Buying a Supercharged 3.6 a Good Idea?

[BringTheLightnin]

So I have recently decided I want another gladiator, specifically a Mojave. I have found one locally for a really decent price that has the fox bypass shocks, lift, 40x15.5 tires, dana 60s, and a Hamburger supercharger with a 6 speed manual. It has 50k miles on it.

Is it a good idea to buy one with a supercharger? I haven't gone and looked at it yet but planning to this week. There seems to be a lot of money poured into this jeep and already starting with 60s would be nice.

How much more life does the engine have with the supercharger on it?

Thanks in advance!

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[Remorseless]

Sure, it's only money

 

[jadmt]

could have 10 miles more life or 100000 miles more life.....poor clutch tho....

 

[TheRaven]

So I have recently decided I want another gladiator, specifically a Mojave. I have found one locally for a really decent price that has the fox bypass shocks, lift, 40x15.5 tires, dana 60s, and a Hamburger supercharger with a 6 speed manual. It has 50k miles on it.

Is it a good idea to buy one with a supercharger? I haven't gone and looked at it yet but planning to this week. There seems to be a lot of money poured into this jeep and already starting with 60s would be nice.

How much more life does the engine have with the supercharger on it?

Thanks in advance!

The answer depends on your definition of "good idea". Is it a good idea to buy a Stellantis product to begin with? There will be a lot of varying opinions on that. So i'd say assuming you think buying a Stellantis product at all is a good idea, and you think that buying a 3.6 Wrangler is a good idea, then it's just a question of if you trust the previous owner to have had the work done RIGHT. There is an argument to be had for the idea that the fact that the engine was likely gone through (to some extent, at least) by a dedicated professional makes it a BETTER choice than the roll-of-the-dice you get buying a stock one.

 

[flick2614]

I would assume adding a supercharger to an engine/transmission that have a few issues will do nothing but supercharge the issues.

Who puts a supercharger on a 6-cylinder Jeep? Nice build otherwise.

 

[GATORB8]

Has the blower been on the whole time? I'd be cautious if there is a significant new mod and all of a sudden the owner wants to dump it.

Maybe give Hamburger a call and ask what checks they would recommend. I'm sure a 3.6 compression test is a bitch, but it'd be worth it. Could do a quick oil analysis too.

 

[BringTheLightnin]

I would assume the clutch has been upgraded along with the other things on the jeep (I hope). Have to test the feel of it when I go look at it.

@GATORB8 That's a good idea giving Hamburger a call. I will probably do that.

A lot of it definitely comes down to how it feels and looks when I go drive it. I just didn't know if inherently putting a supercharger on these was a bad idea and just killed the life of the engines.

 

[Sean L]

So by "Hamburger" supercharger I'm assuming you mean a Centrifugal?

 

[GATORB8]

I would assume the clutch has been upgraded along with the other things on the jeep (I hope). Have to test the feel of it when I go look at it.

@GATORB8 That's a good idea giving Hamburger a call. I will probably do that.

A lot of it definitely comes down to how it feels and looks when I go drive it. I just didn't know if inherently putting a supercharger on these was a bad idea and just killed the life of the engines.

I'm sure it's going to shorten the life span, but at some point there's limited options for real power. You're still way under a hemi swap even having to replace the 3.6 at some point.

 

[GATORB8]

So by "Hamburger" supercharger I'm assuming you mean a Centrifugal?

Hamburger's is a manufacturer, but yes centrifugal:
https://www.hamburgerssuperchargers...tion-Kit-Not-For-Sale-or-Use-in-CA_p_175.html

 

[Vinman]

All depends on the price, could be cheap enough to justify a new engine if needed.

 

[BringTheLightnin]

I'm sure it's going to shorten the life span, but at some point there's limited options for real power. You're still way under a hemi swap even having to replace the 3.6 at some point.

That's what I was thinking. Worse comes to worse, throw a crate 3.6 in there or if somehow it outlasts all expectations and the wallet justifies throwing a hemi in there eventually.

All depends on the price, could be cheap enough to justify a new engine if needed.

It's about the same price or slightly cheaper than a stock manual Mojave. I figured those axles alone were a huge upgrade for the same price as a stock one.

 

[jeepingib]

The clutch for the manual transmission in the JL is garbage. End of story. Add the problems that come with adding a supercharger to an already high compression ratio engine, 11.3 to 1. Nah. This is compounding bad ideas on top of worse.

 

[GATORB8]

That's what I was thinking. Worse comes to worse, throw a crate 3.6 in there or if somehow it outlasts all expectations and the wallet justifies throwing a hemi in there eventually.



It's about the same price or slightly cheaper than a stock manual Mojave. I figured those axles alone were a huge upgrade for the same price as a stock one.

I assume you already have the Motobilt bob kit in your cart?

 

[Megawatt]

Do you have a real purpose for such a rig? Or do you just want one? Be honest.

I would get a V8 engine myself over a supercharger, those V8 combinations are proven with a LS powerplant or 392.

This is coming from a guy with a turbo on a hayabusa 311 hp. Sometimes want is all that is needed.

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