Lower Cost Hemi Conversion?
#21
JK Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Anaheim Hills, CA
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Respect !!! I've this in mind for next year, wrenching at home. Couple of questions if u don't mind...
Did u fab the engine mounts ?
And how much or many small annoying items (brackets, wires, heat shielding, whatever) were needed to be fabbed or bought separately from the kit to complete ? Cheers
Did u fab the engine mounts ?
And how much or many small annoying items (brackets, wires, heat shielding, whatever) were needed to be fabbed or bought separately from the kit to complete ? Cheers
The engine mounts and trans mounts are included in the AEV conversion kit. The great thing about both is that they are near idiot-proof. The engine mounts line up on holes in the frame rails. Clamp them, tack weld, double check and adjust, and weld them one. It's very easy to get it right.
As for additional items not in the kit, surprisingly, I think I only made two or three trips to the auto-parts store. Besides fluids, I think I needed some additional hose for the trans cooler and power steering cooler and clamps. That may have been about it.
My install did require some additional work, though. I have a Full Traction 4" long arm lift. I bought the AEV conversion kit with the exhaust. The ears on the trans cross-member wouldn't allow the exhaust cross-over to fit as designed. My solution was to move the ears outboard about 1.5 inches (sawzall, grinder, and welder to the rescue). Also, due to the lift kit, I modified the trans mount to retain the use of the Full Traction corssmember skid plate.
If you don't have a long arm lift, I think you'll need very little outside what the kit provides. It's very complete and I highly recommend it.
-Randy
#22
that has to be 12 hours from start to finish with multiple techs working on it. there are plenty of ways to have 4 to 6 people working at the same time.
#23
JK Junkie
The got a 5.7 done at EJS in one long day with multiple techs. I think as far as labor hours goes it is closer to 40 labor hours than just one guy doing it all in 12.
#24
JK Freak
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Winchester, TN
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I hope to have my hemi installed within the next year or two.
#25
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Fort McmUrray, Alberta
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What you are forgetting is most of these shops get 20-30% off the parts from the dealer .... Hell even my local Jeep club get 20% off retail, my local low volume installer gets 30% .... then add on the wholesale AEV discount ... 20-30% maybe (really guessing here, hell may be more) and now their parts cost is considerably less.
I agree that you need to pay these businesses for their knowledge, experience, labor costs, after the sale support and reasonable profit, but to the uneducated, it does seem there is some large $$'s being made here. I think AEV has made it so easy now you are going to see more companies getting into it. I heard about a shop the other day in PA that does it for 3k flatrate. I will be checking into that lead soon.
I agree that you need to pay these businesses for their knowledge, experience, labor costs, after the sale support and reasonable profit, but to the uneducated, it does seem there is some large $$'s being made here. I think AEV has made it so easy now you are going to see more companies getting into it. I heard about a shop the other day in PA that does it for 3k flatrate. I will be checking into that lead soon.
#26
I will add my 2 cents (keep in mind that I hate the local speed/off-road shop). One of the guys in the local club is doing 6.1L swap into his TJ. It is alot of work and the labour cost would add up if we weren't doing it ourselves. You need to have some specialty tools (some we are borrowing some we are buying). If you do it yourself, which is the way to go if you ask me, you better be prepared to have your jeep out of service for a while even if you have all the parts ordered and waiting. For sure buy the AEV conversion kit. This is a lot of work and not the kind of thing you can get halfway through and then decide that it is too much work you better be able to see it all the way through. If the jeep is your ownly vehicle and you need to drive it regularly gwt it done professionally. Yes it costs a lot of money, but you won't be sorry....if you are a very handy and have the time and space to do save the money it is a lot of fun working on your own jeep.
#27
JK Freak
im curious, lets say i go offroad and hydro the stock engine. since many insurance providers will take care of it, would it be possible to upgrade to a hemi and then i just pay the difference of the stock engine and labor and hemi and labor? seems like could save a butt load of $$$
lets say stock engine and labor from dealer is $10,000 ( i honestly have no clue how much it costs) and hemi and labor through my guy is $18,000, then essentially i just got a hemi swap for $8,000
why i ask, my insurance was covering some smaller parts and they allow me to use whatever mechanic i choose and i wanted to upgrade the parts and they went for it. now they prefer u to use a certified mechanic from their list but wont deny u of the choice.
just hypothetical
lets say stock engine and labor from dealer is $10,000 ( i honestly have no clue how much it costs) and hemi and labor through my guy is $18,000, then essentially i just got a hemi swap for $8,000
why i ask, my insurance was covering some smaller parts and they allow me to use whatever mechanic i choose and i wanted to upgrade the parts and they went for it. now they prefer u to use a certified mechanic from their list but wont deny u of the choice.
just hypothetical
#30
I agree with most - i think the shops are all sticking to the $18k to $20k number, using all new factory parts and the complete AEV kit...it's easy to get the numbers up there when you pay Dodge prices for electronics, etc...
DIY from a used motor/tranny is the backyard way to get it done without breaking the bank.
DIY from a used motor/tranny is the backyard way to get it done without breaking the bank.