that great?

Could be wrong.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Did he have a heavy foot?

Usually adding forced induction doesn't effect fuel economy very much, but it does cause people to use their gas pedal more often. lol

Depends on the F/I. Anytime you're generating boost, even if only a couple PSI, its burning more fuel. This is why SC typically eats more fuel than turbo because you're always building some boost with SC vs turbos usually not doing much at all until you get rpms and exhaust flowing.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Supercharger will get you up to speed, but at cruise I doubt the difference would be that great?

Could be wrong.

SC is powered by the crank, so even at 1700rpm it will be generating some boost, not much, but it could be enough for some added low end torque to help with power at cruising speeds and rpms.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Did he have a heavy foot?

Usually adding forced induction doesn't effect fuel economy very much, but it does cause people to use their gas pedal more often. lol

I just drove my buddies turbo Silverado for the first time yesterday. Manual trans, too. That pull is addicting. Just have to look at it as 'smiles per gallon' instead of 'miles per gallon' at that point

 

[Flyin6]

Hp is great, but whats it doing to torque at cruising rpms? I would guess with 1-2psi you'll see a small bump in tq while cruising.

You're on it!

Torque at cruising RPMs is what is most important to me. The L O N G drive from the Kintuckee to parts west is very long and tedious. It's made worse by having to fight the wind, especially in Kansas. Talking to the Rippe people, they think this kit will completely solve my lack of power at cruise speeds, which is the problem. They felt strongly that there would be at least a 2mpg improvement with the boost. From what I can gather, this is a low-boost-optimized kit. It is perfect for what I need; however, it might still disappoint the 0-60 crowd.

The write-up of the install will happen on my build thread

(3) 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build | Jeep Gladiator (JT) News, Forum, Community - JeepGladiatorForum.com

 

[Flyin6]

Depends on the F/I. Anytime you're generating boost, even if only a couple PSI, its burning more fuel. This is why SC typically eats more fuel than turbo because you're always building some boost with SC vs turbos usually not doing much at all until you get rpms and exhaust flowing.

You'd think...

But Ripp is standing by an increase associated with this supercharger. I guess the additional minuscule amount of fuel is spread over a greater distance, since the argument is that the thing stays in a taller gear, torquing up and over rather than RPMing and using more fuel. Fewer RPMs over a given distance...

 

[Flyin6]

What about fuel mileage?

On an extended overland trip a few years ago, we all brought extra fuel. The supercharged wrangler with us drank it all, and we had to bail early to get gas.

Do you know which supercharger? Roots type, such as a Maguneson or "turbo style like Vortech or Procharger?

 

[AmosMoses]

1-2 pounds of boost is not worth the investment it will cost and I seriously doubt it will make much of a difference. Ive been out of the forced induction world for decades but kits in the late 90's started at 8psi and went up. I think you're making a horrible mistake and I know you dont care but Iam just putting it out there.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

You're on it!

however, it might still disappoint the 0-60 crowd.

Back in my zoom zoom car days there was always the battle of SC vs turbo. I had a couple friends with supercharged 350Z making around 550hp, but they made around 375tq. My turbo'd G35, same engine just different body, made 509whp but 515tq. I'd walk away from them every single time.

Everyone always talks about horse power, but if you don't have the torque to utilize the power then HP really means nothing.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

You'd think...

But Ripp is standing by an increase associated with this supercharger. I guess the additional minuscule amount of fuel is spread over a greater distance, since the argument is that the thing stays in a taller gear, torquing up and over rather than RPMing and using more fuel. Fewer RPMs over a given distance...

If you were always needing 7th gear @ what... 2100rpms?, whereas with the SC the added torque might mean you'll use 8th at 1700rpm, that could be where they are seeing the mpg savings.

1-2 pounds of boost is not worth the investment it will cost and I seriously doubt it will make much of a difference. Ive been out of the forced induction world for decades but kits in the late 90's started at 8psi and went up. I think you're making a horrible mistake and I know you dont care but Iam just putting it out there.

Thats 1-2 psi at cruising speed. It's probably 6-8 pulley so it'll be more when called upon.

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