Decided to supercharge over a swappina to a Hemi

[Flyin6]

Purely anecdotal, but some friends of mine took a trip to Moab a couple years ago, and one rig with them was a JK with a supercharger (a relatively well built rig) that ended up being problematic and sitting out some days of the trip. The fuel consumption posed an issue on some trails, and they had other odd and end issues like blown cold side couplings and then at one point trying to find a replacement serpentine belt that would work.

I do not think superchargers are inherently unreliable - but I do think in this particular application I would spend a lot of time vetting the install after completion to make sure its solid, and being intimately familiar with all of the additional failure points that have been introduced - and then keeping a spare serpentine belt or two on hand in the truck (for example).

I believe RIPP has sold over 20,000 of these units!
I'd think they crossed the reliability threshold in good form

But what we have here is typical of the times. People amplify the small percentage of failures, especially when the keyboard warriors start adding their feelings, their opinions, or their suspicions.
I'd suggest just watching along and seeing what happens. Without innovation and folks daring to do something new(er), there is little progress.

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[ericw.]

My previously mentioned friend with a JKU and Ripp supercharger has been rough on his. He's one of those lead foot cool guy types that makes that supercharger whine constantly.

The only major issue he's had is an annoying whistling noise at idle and he can't seem to solve it. That's just an annoyance, doesn't leave him stuck anywhere.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I believe RIPP has sold over 20,000 of these units!
I'd think they crossed the reliability threshold in good form

But what we have here is typical of the times. People amplify the small percentage of failures, especially when the keyboard warriors start adding their feelings, their opinions, or their suspicions.
I'd suggest just watching along and seeing what happens. Without innovation and folks daring to do something new(er), there is little progress.

I'm not saying that the Ripp supercharge itself is unreliable. It's all the tidbits around it that pose additional problems. My buddies Jeep had no problem with supercharger itself - but it was a poorly vetted build that ate a belt, blew a cold side coupling, and they were unprepared for it. I'm only saying - review thoroughly and travel prepared.

To be fair, to my knowledge that JK never had any problems riding around town - it only showed it's issues when a lot was being asked of it - pushing a JK on 37's and tons through the mountains and two days across a desert trail.

Much like building a race car - a stress test in a more controlled setting is always best, first.

I have no problem believing a boosted engine in general is reliable. I am around plenty of boosted LS V8's that survive fine. I would throw a Whipple on my 6.2L Camaro and not give it a second thought. Curious to see how this pans out with the Pentastar. Good luck and I look forward to updates if you go ahead with this project.

 

[Hootbro]

Depends on your point of reference, I suppose...
When I was digging into this, I talked to the lead mechanic of a shop that had done over 60 AMW swaps. I mentioned the increase in mileage...He laughed. He said they were seeing 10 mpg on most 6.4s, and they did not like doing 5.7 swaps. He thought the process was a PITA with parts trickling in over months and the high cost, $30K over the price of a supercharger!
That alone makes the SC option a slam dunk.
Seriously, all we need is a bit more torque to drive the JT like a real truck. So why spend the cost of a new Gladiator to improve the performance? For the guys going to 700-800-1000HP, that is a different thing, and for what, the price of a small house?

I am talking in generalities and really have no skin in the game since I am not contemplating either option.

Your first post on the subject reads like cost and logistics just got in the way of not springing for the AMW conversion and not that it was technically the lesser of the two options.

You being a pilot, I am sure you know how to balance risk and make the best decision for you.

 

[NC_Overland]

I don't have a zoom zoom Mazda, I have a Gladiator.

Then double the numbers. $60/mo which is actually a stretch unless you’re driving a ton of miles and get way worse mpg than I do in my Gladiator. I do have a gladiator and a Mazda. I’ve actually had my Gladiator for six yrs now. I’m not just making shit up. I’m using real numbers.

You do you. It just seems like an odd perspective to me.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Then double the numbers. $60/mo which is actually a stretch unless you’re driving a ton of miles and get way worse mpg than I do in my Gladiator. I do have a gladiator and a Mazda. I’ve actually had my Gladiator for six yrs now. I’m not just making shit up. I’m using real numbers.

