Filed under: SUVs, Auction Action, Jeep
eBay Find of the Day: '97 Jeep Wrangler with Corvette LS1 power
The 1997 Jeep Wrangler's torquey 4.0L inline six-cylinder engine was well suited to the machine's superb rock crawling abilities. That's doesn't mean all room for improvement has disappeared from underneath the hood. One owner looked across the aisle to General Motors for a new motor that would significantly improve the Wrangler's power-to-weight ratio. Said owner shoehorned an LS1 V8 from a Corvette behind that trademark seven-bar grille from Jeep and created a Wranglevette that's currently up for grabs on eBay. The LS1 V8 itself has been officially rated at anywhere from 305 to 350 horsepower, though aftermarket add-ons can push those power numbers significantly higher. The eBay auction doesn't mention the specific output of the LS1 motor in this Wrangler, nor very much about the vehicle at all, except that the transplanted engine resulted in a salvage title.
We imagine one could immediately bypass crawling rocks with this Wrangler and instead just jump them. At the moment, the high bid is $10,000 with 11 bids on record and about 5 days left to go.
Thanks for the tip, Jro!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ross B 8:18PM (4/17/2007)
This isn't an uncommon swap. Many people do this.
Nice Jeep, too! Lift, winch, roof rack, etc...he's ready for Moab!
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Lucas 8:38PM (4/17/2007)
Yes, it'll look wonderful doing its usual "offroading" in the wal-mart parking lot.
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Max 8:57PM (4/17/2007)
Salvage title because of the engine swap? They have to be kidding. Tell that to all the kiddies with their swapped Honda's. My Honda doesn't have its original engine and somehow I managed to have a clean title.
Neat idea, but the swap looks questionable and the people selling it obviously are ignorant or trying to hide something.
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Mike 9:01PM (4/17/2007)
Max: do you live in California? That is where the auction is from. They have more strict laws for automobiles there so I would not be surprised if that is one of them.
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Kamil 9:17PM (4/17/2007)
Englishtown NJ, circa 1997.
Black crappy looking Wrangler soft-top, with a license plate "GNX 4X4".
It starts up, and it's the unmistakable sound of a Buick turbo V6.
In lines up and runs.... an 11.9.
Un-fuk0in real.
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Talis 9:33PM (4/17/2007)
this is kinda cool.... I am not sure what the laws are about salvage titles though...
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Mr. Red 9:52PM (4/17/2007)
Thats about as impressive as a cavilier with a 3800 v6 supercharged, seen a few of them swapped around and those things scream..
http://www.burnedbytheman.com
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Steve Shickles 9:56PM (4/17/2007)
Nice Jeep... Better than my 07..
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Mike 10:07PM (4/17/2007)
I love this kind of thing, I saw a late RX7 with a Ford modular 4 cam engine at the track last year during an open track HPDE. I didn't get to see it out there but I bet it was quick.
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david searle 10:51PM (11/23/2008)
hi check my self built ls1 powered e36 bmw r/h drive . there`s only 2 (1 cab and my coupe) did both at the same time. c on youtube corvette vs ls1 bmw at dakota raceway cheers david
Don 10:15PM (4/17/2007)
Okay, that's just friggin' cool.
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Snix 11:32PM (4/17/2007)
Real Jeeps are built, not bought......
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Jim 11:33PM (4/17/2007)
How about a wrangler with a hemi:
http://www.fourwheeler.com/projectbuild/129_0507_1997_jeep_wrangler_tj_57l_Hemi_V8_swap/
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Matt 11:39PM (4/17/2007)
Now that is a good idea, #12. Throw a 5.7 crate in there and I'm sold.Actually I'm surprised the 07 model isn't offered with a HEMI as a limited performance package, like the grand cherokee srt-8, something along those lines.
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ckm 2:04AM (4/18/2007)
#4 I live in California and it's not as bad as people make it out to be. There are three basic rules with engine swaps here:
1. Can't put an engine older than the chassis in
2. Must pass smog test in effect for that year of engine and have all the emissions gear
3. After the swap, you must visit a BAR (Bureau of Automotive Resources) referee who will certify the transplant.
In practice, #3 is hardest as these guys know their stuff and they are very picky. If you do a sloppy, half-assed transplant, they will fail you. If you do your best to make sure it's exactly the way the factory would have done it, complete with all the emissions do-das, and your are neat+meticulous about both the work and documentation, you'll be fine. You can also contact the referee before doing the transplant and he'll go over all the do's and don'ts with you.
All of this NEVER results in a salvage title, BTW. You usually get a BAR number which is affixed to the door jamb and paperwork for smog stations. That's it. I've done it twice.
BTW, more info here: http://home.earthlink.net/~dvgreimann/smogcert.html
Chris.
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Guenther 8:14AM (4/18/2007)
Salvage titles result most often when someone puts a vehicle that has been turned over to SALVAGE operations back together. the Hemi swap is definitely the preferred performance swap, as many of the emissions systems just plug right in. the D30 front and D35/D44 rear axles are marginal for this at best. For any serious use most of the drive train needs to be upgraded. Not a fan of the air inlets whacked into the hood.
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phil 9:09AM (4/18/2007)
Lucas you are an idiot. If you just clicked the link to the ebay page you would see that it is being sold at a dealership.
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Lucas 10:13AM (4/18/2007)
Phil,
And what does where it is being sold have to do with my comment? I was commenting on the fact that half the lifted trucks and SUVs you see on the road are poseurs. The only "offroading" they do is in grocery store parking lots. I always laugh when I see one freak out, come to an almost complete stop and crawl over a bump or a patched pothole that I would just disregard in my car.
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Snark 10:26AM (4/18/2007)
How pointless. HP doesn't matter in an offroad vehicle - and unless you're just going for the pose value, what's the point? If I were going to swap any engine into a Wrangler, it'd be a small diesel with a crapload of low-down torque. I've done a lot of expedition driving in South America and Asia, as well as a good amount of rock crawling, and I can't think of a single instance where a small block would have been remotely desirable. Great for impressing the gullible and feeling like you've got afterburners as you rocket around dry pavement in your short-wheelbase, high clearance vehicle...
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The Penguin 11:28AM (4/18/2007)
Cars and trucks on ebay with transplanted engines are very common the other day I saw a 1980's 911 turbo with a chevy V8 in it.
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