2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon - now with LSx Power
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2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon - now with LSx Power
I've been working with a shop in Las Vegas since the beginning of May to get this project from pipe-dream to reality. Today it was finished. These guys did a great job.... and even drove from Vegas to the Cali desert where I live to make delivery easier. The original powertrain consisted of a 3.8L V6 that had 83K miles + a 6-speed manual transmission. It wasn't burning oil, but had a nasty coolant leak that we learned was coming from the back on the intake manifold and was providing horrible power.
This conversion created a "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde." I now have a monster. The V6 was ditched for a 6.0L LY6 chevy LS V8 mated to a 6L80 auto trans (with tapshift). It's sporting a Flowmaster exhaust with Magnaflow bullet converters, a MoTech CAI, and everything else "stock" GM. It should be good for around 390HP/400TQ at the crank.
After a day of driving, I'm quite pleased with the performance. It was 104 today and we drove nearly 400 miles through the mountains with the AC blasting. No overheating issues. I took it 30 miles off-road on a combination of dry lake beds and wadis. I ran it on some very washboarded terrain to check for loose fasteners and leaks. After all this beating, I had to tighten the air filter clamp and had a seep from a trans cooler clamp. That's it. That's a testament to the initial build quality.
Of course, no thread like this would matter without pics... and video. Those are shown below. Enjoy :yup:
Removing the body from the frame
Old 3.8L V6 with a nasty coolant leak
Frame after engine and body removal
New LY6 Chevy V8 installed on frame
View of the new 6L80 trans mated to the LY6 V8
Completed engine bay
This conversion created a "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde." I now have a monster. The V6 was ditched for a 6.0L LY6 chevy LS V8 mated to a 6L80 auto trans (with tapshift). It's sporting a Flowmaster exhaust with Magnaflow bullet converters, a MoTech CAI, and everything else "stock" GM. It should be good for around 390HP/400TQ at the crank.
After a day of driving, I'm quite pleased with the performance. It was 104 today and we drove nearly 400 miles through the mountains with the AC blasting. No overheating issues. I took it 30 miles off-road on a combination of dry lake beds and wadis. I ran it on some very washboarded terrain to check for loose fasteners and leaks. After all this beating, I had to tighten the air filter clamp and had a seep from a trans cooler clamp. That's it. That's a testament to the initial build quality.
Of course, no thread like this would matter without pics... and video. Those are shown below. Enjoy :yup:
Removing the body from the frame
Old 3.8L V6 with a nasty coolant leak
Frame after engine and body removal
New LY6 Chevy V8 installed on frame
View of the new 6L80 trans mated to the LY6 V8
Completed engine bay
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Very nice. I have a friend with an 06 2dr. wanting to do this. Is there a kit or company that you used for the conversion? What SPECIAL parts did you have buy or build?
Thanks and very kool
Allen
Thanks and very kool
Allen
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Did you retain the VVT?
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Yep.
In the case of my Jeep, it's going to be re-registered in Texas (I'm in the military and a Tx resident). However, if I changed the converters and CAI, it WOULD be Ca legal. The shop that did the install has an installer near San Diego. They do the requisite paperwork with the state, which views the completed vehicle as a 2009 or 2011 Silverado for emissions. There are a couple dozen running about the state that are straight up 50-state legal.
In the case of my Jeep, it's going to be re-registered in Texas (I'm in the military and a Tx resident). However, if I changed the converters and CAI, it WOULD be Ca legal. The shop that did the install has an installer near San Diego. They do the requisite paperwork with the state, which views the completed vehicle as a 2009 or 2011 Silverado for emissions. There are a couple dozen running about the state that are straight up 50-state legal.
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I've got a bored heads/cam 6.2/4l80 in my 06 LJ Rubicon and used Novak for my swap components. They sell everything from complete ready to drop drivetrains or components.
But, if I had a JK I would go Motech all the way. They've got videos on YouTube that walk you thru a swap and all the small mods they figure out to make it clean.
Great looking swap, I've got some buddy's I'm trying to convince to go to Motech for their JKs.
#17
I've had my 98 TJ with a LS6/4l60E for almost 10 years now. It's such a great swap. I plow snow with it in the winter. My run around vehicle in the summer.
Enjoy the new swap.
Enjoy the new swap.