OMG...Prodigy...TURBO!

Published on 02-18-2014 06:07 PM

251 Comments

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}

251 Comments

DHewes - 04-09-2014, 09:51 PM
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Sitting here with a 2014 Rubicon X Unlimited with a whole 522 miles on it...ready to buy the Maggy and now I find this thread. I have no fingernails left after reading the 16 pages.

Pznivy - 04-10-2014, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by DHewes

Sitting here with a 2014 Rubicon X Unlimited with a whole 522 miles on it...ready to buy the Maggy and now I find this thread. I have no fingernails left after reading the 16 pages.

16 pages and we havent even got the box yet! AAAAARRRRGHHH!

UselessPickles - 04-10-2014, 04:23 PM
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Speaking of 16 pages...

I hope a new thread is created when the box IS received. This thread is mostly speculation, rumor, etc. Receiving and unboxing seems like a nice starting point for a new thread about installation, actual details and answers.

Snarf77 - 04-13-2014, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by UselessPickles

Speaking of 16 pages...

I hope a new thread is created when the box IS received. This thread is mostly speculation, rumor, etc. Receiving and unboxing seems like a nice starting point for a new thread about installation, actual details and answers.

Agreed. This is the build-up thread discussing the theoretical aspects and analyzing teaser pics. When the box comes, I think an actual build thread wouldn't be a bad idea. Lots of pictures off all aspects of installation.

UselessPickles - 04-14-2014, 11:25 AM
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There's a rumor going around that there had been more delays, but that production of some pipes (or at least maybe a trial run) was going to happen on this past Saturday. I'm starting that rumor right now. Here's hoping that the pipe production is the last hurdle to shipping out JeepLab's kit, and that it went smoothly.

Prodigy also posted a baseline dyno chart from their 6spd manual Jeep on Facebook this weekend:

It looks strange to me. The high torque numbers (200 ft-lbs, vs the typical ~170 ft-lbs) could be just a matter of different dynos I suppose. They have clarified that it was a 4th gear pull and that the OEM speed limiter prevented them from running it up to redline. This explains why the chart only goes up to about 5300 rpm. JeepLab ran into this same issue in their supercharger shootout thread.

What doesn't make sense to me is how the torque and power drop off in their chart. Even with the speed limiter, JeepLab's torque was nearly steady in the baseline run, and power kept climbing to the end. They haven't yet commented on that aspect of their chart.

JeepLab - 04-14-2014, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by UselessPickles

There's a rumor going around that there had been more delays, but that production of some pipes (or at least maybe a trial run) was going to happen on this past Saturday. I'm starting that rumor right now. Here's hoping that the pipe production is the last hurdle to shipping out JeepLab's kit, and that it went smoothly.

Prodigy also posted a baseline dyno chart from their 6spd manual Jeep on Facebook this weekend:

It looks strange to me. The high torque numbers (200 ft-lbs, vs the typical ~170 ft-lbs) could be just a matter of different dynos I suppose. They have clarified that it was a 4th gear pull and that the OEM speed limiter prevented them from running it up to redline. This explains why the chart only goes up to about 5300 rpm. JeepLab ran into this same issue in their supercharger shootout thread.

What doesn't make sense to me is how the torque and power drop off in their chart. Even with the speed limiter, JeepLab's torque was nearly steady in the baseline run, and power kept climbing to the end. They haven't yet commented on that aspect of their chart.

Jess just reminded me that this weekend is easter also. I havent heard from prodigy for a confirmation that we are building this weekend.

UselessPickles - 04-14-2014, 11:57 AM
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And Jeep Beach is the following weekend. I know Prodigy intends to be there. Looks like we may have to wait until early May

JeepLab - 04-14-2014, 08:56 PM
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I hope not. The suspense is truly killing me.

I think im developing a facial tick and my hair is falling out.

UselessPickles - 04-16-2014, 12:12 PM
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Any news? I need to take a break from harassing them before they apply for a restraining order.

Last I heard was that they planned to install the turbo kit on a 6spd manual yesterday.

I also got this in response to my questions about the strange baseline dyno chart:

We will publish results of the dyno after the next pull with the Turbo Kit installed. More explanations at that point.

JeepLab - 04-16-2014, 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by UselessPickles

Any news? I need to take a break from harassing them before they apply for a restraining order.

