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  • OMG...Prodigy...TURBO!

    Just got the news..... Prodigy wants to throw its hat in the ring with the two killer superchargers that we are testing head to head right now. To give you an idea of what that means, Prodigy's turbo kit for the 3.8 Jeep wrangler engine made as much power as the Supercharged Pentastars make....on paper.

    Here is the dyno chart they post on their website. 350 wheel horse power, and 400 torque. Sounds too good to be true.



    A big note with RIPP and Magnuson, the supercharger gurus, is drivability. Big power is easy, just cram more air in, but does the truck drive correctly on and off road? We are going to find out.

    Particularly off road, where you don't want BURSTS of power. You want an even, predictable gathering of power as you creep and crawl thru difficult terrain. You don't want to be hanging off a rock and have a power burst, it could be catastrophic. Also, the components between the engine and the ground will all be under more strain. So throttle response is paramount.

    Can these guys get a beast like this under control? We'll tell you.
    This article was originally published in forum thread: OMG...Prodigy...TURBO! started by JeepLab View original post
    Comments 251 Comments
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      To avoid confusion, I'd like to clarify that the dyno chart posted here is for the 3.8 turbo kit with the 12psi kit added to it. Here's a dyno chart comparing the stock 3.8, the "standard" turbo kit, and the 12psi kit:



      Can't wait to see what the torque curve looks like for the 3.6 kit!
    1. Frank The Tank's Avatar
      Frank The Tank -
      Pumped to see this...not too many videos or threads about the TC.

      From what I'm thinking the turbo charger could be more beneficial to daily driving. Wondering if there is any lag
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      To avoid confusion, I'd like to clarify that the dyno chart posted here is for the 3.8 turbo kit with the 12psi kit added to it. Here's a dyno chart comparing the stock 3.8, the "standard" turbo kit, and the 12psi kit:



      Can't wait to see what the torque curve looks like for the 3.6 kit!
      Excellent correction.

      Welcome Pickles. We are excited to have you here. Credit where its due, Pickles contacted us weeks ago and turned us on to Prodigy's Turbo.

      Pickles's point is that there is the base kit that makes 8psi and around 275 wheel horse power. Then this 12psi kit pushes the power over 350 wheel horse power.

      There is so much to learn about turbos vs. superchargers. The obvious difference is that Superchargers run off the engine belt, and the turbo runs off the exhaust, and is considered more "effiecent". What we didnt know was how their power curves climb off the charts.

      Its going to be interesting to see how they do in our Jeeps!
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      If designed reasonably, there shouldn't be much noticeable lag. The infamy of turbo lag comes from large turbos on small engines used to produce huge power at high RPMs. Prodigy seems to have targeted more to the mid-range RPMs for the 3.8, and I'd expect they'll do something similar for the 3.6. Since the 3.6 is already stronger in higher RPMs in stock form than the 3.8, they may have even been able to target slightly lower RPMs for peak turbo efficiency on the 3.6 while still hitting impressive peak power numbers.

      Based on general torque curve shapes, I think the turbo will "feel" kind of like the RIPP centrifugal supercharger in the lower half of the RPM range in that torque gains will ramp up, but it will ramp up much more quickly. In the upper half, it will "feel" kind of like the Magnuson roots style supercharger in that it will be steady strong (relatively constant) torque all the way through, except it will be quite a bit more than the Magnuson. Kind of a hybrid between the two supercharger types.

      Is it there yet? Is it there yet? I can't stand the suspense!
    1. Rexx19's Avatar
      Rexx19 -
      The other issue is heat in the engine bay... I can't wait to see what their plan is for that.

      Maybe you guys could put thermometers in the engine bays of all 3 trucks and see who is hottest?
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      Quote Originally Posted by Rexx19 View Post
      The other issue is heat in the engine bay... I can't wait to see what their plan is for that.

