Today I got my JK back from Appalachian Off Road, who did the install of the RIPP Supercharger. The break in process for the supercharger takes about 500 miles for the ECU to "learn" how to behave with it added, so this will be updated as that break in process goes on. Thus far I've logged 60 miles driving home from the shop with it and will log about another 200 or so by Monday, as I've got to head out to Perryville, MD which is about 80 miles away.
Here are my impressions thus far:

1) Since I looked at it installed, before I drove it I'll comment that it looks very much at home under the hood. I'm very much into things being aesthetically pleasing (read pretty) and this kit is certainly that. Will it's performance match it's good looks? Time and several hundred miles ahead of me will tell.
*By the way, pics to come tomorrow

2) Getting behind the wheel and starting it up, I was warned about and heard an obnoxious squeal that sounded like a loose belt. This isn't RIPPs fault, it's just I need to adjust it in the morning. I probably should have waited and let Appalachian play with it a bit more, but I wanted it back. lol The whine of the belt needing adjustment really detracted from my experience driving it, because it bothered me. Turning the stereo up to 9 I couldn't hear the whine anymore.

3) The annoying whine aside, when I listened for something other than that, the supercharger itself "sounds" very cool. Again, being that I'm in the break in period I had to resist the temptation to mash the pedal and really play with it.

4) The dreaded red lightning bolt or "limp mode" is something I really was worried about. I experienced it once on the maiden voyage and admittedly I was trying to push it to see if it would happen. Since the break in period is both a learning experience for the computer and driver I wanted to see how far I could push it to know when to back off. For those of you wondering, limp mode isn't a stall, but more like the computer has taken over and is making you drive like a grandma. You won't stop in the middle of traffic, etc. I was able to continue driving just fine, just not very fast. The condition wasn't ever induced during highway driving. Only on the street and when stomping on the gas and then backing off it fairly quickly.

RIPP vs Hemi:
I know a certain green super hero has mentioned before that he's getting all the performance of a hemi plus great gas mileage, but frankly I think the gamma radiation went to his head. lol The RIPP Suprcharger should NEVER be compared to a hemi. Ever. Period. Apples to Oranges. Now, I'll give you that I'm still in the break in period and his is a manual, vs mine which is an auto, but I can't see even performing at it's peak that it's comparable to a hemi. That being said, that's not a knock on the RIPP kit, I have a feeling once properly broken in, I'm going to love it (heck even with the belt whine I'm pleased to have it). Here are my thoughts on RIPP or Hemi and which YOU should buy and why:

1) If money is no object, skip the RIPP, don't even consider it and stuff the biggest, baddest hemi into the JK that Camp or SLC can fit in there.

2) If you posess the skill to install a hemi on your own and weld in engine mounts and the space to install your own hemi and a killer set of tools, once again skip the RIPP, save that five grand and about 5k more and do it yourself.

BUT

3) If you do not possess the skill or have the space or the killer set of tools and you find yourself wanting more power then you should seriously consider the RIPP.

4) If even 5k is pushing your mod budget to it's max and your wife is shooting you daggers, but you simply must have more power, then you should seriously consider the RIPP.

5) If you buy a supercharger RIPP or anyone elses expecting it to turn your 3.8 into a hemi, you WILL be disapointed. If on the other hand you want to really wake up your 3.8L and keep your budget somewhat in check the RIPP SC could be the way to go.

Thoughts at the end of the first day just before turning in for the night:
So far I'm pleased that I took the leap. I managed to get a great deal on a used one, so even with install it's cost less than a new one.
I've got 5.13s and highway driving has been great with them, no issues and I didn't think the supercharger would make any difference whatsoever for me there. I had to press the gas less to keep up to speed and actually had to watch how fast I was going. It didn't make the Jeep feel like a torque monster it made it feel, far lighter than it is. So far, the highway was where I noticed an improvement over my non-supercharged set up, as I've got limited time behind the wheel and really for the most part tried not to crush the skinny pedal on the street.

Break in period aside still to come as far as my "testing" goes are:

Seeing how it does offroad. Ok for anyone who's actually seen my JK it's a bit of a pavement princess, but I've got property in Mclean with at least a little hill and some mud, that requires 4wd to get up and I plan on seeing if the supercharger kicks in where it makes a difference.

Dyno: I will be having it dyno'd both with the supercharger and without using it, to try and get some accurate numbers for my set up.

