So far, I'm only on my second tank of gas and I've run 87 on both, which apparently does not yield the kind of performance it will when I move up to premium on the next tank.

I don't have many miles on it yet, so I can't give accurate figures, but right now it's about a 3mpg increase in combined city/highway driving. That figure may increase or decrease as I get more miles on it, but right now that's about where I'm at.

As far as cash goes you'd spend:
1) Cost of Supercharger. Used ones are rare, but that's what I bought and it was the older model, I spend a bit over 50% of what a new one costs, so I saved lots and it's how I justified the expense, but if my experience keeps up like it did today it's absolutely worth full price, but I'm waiting til the end of break in to come in with a final verdict.
2) Cost of install. Do it yourself or with a buddy, you're looking at a case of beer and some wings or pizza. Take it to a shop, I'm guessing you're shelling out $800-1000. I spent just over $800 and was happy with the expense and felt it was fair considering the work involved. The newer models don't require plumbing of the oil pan, so if you've got some soldering iron skills and a decent space to work (ie: not the parking lot of pep boys or something) it would definitely be a cool project to undertake at home and save a few bucks.
3) Cost of Dyno. One hour on my local dyno runs $135. Not everyone is going to need or want to dyno it once it's installed, but I figured since I'm keeping this journal I might as well try and provide everyone (myself included) with as much knowledge and info as I can.
4) Cost of Guages. The cost here will vary depending on what guages you want, the brand, type, etc... So far I have no guages installed, but I'm absolutely going with Boost as well as Oil Pressure, and debating a third, but not sure which if any third guage would be the best to add. I'll most likely pester the guys at RIPP for their input here.
5) Methanol. Currently about $2.99-3.99 per gallon around here for the windshield washer fluid with it mixed in. I haven't yet figured out how much I'm using of it, but a random guess is about 1 gallon or so per month?


Those are the costs that I can think of off the top of my head. Premium gas vs regular could also be included, but I haven't run it yet so it hasn't cost me yet and it's likely that the increase in gas mileage will offset the cost of the premium fuel for the most part.

 

How hard is the install? Any specialized tools needed? I can solder and I have reasonably mechanical skills (but wouldn't attempt and engine swap or rebuild myself) and have considered this route.

 

Just wanted to add my thanks for your time on this project, I am a bit envious of your increased power, I for one use my rubicon as a daily driver, and it sounds like this just might be enough power to wake it up. Again thanks for the input. While I have never talked with Ripp, good work on your customer service, your response have not gone unoticed from this JK owner.

 

All very accurate data…

Its not a hard kit to install… and by comparison it’s the easiest to install. It takes decent mechanical skills but nothing more than being able to follow our instructions. Those who have done their own install have called in and we are always there to help… on scale of 1 to 10 we would consider this a 6.5 to 7 – ONLY BECAUSE YOUR playing with boost, fuel and wires, all of which (to be fair) require a skill-set to do properly.



RIPPTECH

 

If I can install it, ... you know the rest.

 

Hey Pipes2008, yes i pulled the trigger a while ago. Here's a taste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcFst...e=channel_page

Can't wait to see some video of SaharaBlackNo1 roasting his 37's!

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Who all makes a supercharger for the JK?

Are Hesco and Ripp the only two?

 

Very Nice... so what was the outcome of running the dyno? Meaning what suggestions or adjustments came of it?

 

Again, don't have much to report here. No hiccups, etc. The one thing I did do is adjust the Blow Off Valve so that only 3 threads were showing at the top rather than the 5-6 in the instructions, this has seemed to help with a bit of the whistling. Driving is just normal now, just with more power on hand. So it would seem all that's left now is to keep driving through the break in period and then I'll take it and have it dyno'd. I'm still trying to decide on what guages I want to add and where and whether I want digital or mechanical. Weather is going to be lousy here for the next couple days, so rather than try and get some video shot, I'll be installing my MyGig.

To sum it up, after 10 days I'm very happy with the purchase and will be happier once I get the guages in and I can monitor everything. Driving the Jeep has always been fun, now it's just funner. lol (yes I know that's not a real word).


*Oh and last night I headed out at 6:45pm in an attempt to get just a general 0-60 time for Kntr and JoeBlob and in 40 mins of driving around Bethesda the traffic was such that I never made it to a stoplight without at least one car ahead of me, and the one time I did there was another stoplight within 200ft with cars already there. I'll keep trying to get a number for this. Since my cell phone has a stop watch I can at least get an approximate number.