I'm having a hard time with the thought of you even considering their offer! I wouldn't have any confidence in them at all at this point!
So I need a new engine
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TJ2
TJ Expert
You've got the wrong mechanics.
I have been there in that situation and nothing I can do about it.
So I move on, lessons learned.
I have been there in that situation and nothing I can do about it.
So I move on, lessons learned.
I agree as well, the more I thought about it, and slept on it, I would argue to pay even less and find a shop that can do the work.
The way I see it from what you have said, you kind of have four routes:
- Find a used motor and get some local TJers to see if they can help you swap the 4.0l in a weekend. It can be done you just need one or two speciality tools for the job, specially the top two $#^&*^$#&* bolts on the bellhousing.
- Find another shop that will give you a quote on installing a replacement engine with a warranty
- Go with a stroker setup which would be awesome
- Let's see if we can't get the community to help find a place that could possibly do Hemi swap that is within your budget.
Vidar
TJ Enthusiast
Before I rebuilt my blown engine (broken piston skirt), I got a quote from a local junkyard for a pulled long block with around 120K for $300. Opted to rebuild mine at a cost of $1350 ($700 for the machine work at the shop and $650 for the rebuild kit). $3700 is highway robbery.
Why isn't the vw diesel option on that list?
Like that Nate guy's tj that does dirtlifetyle on YouTube.
Low weight, high torque. Extended fuel range. Where are the negatives?
The kit without the engine, vw wiring harness or ecu is around $5500 bucks. If anything the Kubota diesel swap I'm doing is cheaper but there is no bolt in option, I can help people getting it close to bolt in, KubotaSwappers has all the parts and information from me, but you still need to do some fabrication on your end, though not too much.
I'm sure the TDI swap can be done cheaper, but if you want the easiest way to do it, it's going to be around $7500 if I had to guess when you all in if you want it as bolt in as possible.
With an Kubota diesel engine and all the pieces it could be done for around $3000, but the Kubota is a low speed diesel, even with a new governor spring, I think I'll have a max of 3500rpm.
That said you either option will give you more torque than the 4.0l at any given RPM (until you run out of RPM) and you'll get improved fuel economy as well, but you need to check your local laws for emissions on the swap. I'm able to do mine because we don't have emissions where I live.
If emissions are a factor really the Cummins R2.8l is your best option if you want to go diesel, but I believe that is easily 15K just for the engine and parts, @DieselJeep has done the swap and can attest to the cost.
-Grant
This has been really helpful and I’m probably going with the stroker engine at least for my money I’m getting a little power upgrade. ill give a call to Vegas 4x4 and see what they’ll charge to drop in the new engine a specialty 4x4 shop is my first choice and I can have them look over the suspension while I’m at it. The second shop is the backup plan depending on their mark-up on the new replacement but 5k for the engine and 1K for the labor I think they’ve got a lot of fat tacked on to the bill, but if they’ll offer the same labor to install the stroker I guess that would be OK. I don’t think I can drop in a diesel in Clark county I've read a few threads where the rules here won’t allow the conversion from gas. The shop it’s at now I’ve no confidence in so the works not happening there it’s just a matter of how much of the original 2400 (1200 deposit) bill we settle on, they supposedly replaced the radiator, fuel pump Dropping the fuel tank and machining the head. Since we had discussed checking the engine first before even machining the head I shouldn’t be paying for most of the bill, but I’m probably stuck for at a minimum of the 1200 I already paid him and depending on how much hassle I want to go through some or most of the rest and Take the first shop to small claims court when all the dust settles?
I just got off the phone with Vegas 4x4 soonest they can do the work is June 15th at close to the labor cost of the second shops quote without the fat added to the new engine and in the end it’ll be a much better build They’ve done this conversion with the Golen Stroker and know Chad and the ins and outs of the swap so I’m having them do the work. Thanks to everyone for the good advise and I’ll update how everything works out when the jeeps all done.
I used to think I'd build a "LS killer" inline 6 stroker engine.
The issue is that the V8 swap will have more room to push HP even further, better availability, and if you do stop at 400HP you're not pushing the engine to it's limit like you be with the I6. Also cost is a factor and even comparing new vs new the V8 is cheaper. The only thing the I6 has going for it is that it's a plug and play swap.
