Jeer Wrangler Banks Sidewinder Turbo

Sprkplg08

New member
Why choose this over a supercharger?

Turbo lag is often annoying on a street car, but on a Jeep that lives its life in the lower RPMs, I imagine it feeling like a punishment.

Banks did a great job sizing the turbo for the 4.0, no noticeable lag from it. The power is available from the touch of the throttle and just keeps pulling from there.
 

Sprkplg08

New member
I would love to see someone with a Scangage monitor the IAT while under a long pull on boost. I am talking about a long climb through a pass. With no charge cooler the temps are going to spike, and the piggy back controller is going to have to pull timing to keep the pistons from melting or detonating into sherds.

I am sure it is fun for reasonably short blasts.

I'll post a video tomorrow night! I'm heading up the grapevine tomorrow. if your not familiar with the grapevine in so cal google it.
 

Beowulf

Expedition Leader
What happens if you are some place that does not have 91 octane and you need gas? Will running 87 cause pinging?

I ask because I saw a show where they drove the Dalton. At the end there was only 87octane gas.
 

WagoneerSX4

Adventurer
Just unhook the waste gate and run zero boost if you need to run on 87 octane. Or just hook up a manual boost controller.

If this was my DD I would strongly consider plumbing in a water injection kit. Or at the least modify the kit with an Intercooler. It'll create some lag but it'll be worth it in the end.
 
Now thats funny- Banks is working on an intercooler....

First an intercooler is already alvaliable vom the euro CRD engine. Direct exchange plug and play!

I have taken this picture a couple of years ago- just look at the huge "stock"intercooler:

17741307yv.jpg



Banks co-operates with Valeo- his intercoolers ( the "Techni- coolers"are made by Valeo (at least they are made by Valeo for all his diesel upgrades.)

Running a boost controller on a gas engine? If you run higher than around 7-9 psi (Banks runs only 6psi (!)with the Jeep) you need to have an intercooler or you will run into detonation. Sidewinder applications from Banks were always limited in boost capabilities- for a good reason.

(I do run 22psi(!) max- with a Diesel Jeep)
Don't get me wrong: I really do love his sets.
Well built and tested. Just do not mess around with it. (Like installing boost controllers)
The Jeep engine does not have oil jets to cool down the pistons. So be careful!
Iridium spark plugs?
Well as long as the plugs to not have fancy tiny electrodes you won't run into detonation. If they have, stay away from them. Seek for plugs have short thick electrodes. This avoids ping and detonation. It's just the same as working with Nitrous oxide. and again fuel makes power- a boost controller is useless as long as you are not able to add more fuel. That means a different injector mapping. Adding a boost controller only is cruel. And that's the performance you get. Have in mind that this engine is running on mapping- Adding more boost, where it shoudn't be gives you an almost instant check engine light.

Even Banks is only cooking with boiled water- so no magic involved.

To answer the sugercharger question:
A supercharger needs to be driven from the engine. As a result of that 1/3 of the power gain is consumed already by the supercharger. A turbo is running from the exhaust pressure. For free! so an additional 1/3 power gain.

When choosen well, you should not feel a turbo lag. Banks has plenty of experience with turbocharger mapping, so I do trust him choosing the right turbo for the right task.
A turbo is also a super cool muffler. Usually you can skip on one muffler- I for example don't run any muffler with my turbocharger- simply not louder and not necessary at all.

I'm always impressed with the set quality Banks does deliver. I mean look at the hose clamps of the pressurized side. These clamps are not ordinary worm gear clamps- they are expensive constant tension clamps.
He knows his business.

The only thing is,that I miss the brake system upgrade. And we all know that the Jeep system isnt the best when you throw on some bigger meaty tires.
 
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Beowulf

Expedition Leader
I just got an email about a boost controller to reduce boost, but now it is gone.

Yes, I would like to control boost to actually lower it. That way when I am at some of the more remote gas stations that only have 87 or even worse old gas, i can lower the lower boost to keep detonation from occurring.
 
Two possible solutions:
- contact Banks with your concerns. Since it is programmed with a hand held programmer it shouldn't be a problem to offer a special emergency set-up.
- Or carry a bunch of octane booster bottles along with you. :roost:
Raising the octane point just two or three points should be enough.

If I were in this situation I would ask Banks first.
 

Beowulf

Expedition Leader
Krytos,

The guys over on jeepforum are talking about getting the same or even better mpg. BUT that is if they keep their joy of spooling it up in check.
 
A boost controller that decreases boost?
How is that going to work?

Spring pressure at the the banks turbocharger is set. If it would be a VNT than it is no problem but you need the electronic mapping for that application.
A boost controller can go from factory set boost or higher- but below? Maybe bypassing, but that is also factory boost.
Running a VNT at only 6psi would a waste of money or the start into a very high performance engine.
 

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