It’s no secret that Jeep owners love to transform their vehicles into unique off-road machines equipped to tackle the most extreme terrains that nature has to offer. Adding aftermarket accessories like bigger wheels and tires, body armor, skid plates, winches, lift kits and overlanding gear all help to convert a stock Jeep into the ultimate off-roader…but what about performance? Have you swapped those factory wheels and tires for a set of 35s only to realize how anemic your V6 engine really is? Are you finding yourself struggling just to keep up with traffic when pulling that toy hauler? Whether your Jeep is fully laden with gear for a weekend excursion to the local canyons, or you simply want to accelerate around slow-moving traffic during rush hour, Jeeps need more power and there’s no reason why adding accessories should require such a huge sacrifice when it comes to performance.
Those of you who fully understand the benefits of investing in a forced induction system are probably here because you’re searching for the best supercharger kit for the Jeep JK, JL or JT Pentastar V6 engine. You’re probably asking, why Edelbrock? To best answer that question, we’ll present some facts that will help you come to your own conclusion.
See all Edelbrock Supercharger Systems for Jeep Wrangler JK/JL and Gladiator JT here
All Edelbrock superchargers are based on the Eaton Twin Vortices Series rotor assembly, or TVS for short. Eaton rotors are widely accepted as the performance standard in both the OEM and aftermarket industries. While each Edelbrock supercharger uses a TVS rotor assembly, all Edelbrock supercharger systems feature a unique housing and manifold that is designed by Edelbrock engineers, cast at Edelbrock’s own foundries, and then machined in-house. Having the unique capability to perform everything in-house helps to ensure precision quality in every step of the manufacturing process.
There are two types of TVS rotors: The V series with three lobes designed for peak efficiencies at moderate pressure ratios and low speed; and the R series with four lobes for peak efficiencies at high pressure ratios and high speed. All Edelbrock systems use the R-series rotors with four lobes that have a 160- or 170-degree twist. Generally, you’ll see a number along with the rotor series. For example, the Edelbrock Supercharger for the Jeep V6 is a TVS R1320. That “1320” refers to the amount of air, in cubic centimeters, that flows in one rotation of the rotors. So, does bigger mean better? Not necessarily. At the risk of oversimplifying the answer, several efficiencies come into play that influence the durability and reliability of an engine. All Edelbrock systems are designed and sized to increase power without sacrificing reliability for daily driving.
Why is a 50-State Emissions-Legal Supercharger Important to YOU?
If you live in the Golden State of California, the answer is obvious. Having that E.O. sticker when it’s time for your smog test is what keeps you in the good graces of the government. But what if you don’t live in California? What benefit does a CARB-compliant supercharger system provide for the rest of the 49 states?
To answer that, we went to David Page, the Edelbrock Group’s Product Manager of Forced Induction Systems. David explained how a tremendous amount of effort goes into earning that little decal that bears the words CARB E.O. “For Edelbrock Supercharger Systems, most of that effort comes from our calibration department,” said David. “At face value, a CARB (California Air Resources Board) Executive Order allows legal operation of a vehicle in the state of California, or any other state that has adopted the same emissions requirements as California. But I see a much larger value in this little decal.”
“All the calibration work and rigorous testing that we do as a company to earn this status for our CARB-legal supercharger systems results in OEM quality that is second to none and drivability that all Edelbrock Supercharger Systems have become known for throughout the industry. They make impressive power, in some applications more than a 50% increase in power at the wheels, but the high level of refinement in the design, engineering and calibration process is what gives each Jeep owner the power that they desire without sacrificing reliability or drivability. So, to me, the CARB E.O. speaks to much more than emissions-legal status. It gives you the confidence of knowing the high level of development and testing that our systems go through before the box shows up at the customer’s door. Edelbrock currently has 172 supercharger kits for various applications that have earned CARB Executive Orders. This is a testament to our commitment to building the best quality products that perform as they should whether cruising, pulling a load or making passes at a drag strip.”
How Much Power?
The goal of the Edelbrock engineering team was to design a system that met all the needs of a serious off-roader as well as those Jeep owners who rely on their vehicles for daily transportation on the street. Peak horsepower is only one consideration; there are other equally important performance benefits to base your selection or comparison on. The Edelbrock Supercharger systems for the Jeep Wrangler JK/JL and Gladiator JT are dyno-proven to increase horsepower by up to 46% and torque by as much as 35% with no boost lag. The positive-displacement design of the TVS delivers instant acceleration when you need it the most, unlike a turbocharger or centrifugal supercharger that lacks performance in the low- to mid-range. With the increased horsepower and torque, you can climb harder, tow heavier loads and have plenty of passing power for highway cruising.
In addition to the TVS R1320 rotor assembly and housing, the Edelbrock system utilizes an integrated intercooler for high-capacity cooling of the inlet air charge. Cooler air means more power and the integrated design is a key element to this system’s power-making capability. In most cases, more than 90-percent of your driving will occur under partial throttle, meaning that you won’t always need boost from stoplight to stoplight. To help improve mileage potential under these normal driving conditions, the Edelbrock Supercharger features an integrated bypass valve to mitigate parasitic power loss under light throttle. What this means is that you will experience normal drivability around town, but you’ll always have instant boost on tap when you want it.
User-Friendly Installation
In most cases we recommend having the Edelbrock Supercharger kit installed by one of our approved shops who are familiar with all of the steps involved. But this doesn’t mean that a mechanically inclined Jeep owner isn’t able to perform the installation on his or her own. Sandy Sausser, a performance technician at Adventure Off-Road in Huntington Beach, CA, has installed dozens of Edelbrock Supercharger systems as well as other brands and says that this is one of the most user-friendly kits that he has worked with. In addition to the supercharger, each Edelbrock kit comes with all necessary hardware, hoses, tuner and a full-color installation manual to simplify the installation. The Edelbrock Supercharger fits under the factory hood with no cutting or modifications required.
For more information on Edelbrock Superchargers for Jeep Wrangler JK/JL and Gladiator JT, visit our Jeep page here. And if you’re interested in kits for Chevy, Ford, Mazda, Mopar, Scion/Subaru or Toyota, visit our Supercharger page here.
