Let ‘er RIPP: The Hows and Whys of Installing a RIPP Supercharger on a 2012-14 Jeep JK
We know what you might be thinking:
“A supercharger for a Jeep? Why?”
Fact is a 2012-14 3.6L Pentastar-powered Unlimited only makes about 189 horsepower at the wheels from the factory. The 3.8L engine found in 2007-2011 JKs makes even less. And when you add larger wheels and tires (not exactly unheard of among the Jeep crowd), you’re using up some of that precious horsepower to spin those bigger rims and tires. If you’re a seasoned gearhead, you know this phenomenon as parasitic power loss.
To make up for this power loss, some Jeep enthusiasts have turned to a whole menu of different engine modifications–even full engine swaps in some cases. According to RIPP Superchargers, though, you exceed the power gains of an entire engine swap by bolting on one of its supercharger systems. And for significantly less than the cost of swapping in a 5.7L V8–a fairly common swap for the late-model Unlimited.
RIPP Superchargers offers a full line of superchargers for trucks and 4×4 vehicles and recently introduced the world’s first supercharger system for 2012-14 Wrangler JKs using the 3.6L Pentastar engine. According to dyno tests, the system delivers 331 horsepower to the rear wheels with 35-inch tires.
The RIPP supercharger system is built around a Vortech V3 centrifugal supercharger. It has an air-to-air front-mounted intercooler, larger fuel injectors, and plug-and-play MAP sensor; and a pre-programmed DiabloSport tuner provides the proper calibration of your factory ECU for maximum balance of power and drivability. RIPP offers the system for a variety of applications, including 2007-2011 JK 3.8L (50-state-legal) 2012-14 JK 3.6L, and others.
So what about installation?
RIPP says the system can be installed in under eight hours. Follow along in the slideshow below to see how the new 3.6L Pentastar system goes together.
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S/C being considered on 09 wrangler JK Stick!
The 6 speeds are great with our system becasue you have a much broader RPM band and you can gear match the power. Most 6spd guys fall in love with their Jk’s when RIPP supercharged becasue of the speed, power and gain in MPG.
After installing both Magnuson and Ripp units on JKs, I can tell you to steer clear of the Ripp system if installing it yourself. The Ripp requires much more permenant modification of your vehicle, has a very poor manual, and the build quality of many of the parts was very poor (ie, trans cooler mounting system, coolant bottle mounting hardware, spacers for the fuel rail, etc)
Coolant bottle? Did you install the 1st generation RIPP?
i would have to agree with max for 6000 bucks the quality just isn’t there
Good luck with that mag unit, having a RIPP myself on my 3.8 their instructions are on point. A monkey could install this. I’ve spoken to those guys on multiple occasions with questions whether it be installation, tuning, or more power out of the system and they’ve always been abundantly helpful. Having spoken to mag owners first hand, the tuning isn’t close and neither is the support.
Just get a turbo from Banks.
My experience with a RIPP Supercharger has been nothing less than a pleasure, After test driving the different blower kits out there, I felt didn’t like the rubber band feel that I felt with the maggie blower. It’s on off power delivery, i felt would have been hindered trying to negotiate a major obstacle offroad.
The ripp is very smooth, easy and predictable to control. I love taking people for rides when they say, “how is it really”. I never have to worry merging on the freeway as the power comes right in and she goes! By far the best mod since my 37’s.
I am looking into purchasing your supercharger for a jeep 4 door 2010 JK with 39,000 miles on it. Looking to purchase it and having it installed through 4 Wheel Parts in Sacramento California. A few questions:
Does it add extra wear and tear on the engine and shorten the life?
Does it create any extra heat or over heating issues to the engine?
This is a daily driver as well as a weekend fun jeep. Any issues with this?
Any considerations for other engine or drive train upgrades to consider when adding a SC?
– I am running a 3.5 lift with 35″ tires, re-geared to 4.88 with a cat-back Borla exhaust.
Is there any extra tuning, maintenance and work I need to do to the SC down the road?
– I like my engine easy to maintain.
Thanks – just wanted to make sure I am getting something that will last me a good long time for the life of the jeep and give me that extra power when needed. Not looking to kill it every time I go out.
after your SC upgrade, was it necessary to do the rear diff?