Last I heard was that they planned to install the turbo kit on a 6spd manual yesterday.

I also got this in response to my questions about the strange baseline dyno chart:

The most recent correspondence i got stated that we were getting pushed into May.

Nothing solid and I'm trying to figure it out right now. EJS and Jeep Beach are killing me right now.

UselessPickles - 04-16-2014, 02:35 PM
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Speaking of EJS, Jeep beach and turbos...

Fortec 4x4 put a Prodigy Turbo (the existing 3.8 version) on the Jeep that they are taking to those events: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

They said it performed "flawlessly" on the first day at Moab: https://www.facebook.com/FortecJeep/...51952471765356

This is the first time I've heard of someone seriously off-roading with a turbo kit, so we'll finally find out if a turbo is a bad idea for off-roading like most people claim it would be.

DukeofJeep - 04-17-2014, 04:51 PM
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Glad to hear it seems to be working well in moab even if it is the 3.8.

JeepLab - 04-18-2014, 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by DukeofJeep

Glad to hear it seems to be working well in moab even if it is the 3.8.

cant hide problems in Moab, when you are on the trail, there are 50 rigs, and everyone has a camera. Break down? no way to keep it a secret.

UselessPickles - 04-18-2014, 11:30 PM
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Fortec posted that their week in Moab has come to an end, so I asked for thoughts on the turbo off-road:

we can't quite say we were all that impressed with the turbo off-road. In some cases, it actually works against us. The turbo spools at a higher rpm when what we actually need is lower end torque. However... We all agree that the turbo certainly got us to the trails much quicker! We are definitely impressed with it's on road performance. Dyno readings confirmed close to double stock HP.

I asked for clarification about how it "works against them":

it was just a matter of throttle control. When crawling, it's a fine line between keeping the rpms where you need them when negotiating an obstacle, and not have the turbo spool up and lurch you forward. It just takes a little getting used to. Overall, we were satisfied with the performance.

Just for context, this is the kind of off-roading and crawling they are talking about:

More here: https://www.facebook.com/FortecJeep/...51956731850356

UselessPickles - 04-18-2014, 11:34 PM
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Also, I'm really hoping that Prodigy will have more details to announce by mid next week. It must be high priority right now for them to have info to advertise their new kit(s) at Jeep Beach next week.

Rexx19 - 04-19-2014, 09:41 PM
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This thread is starting to lose me.

Come on already!

Snarf77 - 04-22-2014, 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Rexx19

This thread is starting to lose me.

Come on already!

Hang in there. We're pretty much freaked out waiting for this to happen as well, but worrying doesn't make the turbo arrive any faster! Its been a crazy few weeks with Jeep events. Fortunately, they do come to a relative calm in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, we'll continue to prepare as best we can.

UselessPickles - 04-23-2014, 01:31 PM
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Sounds like things are on the brink of completion, but Jeep Beach is delaying some things until next week. There may be some new info published in the next few days, though.

I got an answer about ceramic coating the exhaust pipes: "We are not planning on offering this as an option at this point. Maybe in the future, but will be expensive."

Looks like I'll have to take the pipes to a local coating shop for a quote after I get my kit. I was hoping to have a quote for coating BEFORE ordering so I could make appropriate decisions. I might be able to afford only stage 1 + coating and have to save up for stage 2 later. I guess I'll have to start with stage 1, get a quote for coating, then if I can afford the stage 2 upgrade up front still, then order the stage 2 upgrade while pipes are getting coated. Having the turbo in-hand potentially for weeks while waiting for coating and/or a second shipment will be painful.

Still waiting for pricing of the stage 1 and 2 kits too. Too many unknowns for me to have any idea what I'll be able to afford right now.

UselessPickles - 04-23-2014, 02:49 PM
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Just talked to Prodigy. Based on their testing, they feel that ceramic coating is unnecessary and would not be worth the cost if the main goal is just to control heat.

Also got some retail pricing for the manual transmission kits. He asked what year before giving prices, so all I know for sure is that these prices are valid for a 2013 with manual transmission.
(sorry, didn't ask about automatic, but he did mention in an earlier conversation that automatic will cost more)

Stage 1:
No intercooler
5psi boost
$5099

Stage 2:
Intercooler
9psi boost
$6099

Stage 3:
MORE BOOST (no details yet)
$7099

Turbo blanket: $179