V8 engine swap

4x4kayak2112 · Sep 24, 2013

tjkj2002 said:
Your not in the USA,in the US it is federal law that any vehicle must pass emissions for it's indicated model year(10th digit in the VIN).

I'm not saying your right or wrong. But I live in a non emissions county (Liberty tx) so they don't do a sniff test. When I get my car inspected. They don't even get in the car. Pull up, stop. Do the lights, blinkers, comes up to your window. Seat belt check. Set parking brake, put in drive. Then you put it into park and sign the form and put on your new sticker. I get 59 vehicles inspected every year (Work).

http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/smog-check.php

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/inspection/inspectionCriteria.aspx

BUT AS TOM POINTED OUT....if liberty county goes to emissions testing, you will not be grand fathered in if you car will not pass the test if you did it before it was required.

Sent from my Home Phone using Tapatalk

Leeann · Sep 24, 2013

In the US it is also federal law that you not remove any emissions equipment that came with the vehicle. Like the cat.

Blueridge · Sep 25, 2013

Ya, i'm finding out the same thing. folks talk about doing it but I can't find anything that is current. I have also heard that the performance chips don't do much.

twack · Sep 25, 2013

haha in mn we have no emissions or any other testing what so ever....its nice

jankerson · Sep 25, 2013

Blueridge said:
Ya, i'm finding out the same thing. folks talk about doing it but I can't find anything that is current. I have also heard that the performance chips don't do much.

That's because doing it right and keeping it legal isn't cheap....

That would be getting a crate motor and updated electronics, fuel injection system etc and having it done by professionals.

Not too many people with that kind of spare coin that are willing to do it and or have Jeep Liberty's.

Likely would cost $15 to $20 Grand, could be more depending on what engine is used and to do it correctly by professionals.

Not like in the old days before all that electronics and emissions junk.

Better to get one of the older Jeeps, 70's or earlier and work on that one.... Have a lot more options like putting a big block in it, larger engine bays....

tommudd · Sep 25, 2013

Not necessarily larger engine bays in say CJ5s or 7s sure they came with 304s but was still about the same amount of room as what we have. I had a 5 with a V-8 back then. Also been up close and personal with a SBF going in a KJ . Having a "shop" do it would more than 10-15 grand I'll bet. I mean look at what they charge to throw a Hemi in a JK . Huge dollars if including new motor/wiring/labor etc. To get everything to work with everything else it would be a job for sure. Then of course you'll start finding your other weak spots when you press the pedal a little too much so more $$$$
Oh wait we do that all of the time anyways $$$$$$$$$$$$$

jankerson · Sep 25, 2013

tommudd said:
Not necessarily larger engine bays in say CJ5s or 7s sure they came with 304s but was still about the same amount of room as what we have. I had a 5 with a V-8 back then. Also been up close and personal with a SBF going in a KJ . Having a "shop" do it would more than 10-15 grand I'll bet. I mean look at what they charge to throw a Hemi in a JK . Huge dollars if including new motor/wiring/labor etc. To get everything to work with everything else it would be a job for sure. Then of course you'll start finding your other weak spots when you press the pedal a little too much so more $$$$
Oh wait we do that all of the time anyways $$$$$$$$$$$$$

OH I know, I was being conservative.

Weak parts like not having a real frame under it so it could possibly get twisted from the torque from an engine with some real power. That and blowing the transmission and drive shafts apart.....

I remember being involved in putting a 413 Wedge in a Jeep Truck back in the day.....

It was a real beast...... I was scared to drive it more than once, it had about 750 HP....

tommudd · Sep 25, 2013

jankerson said:
OH I know, I was being conservative.

Weak parts like not having a real frame under it so it could possibly get twisted from the torque from an engine with some real power. That and blowing the transmission and drive shafts apart.....

I remember being involved in putting a 413 Wedge in a Jeep Truck back in the day.....

It was a real beast...... I was scared to drive it more than once, it had about 750 HP....

Back in 75 we helped build a 396 powered Corvair, now when you cracked the skinney you better have hold of the steering wheel , didn't last long though the owner couldn't handle it when he was drunk and showing off.
Almost more fun was a ride from Ohio down to the Blue Ridge Parkway on a Boss Hoss. Only had 450 horse and I think 445-450 torque, but when you cracked the throttle all you could do was grin, ate more bugs than BBQ that week

jankerson · Sep 25, 2013

tommudd said:
Back in 75 we helped build a 396 powered Corvair, now when you cracked the skinney you better have hold of the steering wheel , didn't last long though the owner couldn't handle it when he was drunk and showing off.
Almost more fun was a ride from Ohio down to the Blue Ridge Parkway on a Boss Hoss. Only had 450 horse and I think 445-450 torque, but when you cracked the throttle all you could do was grin, ate more bugs than BBQ that week

OH I bet that was pretty bad...

