Ughh..392 swap in JTR or just buy a damn 392

[bring44]

Hello Everyone!

This is a first-world problem, but I plan to 392 swap my 2020 Gator (RIP) JTR with a reputable shop near me. I was/am super excited to work with these guys and get this swap done; however, the swap is about $5k less than the delta from trading in the JTR for a '24 392 Wrangler.

I know I know...do you use the bed? Do you want a truck or a 'Jeep'? So on and so forth, the answer is...yes and no. My JTR only has 36k miles, so it's fairly new. It's 'built up' with Falcon 3.3s, Claton 2.5" system, Method 703 wheels, and newish 37" Nitto RGs. I also have an RLD canopy on it which is nice...

I rock the 24" 392 JL stock just fine; a non-XR earlier year would need to be updated, which is not a consideration for me.

So, for 5k more I get the floating rear axle (ok so what), 4.56 gearing, and so on and so forth...y'all already know.

The JTR swap is just that...the AMW kit.

Long story short...I can take or leave the bed. I do use it, but I don't think it will affect my life as much with it gone.

Thoughts?

Below is my JTR:

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[PuddleJumper]

Trust me, I'm in the same boat. TBH i will go with an AMW swap. And I have some reasons for it.

1. I got a truck cus i need a truck, and the gladiator is just enough. I still need to pull my big ass NOBO and wrangler simply isn't legally rated for that.

2. The Wrangler has some restrictions I don't want to deal with. Its locked in AWD and doesn't have a dedicated 2wd function. You can buy a tazer to bypass this but I've had one awhile and some features aren't as reliable as others. So i would rather not be dependent on it.

3. The wrangler is no sports car. And in my experience, high HP applications are best left to actual sports cars or larger trucks as far as my preference of comfort is concerned. To me the TrackHawk also falls into this weird category of powerful but not nimble vehicles. My Mojave is pretty nimble for a midsize, surprisingly so. My stock JL Sport S was not. Never at any point did I feel the JL needed or would benefit from a V8 swap. My Mojave is practically begging for it.

4. Quality Control. I've read and talked to a lot of people who get AMW swaps. All of them have sworn up and down the quality and finish is equal or greater than the OEM. And it still has a warranty. The Wrangler your starting back at square one with rolling the dice on whether you got one built on a friday afternoon or not. With AMW you already have a proven vehicle and a company that doesn't cut corners. SO whatever the end product, you should have complete faith in it.

5. Its unique, and I don't like Gold trim. AMW will get you more and broader power than a wrangler. As far as wranglers are concerned the 4XE make more sense as its more power, more efficient and cheaper.

Just my 2 cents

 

[bring44]

Thanks for taking the time to share. I appreciate your perspective. TBH – the most difficult thing for me is giving up the Gator color.

Do you think there should/would be concerns about the drivetrain on the JTR and the 392 swap? I guess the logic is that the 392 was designed to have the 392, but I don't think there were major (if any) changes to the drivetrain of the JL 392. FWIW, I believe the JL 392 weighs more than a JTR (obvs. because of the engine).

I'm not a hardcore rock crawler, which is probably obvious from my build, but I do have fun with the truck.

 

[Cooper_D]

Both are great options… if you absolutely hate going to a dealer for anything than do the swap & if you don’t mind the “free” oil changes etc get the 392.
I would think resale on the 392 might be better in the long run, others might not agree.
For the $5,000 you could get a trailer to do what a truck do (with limitation)
Either way I am jealous of your 2 options

 

[bring44]

Cincy guy? That's where I am. I plan on having Highlift do the swap...super shop/guys.

If I swap the JTR...I'm dying with it. It's paid off, but I 100% agree on the resale value front.

 

[BMyers03]

One thing to consider is the body is different on the 392, the transmission hump is larger that’s why they have a shallow console and a shallow storage space in the back to make room for for the larger drive train and trunk. They also have insulation
everywhere. It was all well planned out by Mopar engineers. A swap will never be as good as the real thing. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Cooper_D]

Cincy guy? That's where I am. I plan on having Highlift do the swap...super shop/guys.

If I swap the JTR...I'm dying with it. It's paid off, but I 100% agree on the resale value front.

Highlift installed my RochHard sliders & they did a great job!