B00mb00m
The Church of Cutting Brakes of Atlas-Front Digs
Supporting Member
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I’d love to have found a shop that would do the hemi turn key smog legal but the only conversion I’ve found so far is a local shop that’s doing them off road only, Jeep speed shop used to advertise the complete service I think in the end it was costing 20-25K turn key and the turn around wasn’t fast I was reading, now I don’t see them offering the turn key option only kits, plus I’d have to ship it to them from southern Nevada. I’ll call Golen today and order the complete engine with the headers and injector kit hopefully Vegas 4x4 will get it before the 15th and then they said it would take about 3 days for the install.
I definitely agree. If I knew I wanted V8 power right away, I would buy a V8, and a transmission capable of being bolted to a V8. Novak sells entire powertrain kits that include an engine, transmission, and all necessary adapters that could make a V8 swap straightforward.
But if I only planned on modest additional power, such as buying a stroker, I might ask Golen what the additional cost would be to have it built forced induction capable. If the difference is only say $600 in parts, I would consider it. That way if I decided I wanted more power in the future, all I would have to do is bolt on a supercharger kit. I doubt the extra strength parts would significantly impair performance or lifespan.
(I agree it’s probably unnecessary for the original poster.)
Of course, either a 400 HP I6 or a V8 with equivalent power would probably tear up a factory transmission.
Glad the community was able to help you come up with different options to get your TJ Rubicon back on the road! Let us know what you think of the engine from Golen!
Absolutely. And you do have to draw the line somewhere, and that line is going to be someplace different for everyone. For me, I'd rather have a lifetime of awesome Jeepness and spend months working on it. But then again, I also enjoy building. Again, the answer will be different for everyone.
At the end of the day the conclusion will be the same for everyone... a fully built I6 pushes out 350HP to the tune of $17,500 with transmission (from what I've talked to engine builders 400HP could cause reliability issues). A mild 5.3 LS swap pushes out 350HP to the tune of $5000 which includes a transmission and everything you need to do the swap right.
Nothing better than more horsepower my trouble is having little self control I can’t tell you just how many tickets my Tj has saved me, hardly a day goes by I don’t see a trooper someplace where I’m suddenly letting my foot off the gas only to realize I’m driving at or under the speed limit.
Be real easy to get crazy and spend a bunch of cash, there’s a 2 door JK in southern Cal asking around 40K stretched 6” in the Back and 3” up front on 1 tons but like everything else that looks great probably hidden nightmares, so I’m going to stay somewhat practical and a new stroker done by a reliable shop should be desirable compared to local values if I ever wanted to sell my Jeep, and make me happy and satisfied with just a little more power.
I’m feeling really good about this now, of course spending the cash is a pain in the A, but feeling confident in the end result makes a huge difference and hopefully the Tj comes out awesome, I’ll keep you posted on my experience in case it also helps someone else decide their path. Thank again everyone, Clark
Be real easy to get crazy and spend a bunch of cash, there’s a 2 door JK in southern Cal asking around 40K stretched 6” in the Back and 3” up front on 1 tons but like everything else that looks great probably hidden nightmares, so I’m going to stay somewhat practical and a new stroker done by a reliable shop should be desirable compared to local values if I ever wanted to sell my Jeep, and make me happy and satisfied with just a little more power.
I’m feeling really good about this now, of course spending the cash is a pain in the A, but feeling confident in the end result makes a huge difference and hopefully the Tj comes out awesome, I’ll keep you posted on my experience in case it also helps someone else decide their path. Thank again everyone, Clark
Quick update I talked with Chad this morning and ordered a complete engine with all the covers, flywheel, heavy duty water pump, injector kit And high flow aluminum header basically everything they offer except supercharger options This will get the Dino testing and break in with the correct oils for a shade under 8k with shipping, all said and done the total will come close to 10k by the time I get my Jeep home. Business is booming right now Golen’s selling more engines for our Tj’ s than he can make right now so I’m possibly about a month out unless someone else cancels then I’m first on the list to move up, bummer waiting but better to get er done right so worth the wait.
I'm not apposed to spending money on what you want. I'm glad you went for it! Out of curiosity, where is the additional $2k over $8k coming in at?
If you ever do decide to boost, do know that you'll need a higher volume blower than you would on the 4.0L to reach the same levels of boost. Talk to the SC manufacture and Golen before hand and they should be able to guide you to what you need.
Talk to the shop owner only. Try to get your money back. And please go somewhere else.
Never mind, I see you went someplace else. I just wanted to see you get your 1200$ back from that other chump. Cool deal, 10K. Dang, still cool though.
Never mind, I see you went someplace else. I just wanted to see you get your 1200$ back from that other chump. Cool deal, 10K. Dang, still cool though.
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