Sadly, swapping to a newer 3.6 is expensive. And if you are spending that kind of money you might as well swap a V8 in there.
Another option is getting an upgraded 3.8 from someone like Powertrain Products.
https://www.powertrainproducts.net/...BRBbEiwAPqPxcLGxw5QUfDBm_SVkhygEryjj66DRu6-dMkab_FI6JcZDltAj--YrcxoCgkMQAvD_BwE
Or a built 3.8 here
https://www.shop.505performance.com/product.sc?productId=337
But if you are looking for a better motor, and you aren't interested in forced induction, you want a V8 or a diesel.

 

For which V8?

 

As someone who professionally builds engines please don’t spend all that time and money on upgrading to another V6. I’m a big fan of building stout little V8s for trucks and jeeps. If you’re trying to keep that fuel economy in a desirable range there’s plenty of options. I’m a big fan of Chevy swaps because parts are so damn cheap. You’ve got options! But I’m telling you when you spend all that money and expect to stomp on the gas and get very little reward it will frustrate you that you didn’t just go V8 and call it a day.

 

As someone who builds engines professionally, I would like to say that you shouldn’t spend all that time and money on upgrading to another V6. I’m a big fan of building stout little V8s for trucks and jeeps. There are plenty of options if you’re trying to keep that fuel economy in a desirable range. I’m a big fan of Chevy swaps because parts are so damn cheap. You’ve got options! But I’m telling you, when you spend all that money and expect to stomp on the gas and get very little reward, it will frustrate you that you didn’t just go V8 and call it a day.

BamaJeeper711, Is it possible to upgrade to a Chevy and not have the Money Lights come on? If there are any lights, we fail inspections here.

 

Or something that is better that will fit my 09. I drive a manual transmission so I am going to assume that definitely matters.

Maybe a straightforward re-build with the long-stroke crankshaft, to convert it into a 4.1L 285HP engine. That offers the simplicity of being almost stock. It looks like 505 raised their prices - I hope that's a reflection of quality parts.

 

So is a V8 is the better option? Will it fit in a 09 jeep?

 

I have a Motech V8 swapped JKU. It's an 07 JKU Sahara Manual Transmission originally. Was having some bearing issues with the transmission, tried to fix it with no luck, decided to swap the whole drive train. Very happy with the results. There are two camps - the Hemi swaps (all Chrysler/Jeep drivetrain - 5.7L or 6.4L) and the LS Swap (hybrid GM/Chrysler - 5.3L, 6.0L or 6.2L). They all fit in the engine bay, although the GM LS engines are said to be a little more compact, and the GM automatic transmissions are really excellent.

I had my swap done in July 2017 by Robbie and the guys at Motech in Las Vegas, and have put around 15k miles on the new engine. I had a Gen V 5.3L L83 GM V8 crate motor installed. Had a few kinks that had to be worked out but runs well. We have a few extra considerations to factor in for California, but its street legal.

Super happy with the results. Lots of low end torque. Easily pushes 80-85mph at 2200rpm in 6th gear. happy to answer questions - if you have any more.

 

Or something that is better that will fit my 09. I drive a manual transmission so I am going to assume that definitely matters.

Maybe a straightforward re-build with the long-stroke crankshaft, to convert it into a 4.1L 285HP engine. That offers the simplicity of being almost stock. It looks like 505 raised their prices - I hope that's a reflection of quality parts.

Any examples out there?

 

Any examples out there?

The second link in post 2 has info on the 4.1 stroker, if that is what you are asking about.

 

Motech LS conversion.

 

Hmmm, disappointed to see Hesco discontinued their stroker kit, so 505 is the only source now ?


Banks is pre-advertising that they'll soon offer a turbo kit for the 3.8

 

As soon as you start talking about v8 engine swaps, you're up into the $15,000 plus mark.


Personally speaking, I'm not sure I would spend that on a ten year old jeep

 

For your older 3.8 Wrangler the 3.6 swap is as expensive as the Hemi or LS swap. If you want more power I suggest the 3.8 rebuild with the RIPP Supercharger. Solid combo that will last for years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Replacing a worn out engine is the cheapest route.

Upgrading a worn out 3.8 with a 4.1 stroker would be a comparatively cheap option. It would give you "a little bit more" without breaking the bank because it's basically a bolt-in option. No major work required.

A supercharger kit is an option that doesn't break the bank but it's hit-and-miss when it comes to working out well.

Then there's a big gap in cost.

Above that gap is a full on engine swap. No matter what engine you go with, you're going to have to do a ton of fabrication or buy a ton of kit parts to bolt in. If you're not planning $15K+ for an engine swap, you're not swapping an engine in a JK. And you'd be better off with $20K+ in budget.

As it turns out, the 3.6 Pentastar is just about as expensive to swap in as any small block V8. Sure, you can buy parts that will work. But you're buying a ton of new parts that changed when Jeep started putting that V6 in the JK. And when you're done, the Pentastar isn't a huge improvement over the 3.8. Sure, it's "better" but the gains are marginal. You're not going to notice a huge difference between the two. Not enough to make the swap worth it.

Best option if you're going to swap engines is the GM LS V8 family of engines. It's a known quantity. All of the conversion parts are readily available. It's a straightforward swap with not a lot of surprises. But it's not cheap. The desire to keep it a manual transmission will complicate things slightly because that's uncommon to do. But it can be done easily enough.

Second best candidate is the 5.7 Hemi. The Hemi aftermarket is nowhere near the size of GM's aftermarket. So options are a little more limited. The cost is probably on par with a GM LS swap. But the manual transmission options are even more rare.

Ford V8 swaps can be done. But they're really rare. You'll have to do a lot of custom fabrication to make it work. And the cost will be higher. But it can be done. The Nissan and Toyota V8 swaps are probably even more rare and more difficult.