Let us know how the install goes

 

[bring44]

One thing to consider is the body is different on the 392, the transmission hump is larger that’s why they have a shallow console and a shallow storage space in the back to make room for for the larger drive train and trunk. They also have insulation
everywhere. It was all well planned out by Mopar engineers. A swap will never be as good as the real thing. Just my 2 cents.

Agreed. I recognized that in the initial post; however, I cannot find any poor experiences with the AMW, RubiTrux, etc. stuff when installed by a competent shop. I am concerned about heat, drivetrain stuff, etc. I'm not sure how heat is addressed in the AMW kit given the build-out on their site.

Anyway, I've honestly been losing sleep over this (which is incredibly stupid and unnecessary), but I was considering my OBX trip coming up and my two GSDs...it will be a pain in the ass with a Wrangler. I had a JK in the past but without the big ass dogs. I do have a seat delete on the way as well, so there's that.

I think a decision has been made. I'll share the progress and long-term stuff for better or worse.

 

[BeckBuilt]

It totally depends on what you want in the end. If you are planning on keeping the vehicle, the cost will fade away but the fact you own a JT or JL wont.

I have a 21' 392 wrangler setup for rock crawling and overlanding. I absolutely love it. It's my 4th jeep and I hope I never sell it. The JL is perfect for tight trails and crawling. Because it's on 39s and has a short wheelbase it's not the best for highway towing.

This spring I personally swapped in a Dakota Customs 392/8HP75 into a new JT Mojave. These swaps are clean! The end results look factory and run very well. This vehicle is on 35s and is very stable while towing a small trailer (4K lbs).

I wouldn't worry about a factory 392 being any better and focus on how you want to use the vehicle and what you expect out of it. If the shop performs quality work, it will function just as well if not better in some cases than an OEM 392 wrangler (full time Tcase sucks, can throw errors and cause other problems).

 

[bring44]

It totally depends on what you want in the end. If you are planning on keeping the vehicle, the cost will fade away but the fact you own a JT or JL wont.

I have a 21' 392 wrangler setup for rock crawling and overlanding. I absolutely love it. It's my 4th jeep and I hope I never sell it. The JL is perfect for tight trails and crawling. Because it's on 39s and has a short wheelbase it's not the best for highway towing.

This spring I personally swapped in a Dakota Customs 392/8HP75 into a new JT Mojave. These swaps are clean! The end results look factory and run very well. This vehicle is on 35s and is very stable while towing a small trailer (4K lbs).

I wouldn't worry about a factory 392 being any better and focus on how you want to use the vehicle and what you expect out of it. If the shop performs quality work, it will function just as well if not better in some cases than an OEM 392 wrangler (full time Tcase sucks, can throw errors and cause other problems).

This is a great perspective. Thank you. In a perfect world, both would be in my driveway. My wife is due for a new car...maybe I can convince her to get the 392 JL (highly doubt).

I am considering building out the JTR for 'overlanding,' or extended camping/weekend trips...that was kind of the impetus for the change (that and I was taken for a ride in a 392 swap @ Highlift). I was looking into building out a tray/canopy setup before the swap rabbit hole, but I'd prefer to swap first.

The full-time transfer case argument was something I was hoping someone would bring up. Furthermore, the insurance company doesn't need to know if my 3.6 grew into a 6.4...

 

[BeckBuilt]

The swap will completely change the way your JT feels. They are fast, comfortable to drive and kick butt in the sand!

The best full time transfer case solution would be to swap in an Atlas. They have a kit specifically for the 392 wrangler with necessary module to keep the PCM happy.

 

[ArchEtech]

If you are going with a swap, is the 392 the correct choice?

 

[1stXMan]

Buy the Wrangler 392 and worship it as the Jeep gods demand of you. Buy or rent a trailer for the limited truck things you need.

 

[bring44]

If you are going with a swap, is the 392 the correct choice?

What would you suggest? I'm not interested in an LS or 5.7 swaps...or on the opposite boundary, a Hellcat. Since I have no space or time to do the swap myself, I'm somewhat limited to a decent spectrum of options concerning build kits.

 

[BeckBuilt]

If you are going with a swap, is the 392 the correct choice?

The best options are 6.4 or 5.7 hemi. They integrate seamlessly into the Jeep electronics. All gauges and factory options remain intact without the need for duplicate controllers or sensors. The work is the same between these two, weight is negligible. The only benefit for the 5.7 is a slight cost difference and you could keep the 850RE if you're willing to be nice to it.

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