Ford conversion in jk
#11
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
44's have proven fine with the 6.2 swaps over the years. With 37" + tires I'd beef up the 44's. We have about a dozen LS3's out there with rear 44's no problem. Driving style has a lot to do with breaking stuff. My personal 6.2 JKU Rubicon has over 60,000 miles with 35's, and after dozens of burnouts by the press, running at Moab and the Rubicon they are going strong.
If you run in sand, mud or crawl in the rocks beef up the 44's or go 60/80/14 bolt, etc.
Our original 6 year old 5.3 swap has over 100,000 miles with the stock 44.
I might add the LS OS has several levels of axle protection, from torque reduction to anti clunk, it is part of what keeps them together.
If you run in sand, mud or crawl in the rocks beef up the 44's or go 60/80/14 bolt, etc.
Our original 6 year old 5.3 swap has over 100,000 miles with the stock 44.
I might add the LS OS has several levels of axle protection, from torque reduction to anti clunk, it is part of what keeps them together.
#12
JK Freak
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Harlingen Texas
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll agree with you that the LS platform has the strongest aftermarket by far of the big 3, but most of that aftermarket is geared towards the vetts and camaro's. When you said there was a 430 and 480hp 6.2, I assumed you were talking about a beefed up 6.2 Vortec in the new trucks, as they're also an LS3 block. If you look at the dyne's of all the LS platforms, the 420hp 6200 Vortec makes the most "average hp" from 1500rpm-3500, and by a lot.. As a guy that's had a 600hp LS6, I can honestly say the last motor I would want in a jk with 37"+ tires is an LS.. Let me be clear here, I am NOT talking about the Vortec LS3 versions, just the LS3's put in corvette's and camaros. Here's why, the have no grunt down low at all, and as you go up in hp, the curves move up in rpm significantly leaving the low end torque and hp even lower.. And with the hypereutectic aluminum pistons that are used in ALL LS3 applications, that leaves out the ability to properly add forced induction without lunching the bottom end which leaves you one alternative for more power, cam and heads.. There goes even more low end grunt! So with the jk, it really comes down to the Vortec and the HEMI right now, and honestly Im not super excited about either. Like I said earlier, Im a chevy guy and think the LS is world class platform engineering wise, but you really have two choices when it comes to the LS for the Jeep - the 420hp 6200 or the 5300. The others you're losing out on low end performance, no ways around it, unless you forge the lower end and have custom heads built to allow you to get the compression way down to run big boost on a roots or twin screw charger to get big low end torque.. As far as the HEMI, it's built by Chrysler.. Not sure you have to get into it more than that.. lol Then you have the 6.2 and 6 speed from the Raptor.. When I test drove it, I didn't have much expectations as Ford gassers have always been slobs, but the reality as that 6.2 Ford kicks the shit out of the LS and the HEMI performance wise.. I really wish a company would start programming, or looking into it.. It's just a stronger motor in everyday and has lower end to accept forced induction over the long haul.
#13
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Drive a gm truck with a 6.2 and 4.10 Gears like the raptor has, it will kill a raptor! I sold a raptor to buy my jk and a friend of mine has a 6.2 gmc with 3.73's on 33's he could absolutely destroy me in all aspects of road driving. I do like the ford trans better though
#14
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAS VEGAS, NV
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm talking about the Gen IV Camaro/Vette LS3, not the Gen V Eco engines. We have been installing 6.2 truck engines in JK's for 6 years, they idle at 500 rpm and have lots if low end torque.
We started to install LS3 engines a couple years ago an they run awesome in a JK. Standing on it at idle will smoke 37's with 4:56's. There is no lack of bottom end power or wheeling capability.
I will agree the LS3 480 HP engine is a top end engine. Idle to 1,300 rpm is muscle car like and not well suited for crawling; however with about 500 HP it pushes you back in the seat like a 6,000 lb has no right too.
With dozens of 6.2 LS JK's out there, and over 100,000 miles driving them, I have not driven a JK that runs better. In fact when I get into a Hemi or SC JK it doesn't feel right.
Another consideration is cost, we can install a new crate LS3 in a JK for under $20k, if I ventured to say a Ford 6.2 would run about double that with new components, modifications and r&d.
I have wheeled some of the toughest trails in the west with LS3's and the trail bosses tell me it's like cheating. With so much torque available and the light weight it's makes running trails easier. In fact you will use 4 low less often with a 6.2.
I'm not arguing the Ford 6.2 would not be great in a JK, it's just not practical like the 4bt is not practical.
We started to install LS3 engines a couple years ago an they run awesome in a JK. Standing on it at idle will smoke 37's with 4:56's. There is no lack of bottom end power or wheeling capability.
I will agree the LS3 480 HP engine is a top end engine. Idle to 1,300 rpm is muscle car like and not well suited for crawling; however with about 500 HP it pushes you back in the seat like a 6,000 lb has no right too.
With dozens of 6.2 LS JK's out there, and over 100,000 miles driving them, I have not driven a JK that runs better. In fact when I get into a Hemi or SC JK it doesn't feel right.