      Maybe you guys could put thermometers in the engine bays of all 3 trucks and see who is hottest?
      thats a great idea.

      i wonder where we can find some thermometers that are wireless, or with wires, that would make that kind of test work.

      more research? No problem.
    1. Frank The Tank's Avatar
      Frank The Tank -
      Heard about the heat problem as well

      Could insulating pipes work?
    1. Tommy Boy's Avatar
      Tommy Boy -
      Going to be sick!
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      Quote Originally Posted by Frank The Tank View Post
      Heard about the heat problem as well

      Could insulating pipes work?
      I would presume it could, or maybe they'll use ceramic coatings? Im trying to get some info out of them but they are in top secret mode right now.
    1. Snarf77's Avatar
      Snarf77 -
      I've read some about turbo blankets and ceramic coatings. These could probably address some jk concerns. I believe prodigy uses OEM grade stainless steel for piping per their website. I'm anxious to see some of their solutions.
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      It's even possible that ceramic coating might not even be much of a benefit for the exhaust pipes. It would depend on how thick the wall of the pipe is and how much hotter than stock the exhaust gets. Since this will be a relatively low boost system, we won't be seeing the same extreme temperatures and glowing red turbos as you see on 1000 hp supras.

      When I talked to a coating company about getting a motorcycle header ceramic coated, he was telling me about how stainless steel is a better heat barrier than non-stainless (mild) steel, and that thicker walls work as better heat barriers. So thin mild steel pipes/manifolds get the biggest benefit from ceramic coating.

      From what I've read, the turbo blanket is pretty much a no-brainer. Relatively inexpensive and easy to install, keeps under-hood temps noticeably lower, and protects hands from getting burned from accidentally touching the turbo.

      Also, the turbo is essentially powered by heat, any heat that escapes from the exhaust pipes or turbine is basically wasted energy that could have been used to power the turbo. Turbo blankets and pipe coatings actually increase turbo efficiency.
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      Maybe something like this will work for under-hood temp testing?

      http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Program.../dp/B002E1AVT8

      It's a wireless remote cooking thermometer. Can measure from 32F - 392F. You might even be able to pick one up at a local store if you don't want to wait for shipping. Just be sure to mount it consistently in the same exact spot on each vehicle, with the probe not contacting any hot metal parts.
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      Since this will be a relatively low boost system, we won't be seeing the same extreme temperatures and glowing red turbos as you see on 1000 hp supras.
      LOL

      I love a supra reference.

      Did anyone see the pic of the jeep with its front wheels off the ground from the turbo? Ill have to dig it up. (and its on a 3.8)
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      Maybe something like this will work for under-hood temp testing?

      http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-Program.../dp/B002E1AVT8

      It's a wireless remote cooking thermometer. Can measure from 32F - 392F. You might even be able to pick one up at a local store if you don't want to wait for shipping. Just be sure to mount it consistently in the same exact spot on each vehicle, with the probe not contacting any hot metal parts.
      that looks perfect. Maybe we should put them under the hood of our SC trucks and see what they read out.
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      BTW - reviews for that particular thermometer look bad. Not recommending that specific one, but just generally a "remote cooking thermometer".
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -


      They had to install a stronger clutch to be able to launch like that.

      I'm hoping that the stock clutch will be sufficient for full-throttle fun as long as the clutch is fully engaged before hitting the throttle.
    1. Snarf77's Avatar
      Snarf77 -
      I found this site pretty informative regarding heat wrapping turbos and how heat blankets and wraps benefit the turbo setup and vehicle.

      http://www.ptpturboblankets.com/faqs.php
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post


      They had to install a stronger clutch to be able to launch like that.

      I'm hoping that the stock clutch will be sufficient for full-throttle fun as long as the clutch is fully engaged before hitting the throttle.
      That is NUTTY.

      the front end of these trucks in not light.

      Does that truck have 35s on it?
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      Yup, 35" tires: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WGJZPJzNy4

      Also, I sure wish this was still true: http://www.jk-forum.com/forums/spons...7/#post3276607

      I have received confirmation that the soon-to-be-released kit is NOT a twin turbo
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      it is a single turbo. Im going to see if I can get a picture of the new set up today
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