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!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ross B @ Apr 17th 2007 8:18PM
This isn't an uncommon swap. Many people do this.
Nice Jeep, too! Lift, winch, roof rack, etc...he's ready for Moab!
Lucas @ Apr 17th 2007 8:38PM
Yes, it'll look wonderful doing its usual "offroading" in the wal-mart parking lot.
Max @ Apr 17th 2007 8:57PM
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.
Mike @ Apr 17th 2007 9:01PM
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.
Kamil @ Apr 17th 2007 9:17PM
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.
Talis @ Apr 17th 2007 9:33PM
this is kinda cool.... I am not sure what the laws are about salvage titles though...
Mr. Red @ Apr 17th 2007 9:52PM
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
Steve Shickles @ Apr 17th 2007 9:56PM
Nice Jeep... Better than my 07..
Mike @ Apr 17th 2007 10:07PM
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.
Don @ Apr 17th 2007 10:15PM
Okay, that's just friggin' cool.
Snix @ Apr 17th 2007 11:32PM
Real Jeeps are built, not bought......
Jim @ Apr 17th 2007 11:33PM
How about a wrangler with a hemi:
http://www.fourwheeler.com/projectbuild/129_0507_1997_jeep_wrangler_tj_57l_Hemi_V8_swap/
Matt @ Apr 17th 2007 11:39PM
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.
ckm @ Apr 18th 2007 2:04AM
#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.
Guenther @ Apr 18th 2007 8:14AM
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.
phil @ Apr 18th 2007 9:09AM
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.
Lucas @ Apr 18th 2007 10:13AM
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.
Snark @ Apr 18th 2007 10:26AM
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...
The Penguin @ Apr 18th 2007 11:28AM
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.
Guenther @ Apr 18th 2007 11:59AM
Snark- take a moment to look beyond what you know. I've been wheeling with several small-block wranglers, and especially connected to a manual trans, the idle torque is wonderful. The inline 6 many come with is nice, too, but many conversions start with 4cyl vehicles. Swapping in a diesel is cool if they're available. The VW 4cyl is too small to be worth while and the MB motors are costly to repair, never mind adapting them to the trans. Here in America V8s can be had for next-to-nothing and they work great.