I wrote about this in my thread about my RIPP install. First of all, it's a great product and it makes the Jeep a blast to drive. Anyway on to answer the question:

1) Power: The Ripp adds more than enough for daily driving and really makes highway driving a breeze. I thought with gears I was doing great, but the SC makes everything that much easier. The 3.8l loves the higher RPMs. For those saying the RIPP SC doesn't make power where you need it, pay attention to what RPMs (auto tranny) you're shifting at without one, when you're getting on it and you'll see it's right in RIPPs sweet spot. I haven't driven a JK with a Hemi, but I can tell you that I'm 100% positive the hemi produces more power, faster than the RIPP. That's just the way it is.

2) Price: Any way you slice it, the RIPP wins hands down here, because the simple fact is it's cheaper and requires less labor to install. That being said, if you possess the space to do a hemi swap at home, have the skill (it does require welding and more knowledge than your average shade tree mechanic has), and you can find low mileage used tranny and hemi, the best you can hope to pull it off for is double the cost of a RIPP SC. Farming out the job to one of the kick a$$ shops who sponsor this board is going to set you back a minimum of 18k and it goes up from there.

So, based on 1 and 2 it breaks down like this:

I'm guessing most guys on this board, do not have the skill or the garage space to pull off a hemi swap on their own. If that's the case and money IS a factor, I think you'll be very pleased with the RIPP SC. Just about anyone with basic skills can install it. It might be your biggest project to date, but it could easily be done in an apartment complex parking lot in a day.

If you fall into the above group, where you either don't have the space or the skill, but your budget allows for 18k+ there's not a jk owner around who's been unhappy with a hemi swap.

IF you've got the skills and the space, but your budget is tight, but you think you can reasonably spare 10-12k in this economy, start looking for parts and buy them as you can and complete the project when you've got them all. Good used power plants are out there, just ask DSY.

IF you've got the skills and space and money is no object, but you're still a DIY'er get in touch with Screamin Lizard or Burnsville and have them put together a package for you that'll make insane HP and TQ and end up with a killer JK.

Realistically though, I think most JK owners will find it easier to swallow a 5k 100hp increase than a 15k+ 150+hp increase.

For the average JK owner (again going by the above) I think the RIPP kit is a great choice. While it's pricey compared to a CAI or programmer, the net results make it worth the money.

Anyone in the DC area is welcome to test mine out whenever. I still haven't had mine dyno tuned, because I've been swamped lately, but I'm hoping that since I've got to go up to NY in Oct and NJ in Nov, that I'll be able to swing by RIPP's HQ and have them put it on their dyno and see what it's putting down.

 

So can the Hemi, but unlikely. Most people will use the extra power if they have it. More power = heavier foot = more fun = suckier gas mileage (is "suckier" a word?)

I have a 2009 Ram with the 390 HP 5.7 Hemi. Would LOVE to put that in the Jeep 'cause it's so much fun in the pickup. I get better gas mileage with the 3.8 in the JK, even with 35's, 5.13's, lift, bumpers, etc. It is REALLY, REALLY HARD to keep the foot out of that Hemi. No sense even trying with the 3.8. Therefore, gas mileage is much better in the Jeep.

 

Going with bigger tires...I was just wondering what kind of computer mods the Ripp adds if any.

 

It only "talks" to your jeep enough to accept the added power pretty much. For tire size adjustments, gear change adjustments, etc the AEV procal should be used with it.

 

Has anyone actually driven both? Can we get a comparision?

 

I have driven both because I have owned both. I started with the RIPP as a budget increase (if that can even be said for something that costs $5K). It was nice, but it was difficult to drive in that you had to keep the RPM's up to feel the SC. I felt like I was always mashing the pedal (I have an automatic) to keep it in the right gear, and then it would over-spool and I would have to hurry and let off the accelerator.

BTW: At the time I was running 5.13 gears and 35" Muds...plus all the extra weight accessories...bumpers, winches etc.

I also live at altitude, and climb steep hills in Colorado, so when I was loaded down and going up the hills, it was much less effective than when I was empty.

Soooo, after a year or so, I pulled it out and started picking up the parts for the 5.7 Hemi. I used some mechanic friends when necessary, but did quite a bit of the Hemi swap in my garage by myself. At this time, I also threw on some 37" tires, and left the gears at 5.13.

My overall impressions is that I like the Hemi much better. It can be driven casually with plenty of low-end torque, but if you romp on it, it gets going very well. If you were to race a SC against a Hemi on flat ground with the truck empty....it might be close race. But, once you load up with gear and head to the hills, there is no comparison. There is also no comparison for around town driving as the Hemi just has power everywhere, and is effortless to drive.

I never dyno'd either set up, nor did any speed runs etc., I just use my seat-of-the-pants-butt-o-meter. If you are considering between the two and an additional $10K isn't going to starve the family, save your bucks and do the Hemi.

 

I'm in the same boat as AZJeeper with a Hemi Ram and a JK. The Torque Hammer of the Hemi isn't something you are going to displace with a Supercharger, and the RPM range you need to operate in with an SC is going to be a lot higher.

On road I'm sure an SC is going to be a great addition. Lots of opportunity to be in the power band and spin up the SC. Off Road, not so sure how much benefit you would enjoy as there is so much demand at lower rpms.

For my money, I would really want to twist the motor of the JK first before going the SC route with the steepest set of gears I could drop in. Not that it would deliver all the power you might want, but I really think it paints a pretty good picture of where you want to be in the rpm range to get the most out of a supercharger.

One additional thing on a Hemi upgrade is it's the gift that keeps giving. There are a ton of performance upgrades out there and most of them work with the stock PCM. With the 3.8 and especially with an SC upgrade, you are very locked in with what you can do. No cams available for the 3.8, no cylinder heads, no under drive pulleys (that I'm aware of) and a broader range of tuners. You can definitely push the Hemi pretty far, but with an SC upgrade to the 3.8, you're pretty much done.

 

I saved for almost 2 years for a hemi install. I knew a V-8 was going in that jeep the moment I drove it off the dealers lot. Having all V-8's in my stable, there was no darn way I was driving that minivan engine for the next 10 years.

I can basically baby it now and out accelerate most traffic. I also found the 3.8 with a manual tranny was a gutless wonder in sand or mud in 4-hi of you got stopped. Not a problem anymore.

0-60 WOT is a short roar of 1st and 2nd gear. Probably 5-5.5 seconds or so. I do not do that often, but even so I will break stuff eventually, and then fix it stronger. I do not care because it makes me grin.

Now I can sell my Firebird and my Mustang engined Ranger and not miss them (too much).. The Jeep is more fun than both, much safer than the Ranger, and I can drive it year round.

I have never driven a super charged JK but have driven vehicles with that type of SC. I would have no problem going that route if I could not have the hemi. You will not have the low RPM torque of a V-8, but its alot cheaper to do.

If your primarily after more power on the road, I think the supercharger route would be fine. The only thing I wonder about is the long term durability of the 3.8 under boost. Can you really keep your foot out of it? Either way the SC or hemi comes with risk of breaking things with no warrenty to back you up.

For most the people who participate in the Xtreme and Modified forums, I bet Wranglers are not just transportation, but also a primary source of entertainment (recreation?). No different than boating, racing, etc. All expensive and all fraught with costs, because we will break stuff and/or get bored and mod stuff. Otherwise, we would all be driving some econo-box car and staying home to watch TV.

So it all boils down to what you can afford or how patient you are to save for something.

Because, surely, no one here is going to tell me owning a Wrangler is....practical

 

 

lol! I think that about sums it up right there...