Questions on pulling trigger on Ripp Supercharger and possible regear
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 112
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From: Gainesville, Georgia
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 676
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From: Cabot, AR
It is a lot of money for some extra horsepower but you won't find anyone not happy with the decision. IMO
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 676
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From: Cabot, AR
So with Ripp's very recent price drop for their Gen 2 Supercharger, I've almost saved enough for stage 2 ($4900) intercooled unit. This is going on my daily driver 2009 4 door unlimited x (D30 up front, D44 rear with 3.73 gears), currently rubicon 17" wheels with the 32" stock tires. I hope to have finances in order by July. I'm attracted to the supercharge option for performance gains in daily driving, towing (will be towing a trailer ~1000-1500 lbs only) on a move from Ohio to Texas later this year, as well as improved fuel efficiency, and future performance gains for off roading once I get settled.
1. Is everyone with a Ripp SC running 89 octane or does 87 octane still work for daily driving/fuel efficiency?
2. I intend to regear in the future. Which gears do you recommend for light off roading/camping and max tire size 33" (which is likely the biggest I will go for this daily driver). 4.88? Thoughts? Brands? Will a supercharger on 3.73 gears not work well in the mean time? Should I save up more and do the regear and supercharge at the same time? How much do gears and install run typically?
3. Can anyone recommend a good shop to do the regear near Columbus, Ohio? With the price drop from Ripp, there's also a huge price advantage to have it installed at an authorized dealer ($250 for Gen II SC units), are there any authorized dealers near Columbus? My other option is to install it with the help of my girlfriend's dad which would be fun, and get some bonding time in too.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
1. Is everyone with a Ripp SC running 89 octane or does 87 octane still work for daily driving/fuel efficiency?
2. I intend to regear in the future. Which gears do you recommend for light off roading/camping and max tire size 33" (which is likely the biggest I will go for this daily driver). 4.88? Thoughts? Brands? Will a supercharger on 3.73 gears not work well in the mean time? Should I save up more and do the regear and supercharge at the same time? How much do gears and install run typically?
3. Can anyone recommend a good shop to do the regear near Columbus, Ohio? With the price drop from Ripp, there's also a huge price advantage to have it installed at an authorized dealer ($250 for Gen II SC units), are there any authorized dealers near Columbus? My other option is to install it with the help of my girlfriend's dad which would be fun, and get some bonding time in too.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
1. I use 89 or 90. Some gas station in my area have 90 so I use it most of the time. You don't want to use 87 and Ripp recommends 89.
2. If you stay with 33s you'll be OK with 4.88 You did say likely so your not dead set on 33s? I would hold off a bit. You'll be OK with 3.73 and 33s plus the Ripp. Unless you know for a fact you won't go to 35s because if you do you'll wish you had 5.13s
3. I installed my Ripp in 8 hours. I had never done anything like this before. There is a real good video on YouTube with set by step install. I took my laptop outside and followed the video. I would save the $250 for the gears. NorthRidge has a great deal on a full overhaul kit and gears. Just over $500 for 5.13s and my install was $900 total.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 140
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From: Calgary, AB CANADA
I was thinking about this RIPP supercharger as well. I live up in Canada (Calgary) and was wondering if I need the intercooler? I'm thinking not. We rarely hit over 30 degrees C up here (that's about 86 F).......
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 79
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Did you find a RIPP dealer in Calgary? Or is there one in Western Canada?
Sponsoring Manufacturer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,189
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From: New York
Besides you can always install the inter-cooler later should you feel a performance loss...
RIPPTECH
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
I have had my sc on for a couple thousand miles now and LOVE it. I had some tuning issues before and I am still not confident it is perfect but it is a lot of fun. When I first got it I did see my MPG go up to around 20 but that was when I was babying it. Now I get on it every chance I get and it has stayed around 17-18. I have stock 3.73 gears and stock tires. I am in the same boat about going to 33's and I don't think regearing will be worth it until 35's if I ever decide to go. As for the octane level, 87 is no fun at all. at 93 octane it actually backfires in the now colder mornings. 89 seems to be perfect. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask. I am going to start talking to Ripp again about my tuning. It was too rich before and then they gave me another more custom tune and I think it's a little lean now because it feels like it takes off better about half to the floor then at WOT. Oh... one other thing, when I tow utility trailer and put it on cruise control the jeep gets confused and kept trying to adjust for the speed. It would accelerate and decelerate back and forth the whole time. I can also feel the behavior a little even without a trailer but it's just a slight up and down. It is unbearable with a trailer. 
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Oh, install took 8 hours for me and my 2 year old boy helping... Great daddy garage day except when I caught him "fixing" my intercooler with my impact drill. Funny story now... Prob about a 6 hour job on your own or with a friend like everyone else has said.
Sponsoring Manufacturer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 2
From: New York
- Do a compression test and make sure the engine is in balance
- Send an oil and coolant sample (including trans fluid) out for testing to make sure its burning cleanly
- Replace the radiator cap
Once you feel comfortable with the results - Yes - several or our clients have gone with our kit on higher mileage JK's...
I have had my sc on for a couple thousand miles now and LOVE it. I had some tuning issues before and I am still not confident it is perfect but it is a lot of fun. When I first got it I did see my MPG go up to around 20 but that was when I was babying it. Now I get on it every chance I get and it has stayed around 17-18. I have stock 3.73 gears and stock tires. I am in the same boat about going to 33's and I don't think re-gearing will be worth it until 35's if I ever decide to go. As for the octane level, 87 is no fun at all. at 93 octane it actually backfires in the now colder mornings. 89 seems to be perfect. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask. I am going to start talking to Ripp again about my tuning. It was too rich before and then they gave me another more custom tune and I think it's a little lean now because it feels like it takes off better about half to the floor then at WOT. Oh... one other thing, when I tow utility trailer and put it on cruise control the jeep gets confused and kept trying to adjust for the speed. It would accelerate and decelerate back and forth the whole time. I can also feel the behavior a little even without a trailer but it's just a slight up and down. It is unbearable with a trailer.
CC cannot be mapped - its a product of load and factory programming which makes adjustments at 1mph increments and over compensates a bit. This actually happens in NA form as well... a log of it happening while towing would be the best data for the calibrator.
RIPPTECH