If anyone's managed to get this far in the thread and wants me to take note of anything in particular, etc just let me know. More to come, but I'll try and be a bit more brief in future posts. lol

Edit: And for anyone who noticed or is wondering why I called it Project SRT6, it's because I not only had planned on the Supercharger, but a set of Brembos. Those are still in the works and I've got to hit up two shops to see who wants to tackle them, one is a custom hot rod builder, the other is the only shop I know of in the MD DC VA area to have done a few 6.1 Hemi swaps on JKs. So more to come on that as I know it.

 

Can we just see pictures of your Jeep? I know you said supercharger pics are coming tomorrow, could you upload a couple of your whole setup?

I'm also looking forward to your ruling on the SC once you get past the break-in period and can get it off the pavement.

 

1) I had an Airaid CAI and now it's gone:


2) Battery Out For Relocation


3) Oil Pan Dropped and Drilled with Return



4) Bracket In and Pulley Routing


5) Battery Tray Relocated


6) Battery in New Position


7) Boost Cooler Mounted Up


8) Windshield Washer Cap Drilled For Methanol Return


9) Finished Product. Nice clean install that looks right at home under the hood.

 

I just uploaded some to my Project JK folder.

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/members/saharablackno1-4171-albums-srt6-work-progress-1557/

 

Ok, so as I mentioned in my first post I had some terrible belt squeal (to me, a friend couldn't even hear it until I "fixed it" with belt dressing and made it worse).

I shot an email off to RIPP the second I got home asking about it and got a detailed email back very quickly on how to fix it. Again, top notch customer service. Frankly their email should have read, "Hey stupid read the section in the instructions on starting up your supercharger for the first time, because it very clearly tells you how to fix this problem." lol I read the instructions after I fired off the email. Oops.

Fixing the belt squeal was very simple. All that's required to do the job is loosening four allen head bolts that secure the neck of the supercharger and tapping the pulley with a rubber mallet. Took me 15 mins:

Remove the coupler that is covering the bracket to gain access to the four allen head screws (size 5/32).


Coupler removed and 4 bolts exposed. Loosen them just enough to allow the neck to slide a bit:


Once they're loosened I reconnected the coupler, but did not tighten it. I then fired up the engine so that I could hear the squeal. With the engine going I took my rubber mallet and tapped the pulley until there was no more squeal. Took about two taps. NOTE: If you have this problem and you do this, I am not responsible for you getting your mallet launched back in your face, fingers severed, decapitation or any other harm to you or your JK.

I then shut down the engine, pulled the coupler back out and tightened down the allenhead bolts, then reinstalled and tightened the coupler.

Problem solved. Any "repair" that only takes 15 mins, 1 screw driver, one allen head wrench and a hammer is right up my alley. To be sure everything was right and the squeal was truly gone I went for a quick 10 min test drive. Problem definitely solved.

Now the biggest problem is fighting the urge to stomp the pedal real hard. It's frustrating knowing there's power there and not being able to really dig into it just yet.

 

does the additional power seem smooth, or unpredictible? With the automatic, do you really have to adjust your driving style around the supercharger, or is is a good supplement to the current power, or lack there of. do you have the older v2 or new v3 style supercharger. no way am i spending the cash on a jeep for the hemi. I am willing to spend some for a s/c if it improves the daily drivability. Is it worth it?

 

Nice jeep. No windshield decals?

 

The power definitely seems smooth. I noticed it seemed to start to kick in around 2000rpms, and really kick in around 3000, but I can't really hammer it too much during the break in period and as I said that's frustrating. lol Knowing it's got a lot more there but having to baby it for now is tough, especially since I'm not a real patient person.

Is it worth it? The jury is still out on that, but so far I absolutely don't regret spending the money on it. Oh and I believe I've got the older kit, based on having the oil return in my oil pan.

 

Not yet. I had an AEV one but it didn't fit quite perfectly so I opted not to use it. I also have given thought to having my own made up that says "Dead Reckoning" since I'm a huge fan of zombie flicks and horror movies in general. But if I end up really enjoying the RIPP kit I've thought about pimping their product and having RIPP Modifications up there.

*Lest anyone think AEV built my JK I had the decals made up, because AEV is pretty much the only company I can think of who doesn't include decals with purchases and flat out won't give them up unless they build your jeep.

 

i would like to know how you like the supercharger also because i am thinking about doing this instead of a hemi..