Another consideration is cost, we can install a new crate LS3 in a JK for under $20k, if I ventured to say a Ford 6.2 would run about double that with new components, modifications and r&d.
I have wheeled some of the toughest trails in the west with LS3's and the trail bosses tell me it's like cheating. With so much torque available and the light weight it's makes running trails easier. In fact you will use 4 low less often with a 6.2.
I'm not arguing the Ford 6.2 would not be great in a JK, it's just not practical like the 4bt is not practical.
#15
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: north dakota
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll agree with you that the LS platform has the strongest aftermarket by far of the big 3, but most of that aftermarket is geared towards the vetts and camaro's. When you said there was a 430 and 480hp 6.2, I assumed you were talking about a beefed up 6.2 Vortec in the new trucks, as they're also an LS3 block. If you look at the dyne's of all the LS platforms, the 420hp 6200 Vortec makes the most "average hp" from 1500rpm-3500, and by a lot.. As a guy that's had a 600hp LS6, I can honestly say the last motor I would want in a jk with 37"+ tires is an LS.. Let me be clear here, I am NOT talking about the Vortec LS3 versions, just the LS3's put in corvette's and camaros. Here's why, the have no grunt down low at all, and as you go up in hp, the curves move up in rpm significantly leaving the low end torque and hp even lower.. And with the hypereutectic aluminum pistons that are used in ALL LS3 applications, that leaves out the ability to properly add forced induction without lunching the bottom end which leaves you one alternative for more power, cam and heads.. There goes even more low end grunt!
So with the jk, it really comes down to the Vortec and the HEMI right now, and honestly Im not super excited about either. Like I said earlier, Im a chevy guy and think the LS is world class platform engineering wise, but you really have two choices when it comes to the LS for the Jeep - the 420hp 6200 or the 5300. The others you're losing out on low end performance, no ways around it, unless you forge the lower end and have custom heads built to allow you to get the compression way down to run big boost on a roots or twin screw charger to get big low end torque.. As far as the HEMI, it's built by Chrysler.. Not sure you have to get into it more than that.. lol Then you have the 6.2 and 6 speed from the Raptor.. When I test drove it, I didn't have much expectations as Ford gassers have always been slobs, but the reality as that 6.2 Ford kicks the shit out of the LS and the HEMI performance wise.. I really wish a company would start programming, or looking into it.. It's just a stronger motor in everyday and has lower end to accept forced induction over the long haul.
So with the jk, it really comes down to the Vortec and the HEMI right now, and honestly Im not super excited about either. Like I said earlier, Im a chevy guy and think the LS is world class platform engineering wise, but you really have two choices when it comes to the LS for the Jeep - the 420hp 6200 or the 5300. The others you're losing out on low end performance, no ways around it, unless you forge the lower end and have custom heads built to allow you to get the compression way down to run big boost on a roots or twin screw charger to get big low end torque.. As far as the HEMI, it's built by Chrysler.. Not sure you have to get into it more than that.. lol Then you have the 6.2 and 6 speed from the Raptor.. When I test drove it, I didn't have much expectations as Ford gassers have always been slobs, but the reality as that 6.2 Ford kicks the shit out of the LS and the HEMI performance wise.. I really wish a company would start programming, or looking into it.. It's just a stronger motor in everyday and has lower end to accept forced induction over the long haul.
#16
JK Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: West Richland Washington
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
6.2 and trans from the Raptor. Ive had a Hemi and a 6.2 in the Denali pickup, and Ford really hit it out of the park with this motor and trans. Just a joy to drive when you're going easy and eats the Hemi and 6.2 chevy alive when you hop on it.. I do wonder if it will fit in the jk as that 6.2 ford block is very wide..
#17
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Which LS3? I've been up in the air with what gears to choose when I do an engine swap.. Let me ask you this from your personal experience.. If you were to do the 480hp or 525hp LS3 swap, would you go with lower gears than 5:38's if you had the choice while running 40's? I'm having 9" housings (front and rear) made up and can run up to a 7:17 I believe (don't quote me) and read many of the trophy trucks that run the LS platform are running 6:00's or 6:17's.. Currently I'm running 5:13's on 40's with the 3.8 and its awful, so bad I've actually thought of selling it it makes it so frustrating to drive..
#18
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Boston
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This saprises me,I've owned the ford raptor and a 2011 2013 and 2014 Denali and there is no way the 6.2 ford out runs our 2014 Denali . We also have a 2014 hemi here on the farm and it don't stand a chance either. I wouldn't have commented on this if I hadn't actually owned the vehicles being discussed.
#20
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: SW Wyoming
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would better like to have a 3.5 ecoboost in my jku. Now that's a beast of a motor. 90% tq at 1900 RPM and my fx4 max tow would get 22.8 at 70 mph all day. Shoot I got 17.7 driving 75 with 2700 lbs of concrete forms in the bed. Miss that truck. Simple exhaust change and a cpu mod and your at 450+ hp