You do you. It just seems like an odd perspective to me.

22-23k miles per year at 12 mpg would cost you about an extra $1,700/year.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Then double the numbers. $60/mo which is actually a stretch unless you’re driving a ton of miles and get way worse mpg than I do in my Gladiator. I do have a gladiator and a Mazda. I’ve actually had my Gladiator for six yrs now. I’m not just making shit up. I’m using real numbers.

You do you. It just seems like an odd perspective to me.

At no point did I state cost is the primary, secondary, and only driver of my choice not to ever own a 4x4 that requires premium fuel.

Multiple times I've reiterated, away from the mall, Starbucks, and school drop off line... Premium is not readily available.

Not in Michigan UP, northern Minnesota, most of the interior of Canada, most of Central America.

But yes, whatever dollar figure you assign and nothing else is the reason.

 

[NC_Overland]

At no point did I state cost is the primary, secondary, and only driver of my choice not to ever own a 4x4 that requires premium fuel.

Multiple times I've reiterated, away from the mall, Starbucks, and school drop off line... Premium is not readily available.

Not in Michigan UP, northern Minnesota, most of the interior of Canada, most of Central America.

But yes, whatever dollar figure you assign and nothing else is the reason.

I wasn’t singling you out. You singled me out

 

[ChrisNLA]

At no point did I state cost is the primary, secondary, and only driver of my choice not to ever own a 4x4 that requires premium fuel.

Multiple times I've reiterated, away from the mall, Starbucks, and school drop off line... Premium is not readily available.

Not in Michigan UP, northern Minnesota, most of the interior of Canada, most of Central America.

But yes, whatever dollar figure you assign and nothing else is the reason.

Reminds me!

We went to Camaro Fest a couple years back and my friend was so annoyed that the closer we got to Kentucky, the harder it was to find 93 octane - and her car was cammed and tuned. She had to take it easier until we got into Bowling Green and she located some good gas for the track

Mine being stock, I was like well she'll just pull timing. It'll be fine enough.

 

[Flyin6]

I am talking in generalities and really have no skin in the game since I am not contemplating either option.

Your first post on the subject reads like cost and logistics just got in the way of not springing for the AMW conversion and not that it was technically the lesser of the two options.

You being a pilot, I am sure you know how to balance risk and make the best decision for you.

You are correct for the most part.

I was going full speed ahead on the 5.7 when I first learned about all the logistical issues. I was having a problem giving up so much cash for little more than a promise.
All of that caused me to pause, and that's when I discovered that the late-model ECM had been successfully unlocked and tuned.

I then wanted very much to supercharge the thing. The 3.6 is a pretty good motor, and I have grown to like it. Having owned a pair of Grand National Buicks, I know what a V6 is capable of. This Pentastar is better built than the old 3.8 GM mill. I guess I am very interested in diving into the V6 platform to see if it can give me what I need, and I do not need all that much, just a bit more torque so that I can cruise at a decent speed cross-country to the fun spots.

I think this is going to be fun, and I was already running premium fuel, 93 in my area, so no changes needed there.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Reminds me!

We went to Camaro Fest a couple years back and my friend was so annoyed that the closer we got to Kentucky, the harder it was to find 93 octane - and her car was cammed and tuned. She had to take it easier until we got into Bowling Green and she located some good gas for the track

Mine being stock, I was like well she'll just pull timing. It'll be fine enough.

Yeah, I'm like a fringe case user who actually goes and explores the world in my Jeep, it's wild.

 

[RougeShot12er]

Best of luck with the journey. Let us know how the 3.6 survives.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

22-23k miles per year at 12 mpg would cost you about an extra $1,700/year.

Double typical miles.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Double typical miles.

And half typical MPG.

 

[smlobx]

Don I think we are all interested in how this goes…I was talking with my wife just last night about the “possibility” of upgrading to a 5.7 and she surprisingly said go for it…it can’t be that much. Then I told her the price and she got very quiet!

So if the SC turns out to be a good choice I’ll probably be behind you. Are you doing the install yourself of having a shop do it? And how much is that expecting to cost?

Thanks.

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