[HAMMER1DOWN]

Anyone here gone through the trouble of tearing out their minivan engine and replace it with a crate engine? I have a 302 Boss engine, and new transmission sitting at home that I am really wanting to drop in my 11' JK 2dr. Just wanting to know how big of a pain in the ass this will be to accomplish.

 

[jkjeeper06]

You'd need new motor, transmission, and probably transfer case mounts, but you could keep the axles. Next you'd have to either hope the stock console works with the new shifter or modify it. That's just the cosmetics. Then you'd need a whole new computer and wiring harness and possibly a new dash. Even with those, many mopar parts may not work. Things like traction control or abs and it may throw lights. A hemi swap is easier to do, but not by much

 

[Rtone1583]

Burnsville Offroad ( Jeep JK Hemi Conversion Kits | Burnsville ) sells two kits at $5900 & $6300 to swap in a Mopar engine and transmission. From what I have read, the kits are pretty much all inclusive of the parts needed except for the engine and trans and it is still a difficult task to accomplish.

I would imagine that swapping in an off brand engine and trans would cost considerably more and would be at least twice as difficult. Putting the pieces together is simple mechanics/fabrication.

The trick is going to be getting the computers to talk to each other. You're either going to have to have knowledge of both the Ford and Chrysler systems/languages as well as the knowledge to write your own code to bridge them or you will have to pay someone else to do it for you.

 

[Dragonscape]

shucks, no problem at all : takes 7 days and includes new paint, suspension, interior and super sound system
Call CHIP FOOSE

 

[Rtone1583]

shucks, no problem at all : takes 7 days and includes new paint, suspension, interior and super sound system
Call CHIP FOOSE

Only problem is that he would try to make the Jeep into some modern rendition of a once kickass muscle car. In other words he would dick it all up.

 

[HAMMER1DOWN]

Dang, I hate that engine with a passion. I want that V8 power and sound without doing a damn Hemi. If I did any of those conversions I would go 3.9 cummins. But would rather have that 302 in there.

 

[Rtone1583]

Dang, I hate that engine with a passion. I want that V8 power and sound without doing a damn Hemi. If I did any of those conversions I would go 3.9 cummins. But would rather have that 302 in there.

Maybe get an older Wrangler for the Boss and keep the JK as a DD?

 

[boon4376]

Dang, I hate that engine with a passion. I want that V8 power and sound without doing a damn Hemi.

You can't just throw on an exhaust and a supercharger?

 

[michiganadam]

If you have a base model with no ac, no hvac electronics, etc and can get that 302 to fit and mount.... .you need a torch....run a 4 barrel carb..... make a new cluster with aftermarket gauges....

Would suck to rip all that stuff out of a jk though. Welcome to 8mpg land.

 

[HAMMER1DOWN]

I do have the base model, no AC or any of that other useless stuff. 8 mpg land is my favorite! As long as I have the power to back it up.
As far as exhaust and super charger that is far far to expensive to be wasting on that 3.8L

 

[MotorCityJK]

I do have the base model, no AC or any of that other useless stuff. 8 mpg land is my favorite! As long as I have the power to back it up.
As far as exhaust and super charger that is far far to expensive to be wasting on that 3.8L

If you're even thinking about this you know you can swap anything into anything with enough effort. I think the biggest snag will be how much of the HVAC, etc is run off the current body computer. I think the easiest thing to do would get to get the drivetrain in mechanically and separate it from the rest of the electrical architecture if you're talking a carbed setup. Then find out what does and doesn't work on key-on and run. I'd want all custom guages on a swap like this anyway so the dash is an expected mod.

New Boss motor or old school? Old-school Boss is a bit of a revver. Not ideal for a 4x4.

 

[ohioviper]

Sell that ford and get a sb chevy out of a late modle truck .Its about the easiest route.

 

[HAMMER1DOWN]

It's a crate engine I had bought about 8 years ago to put in my 81 f150. Never been installed in a vehicle, and I will never put a Chevy engine in anything I own!

 

[WatchThis!]

It's a crate engine I had bought about 8 years ago to put in my 81 f150. Never been installed in a vehicle, and I will never put a Chevy engine in anything I own!

Then your blind brand loyalty is making you miss out. So many people are doing LS swaps for a reason.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

It's a crate engine I had bought about 8 years ago to put in my 81 f150. Never been installed in a vehicle, and I will never put a Chevy engine in anything I own!

X2. Chevy sucks.

 

[michiganadam]

wouldnt a ford be easier since the dizzy cap is in the front? I like the way the dizzy cap goes on a lot better anyway. You don't want the engine too far forward or you're going to run into clearance issues for accessories.

By the way i have thought many times about the small block chevy in my jeep. but im not going to do it for a few years. I have a small block chevy in storage that needs to be rebuilt Hell i still need to pull the pan and find out if its 4 bolt mains or not.

I also have the base model with no options.

 

[coelement777]

If i was in your position i would buy a TJ or YJ with a blown motor to do this swap, i think it would be a lot simpler, then either keep the JK for a DD or sell it.

 

[ohioviper]

The LS motors dont have a dizzy cap. And brand loyalty is silly. I would take any big 3 v8 and have no issues at all. I have ran SB Chevys SB Fords and SB Chryslers Ive even built a few AMC v8s. They each have their weaknesses but none of them are really any better than the other at the end of the day. I only suggested the Chevy as it is the most cost effective and they turn out some impressive hp numbers stock and parts are cheaper of the 3.

 

[michiganadam]

The LS motors dont have a dizzy cap. And brand loyalty is silly. I would take any big 3 v8 and have no issues at all. I have ran SB Chevys SB Fords and SB Chryslers Ive even built a few AMC v8s. They each have their weaknesses but none of them are really any better than the other at the end of the day. I only suggested the Chevy as it is the most cost effective and they turn out some impressive hp numbers stock and parts are cheaper of the 3.

Wouldnt all the computer stuff get expensive to make work?

 

[HAMMER1DOWN]

I have been crunching the numbers and thinking abou the work and believe that buy a TJ as previously mentioned. And doing the swap and just making that one a toy. Next question here is how hard would it be to have the 3.8 bored out to a bigger cylinder spec? I was out on the trail and met this guy new to the trails here who had a beast of a TJ and his 4.0 was bored to 4.7. He had loads of power turning his 37's.