I wouldn't want to drive it...... Drove too many uncontrollable peoples ideas over the years.

On the Boss Hoss I bet that was fun, 450-500 HP isn't too bad, lots of fun usually.

Always loved those guys who dropped 454's in Vegas..

Would find them in the junk yard and or wrapped around a tree before very long....

tjkj2002 · Sep 25, 2013

jankerson said:
That's because doing it right and keeping it legal isn't cheap....

That would be getting a crate motor and updated electronics, fuel injection system etc and having it done by professionals.

Not too many people with that kind of spare coin that are willing to do it and or have Jeep Liberty's.

Likely would cost $15 to $20 Grand, could be more depending on what engine is used and to do it correctly by professionals.

Not like in the old days before all that electronics and emissions junk.

Better to get one of the older Jeeps, 70's or earlier and work on that one.... Have a lot more options like putting a big block in it, larger engine bays....

When ever I can recover from paying my old man's hospital bills my KJ is going to spend about a week or two in MN.It would have already been done but life get's in the way sometimes and the 3.7 is still kicking so not in a real rush yet.

Last prices I was seeing was $24k to start and for the engine I really wanted would be closer to $30k,those prices do include a new trans also,mine will work but going to 425-500HP I'll spring for a new trans.Great thing is the swap will be CARB approved in all 50 states and retain every function.Already have the #1 requirement done,must be SFA'd for oil pan clearance.

jankerson · Sep 25, 2013

tjkj2002 said:
When ever I can recover from paying my old man's hospital bills my KJ is going to spend about a week or two in MN.It would have already been done but life get's in the way sometimes and the 3.7 is still kicking so not in a real rush yet.

Last prices I was seeing was $24k to start and for the engine I really wanted would be closer to $30k,those prices do include a new trans also,mine will work but going to 425-500HP I'll spring for a new trans.Great thing is the swap will be CARB approved in all 50 states and retain every function.Already have the #1 requirement done,must be SFA'd for oil pan clearance.

Understandable, life does get in the way.

Smart going with a new transmission, the old might have worked for a short period of time, but you would have been replacing it before long I believe.

425-500 HP should be nice.

twack · Sep 26, 2013

tjkj2002 said:
When ever I can recover from paying my old man's hospital bills my KJ is going to spend about a week or two in MN.It would have already been done but life get's in the way sometimes and the 3.7 is still kicking so not in a real rush yet.

Last prices I was seeing was $24k to start and for the engine I really wanted would be closer to $30k,those prices do include a new trans also,mine will work but going to 425-500HP I'll spring for a new trans.Great thing is the swap will be CARB approved in all 50 states and retain every function.Already have the #1 requirement done,must be SFA'd for oil pan clearance.

you headed up to burnsville i assume!?

josh.crotsley · Sep 26, 2013

so is there a company that makes programmers for 02 libertys?

tjkj2002 · Sep 26, 2013

twack said:
you headed up to burnsville i assume!?

I have no idea what your talking about:hmm:

Blueridge · Oct 8, 2013

Sorry I did not get back to you on that. I will measure it when I get home and repost!

Armysniper · Oct 9, 2013

I don't believe in a kj v8 swap. But in central Florida a good 20% OF all vehicles got engine swaps, lots of them.......

johnnysuds · Aug 12, 2014

just looking into doing a swap like this, I have a complete Grand limited 97 5.2 drive line, and would like to see it in my 04 liberty

JeepCoMJ · Aug 18, 2014

No, you wouldn't. Not bolt in, no easy way to make any of the computers communicate, thus no way for the gauges to function.

Also a violation of federal law to swap an engine that is from any model year older than the vehicle receiving it.

Leeann · Aug 18, 2014

He's in London; Federal law isn't applicable.

Honduras · Aug 19, 2014

JeepCoMJ said:
No, you wouldn't. Not bolt in, no easy way to make any of the computers communicate, thus no way for the gauges to function.

Also a violation of federal law to swap an engine that is from any model year older than the vehicle receiving it.

Also need to mention that he would need to replace the transmission and PCM. The 42RLE isn't compatible with the 5.2.

V8 engine swap

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