Its Alive

[dsy]

Thought I would post up an update. I've got about 400 miles on the new motor now and still cant get the grin off my face every time I drive it.
The difference in performance is unbelievable. DCX really missed the boat when they did not offer this motor and transmission from the factory.
Mileage wise when I drive it easy it seems to get about the same as the 3.8 did. Of course I'm getting much lower mileage now as I keep having these twitches in
my right foot that seems to be connected to the muscles in my face responsible for big grins.
I have to give two thumbs up to AEV on their Hemi conversion kit. Everything about the design of the kit seemed very well thought out with
lots of attention to small details that defiantly makes for a super clean, factory look to the install. I think just about anyone armed with the
AEV kit, a JK factory service manual and the desire to pick up where DCX dropped the ball could make this happen.

Last pic just shows the stance with the 5.7 and OME 2" hd lift.

Short sound clip
http://www.vimeo.com/1912231

 

[dsy]

A few pics of what it took to get there

Pulled body off for easy access

Pushed it out for a good power wash before the transplant

Out with the old

New motor and trans mount installed

New power train ready for a home

Power train and exhaust installed

Ready to mate the body back to the chassis

And you have already seen how it all came out.

 

[gary in ohio]

How big a shoe horn did you need to stuff that in there.

NICE mod.

 

[02TahoeMD]

Very, very nicely done. Love it! A Hemi in a Jeep...... total coolness.

 

[SeaRubi]

nicely done. thanks for the pics of the frame shots. it's cool to see how these are put together. top down with a heavy right foot is going to be awesome.

 

[jagular7]

Send the body off frame pics back to your salesman and manager where you purchased the Jeep. Tell them Jeep didn't do the JK Rubi properly so you had to make some proper mods.

 

[dsy]

Thanks for the props guys, It was a big project but I'm thrilled driving it now. Will pull my M101 CND just fine now. :safari-rig:

 

[dsy]

Send the body off frame pics back to your salesman and manager where you purchased the Jeep. Tell them Jeep didn't do the JK Rubi properly so you had to make some proper mods.

I did show them, in fact just about everyone from the dealership, sales and shop came out to check it out. Most of the comments were along the lines of "I thought that was impossible to do" and "You really did that yourself in your garage?"

 

[jagular7]

I did show them, in fact just about everyone from the dealership, sales and shop came out to check it out. Most of the comments were along the lines of "I thought that was impossible to do" and "You really did that yourself in your garage?"

Did the Jeep dealership owner or the manager call you back for tech info on getting something like that together. I wonder if the dealership would want to take on something like that and sell it to the public as 'their' version of the JK Rubi. Remember the late 60s when dealerships took a light weight small box car and threw in a v8, let alone a big block.

If they could get it done, I would bet they would sell rather easily with the other HD options from Jeep along the warranty and payment plans now available.

That would be cool.

 

[dsy]

Did the Jeep dealership owner or the manager call you back for tech info on getting something like that together. I wonder if the dealership would want to take on something like that and sell it to the public as 'their' version of the JK Rubi. Remember the late 60s when dealerships took a light weight small box car and threw in a v8, let alone a big block.

If they could get it done, I would bet they would sell rather easily with the other HD options from Jeep along the warranty and payment plans now available.

That would be cool.

I'm sure they would sell. But probably a pretty limited market in our area for 50-60k jeeps which is what the ones that other dealers have done sell for.

 

[Hilldweller]

I think that Jeep will eventually cave in and give us diesels; that would soften the Hemi market even more.

That's a beautiful job, btw. I doubt that AEV would even do one as well.

 

[jim65wagon]

With 400 miles on a new motor that means it's time to really dig into it. Let's see the 4 wheeled smoke show! It'll be like TV Tommy Ivo in a Jeep!
Really very nice, Doug!
:bowdown:

 

[dsy]

Really very nice, Doug!

Thanks Jim, Just needed a little more power to pull my trailer around.

 

[toyota_jon]

wow your hood actually closes?:sombrero: seriously though very impressive.

 

[86cj]

Kudos for all the hard work, that is a big job......I could not have left the frame without a coat of some good paint either.....

Oh yea, Nice Jeep with a proper Rumble............................

I hope AEV can grow the kit buisness and keep alive, the AEV turn key Jeeps around here are not moving off the lots at all.
It is a great use of their talent to give people who wrench the option of super high quality parts already sorted out.