Well, it took quite a bit more work than I'd anticipated to sand out all the flaws and it's still not 100% perfect. It also took quite a bit of doing to get it to resemble a stock piece. In the end I think I came pretty close to color matching it and texture matching it to the stock piece.



Here's the texture when I finished:

Here's the texture of the stock piece:

 

Well it's been forever and a day since I updated this thing. I was mainly waiting on the shop who was going to do the install to get around to me, but my gauges were on backorder and then I basically lost my place in line. Long story short, I decided I'd had enough of waiting and I'd just do the gauge install myself. Here's what I came up with:

Since I was planning on running an Oil Pressure Gauge the best way to do so seemed to be to get an adapter plate that I could simply plug the Oil Pressure Sensor into. This would allow me to still have the idiot light functioning and I'd be able to keep an exact eye on pressure at all times. Here's a shot of the ProSport Oil Filter Adapter Plate with the Oil Pressure Sensor already installed. It's got 3 more bolt holes, so if I ever decide I want to do oil temp it will be a snap.


Installing it was as simple as removing the oil filter, and putting the ProSport adapter in it's place, tightening it down and then putting on a new oil filter. Didn't take very long at all and because it's a Jeep, I didn't even require jackstands, plenty of room underneath.

The Oil Pressure Gauge sending unit's wires weren't long enough to run it the way I wanted to, so I had to cut them, solder in a few extra feet and then run them along the firewall and down to the Adapter. I've got pics of my soldering job, but didn't think they really were needed. I then ran them in through the firewall on the drivers side and up to the gauge.

The Boost Gauge was even easier. Just cut the line insert a T into it and run that to the sending unit. Then the wires plug into the sending unit and again through the firewall and up to the gauge pod.

One nice feature of the ProSport Gauges (and probably all other's I'd guess) is the fact that you only need to tap into the factory wiring once. You can piggyback all the gauges off of each other for the power.

The above pic is also a good time to point out that while I loved the design of the COP 4x4 Pod, not only did it arrive damaged, but it didn't fit very well. I ended up having to cut off both arms, because they just didn't line up. With that done, the Pod now looks almost like it came with the Jeep.

Wiring the gauges in to the factory harness was a bit intimidating since everyone fears the dreaded Canbus, but I took the plunge and wired it behind the gauge cluster, since it appeared to have everything I needed. Since the Jeep didn't spontaneously combust and the gauges worked as they were supposed to, I'm going to go ahead and assume I didn't screw anything up too badly.


Here's a shot of the gauges installed and up close:


And here you can see the COP 4x4 Gage Pod a bit better. I wish I hadn't had to work so hard to get it to look and fit right, but now that it's all said and done I'm very pleased with the results:


Next up, I'll be going to a shop 1 block away from the last one that apparently also has a dyno to finally get everything tuned to pull the most out of the RIPP Supercharger and see what kind of power it's added.

Oh and speaking of which, since it's been so long since I've updated on how I'm liking it, it still gets a big thumbs up from me and is lots of fun and makes a bigger difference than I expected.

 

Any dyno updates?

 

I actually haven't called the shop in a while, for several weeks in a row, the days/times they could squeeze me in I wasn't available. So with everything going on, I just put it on the back burner. I'm thinking what I'll do is in Sept when I'm going up to NY anyway, just call RIPP and see if I can get some time on their dyno. Who better to tune my supercharger right?

 

Not much to update, I've been so busy with work and didn't have any luck locally getting it onto a dyno that I just gave up. I guess I should be happy I've been busy, but I'm hoping I can find the time in January to drive up to RIPP HQ and have them dyno it and just check everything out and make sure I'm getting the most out of it. I figure it'll be worth the trip since nobody will know the kit like them.

I haven't had any lightning bolts or issues in forever and have really enjoyed the power gains. The only time I even notice it's even there is when my girlfriend is riding along and I have the stereo turned down, then I can hear the BOV.

Soon as I've found the time to drive up to RIPP I'll update with dyno results finally and any other useful info I find out.

 

Well, I haven't been on here much since life has just gotten hectic, with work, etc. but I thought I'd report on what's going on. I've got a blown head gasket. At this point I will be running without the supercharger, as a result. With the current Black Box there's really no good way to tune it (ask JoeBlob) and it just doesn't seem like the ideal solution with the JK's ECU not wanting to totally play nice with it. At some point I hope to remove all the wiring and use a DiabloSport Predator to properly program the ECU, so that I don't have to "learn to drive" the JK anymore and can just enjoy it. Recently, the incidences of "limp mode" had increased and reading TCJeep's posts its clear that it's not a problem exclusive to me. I think the kit itself is very good, but the new kit they haven't released which Rock Krawler has should be much better as there is no supplemental wiring. Anyone considering buying a kit, IMO should hold out until the intercooled version is released, to avoid having to use the Black Box and having buyer's remorse if that version get's released a month or two after they purchase the current version.

So, for me I can add another $2000 bucks for repairing the blown head gasket (thankfully the heads weren't warped or cracked) to the cost of the kit, add in the headers I was about to purchase and that would push the cost ever closer to a hemi.

 

Yup... Piggyback engine management solutions are a joke in my opinion. Even with tuneable piggy back solutions like the Unichip you still end up chasing your tail because the stock ECU will also be adjusting short and long term knock correction (timing) and fuel trims and in some cases switching to completely different maps (high det maps for example).

 

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...71#post1706671

We’re sorry to hear about your trouble and frustration– we can definitively say that it’s not a commonality – in our defense we’ve tested with more boost than we allow to the end users – so we don’t think it’s the pressure – we’ve been through the engine thoroughly and feel the internals, including the gaskets, studs and heads are up to the task. The only way this condition could occur is if the engine has been run lean. Interestingly we made several phone calls to our dealers to see if anyone experienced a similar issue. One of our dealers expressed he found an issue when combining our supercharger kit and an AEV vented hood. In fact it promoted us to put a service bulletin up and mail it to all our clients. We think that you may fall into this category, when possible please confirm.

With respect to the tuner – again our approach was to keep the ECU in the loop for tuning – What Joeblob was trying to do was go outside our approach and found that there are limits in tuning – that’s not an example of our weakness, but rather an example of the tuning window we were able to open to make more power (two sides, two opinions).

We have been testing with re-flashed ECU’s and been very successful in our mission – however that program is not ready and we will not rush anything to market just to lay claims – Our position remains that the current kits are stable and have an overwhelming positive feed back…We maintain that we are moving forward with current kits that are still selling solidly and clients are enjoying them everyday. Now that we are launching our header program we look forward to bringing the 3.8 even further.

Question welcome
RIPPTECH

 

I didn't get the service bulletin... Is the problem with the vented hood related to airflow or water? My system has been running great lately but I also stopped hosing down the engine. It seems whenever it gets wet it starts acting crazy (like my wife).

Yes, SB1 does have a vented hood.

 

My question.......Gawd I'd love to have one....Are you sure you wouldn't like to spot me one? Maybe I'd be the only guy in Alaska to have one...??? Then I could put "RIPPMODS" decals all over the JK and be a year round driving advertisement for you. Think of it......it could open up a whole other market for ya up here.............lol. I know, I know......wishful thinking for sure....I'm ......lol