Thanks for your opinions. I think the whole thing is great. It was $1500 cheaper without the intercooler. When I talked with the guy at Banks, he told that if I am moving to Nevada that I will need the intercooler. He said the heat that the engine normally puts out would at least double, and that is not good in Nevada. I does put the temp to 210 rather quickly!
The total cost of the Banks Sidewinder Turbo system was about $4500. They tell you when you ask, it will only take a weekend to put the system on your Jeep. We had it on and running Saturday night, we started Friday night. It wasn't that hard to do. Like they said, they wanted it to be a system that anyone could do no matter where you live, even the middle of Alaska! They are correct. I didn't even have to buy any blue Lock tight, it was provided with the kit!
As far as driving them back to back, The V-8 would win hands down. The turbo kit is fantastic! You really have to think about things. Do you want a speed demon? Do you want a very quick Jeep that can 4 wheel and not surprise you with a boost of power? One that will give you the power you need like, when you are pulling a trailer with ATV's on it. There are many things to think about before you spend. I am very very happy I went the way I have. It gives me all that I want. And no, the turbo does not surprise you with a burst of power. You could drive it and never know it is there!
The guys that drive the New Jeeps, that think they have the fastest Jeep there is, you should see their faces when they can't shake me off or I pass them. LOL!
Hey BobsLJ, What year is your Jeep? Mine is a 2006. When you buy the kit and, when they send you the kit, it is for all Jeep Wranglers that are TJ or LJ. There were several parts that we did not use. They were for Jeeps that are older than mine. Yes, I do have the heat shield you are talking about. It had no place on my Jeep that it would fit. If you wouldn't mind, send me a pic of where your shield is. Maybe I just never found the correct place.