392 Gladiator V8 Hemi confirmed by Jeep CEO!

[ecidiego]

Works fine in Wrangler....

the only reason there is no 392 Gladiator is Jeep is lame.

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[smlobx]

We all value other people’s opinions here. But when people try and push their opinion as fact is when I have a problem and that’s what we have here.

Without a white paper or other published factual analysis anyone’s opinion is just that, opinion.

I have an advanced degree in “science” with a ME minor and worked on several race engines including a 911 GT2 race car ,which gave me some valuable insight into heat management since it was a highly tuned turbocharged engine in the back of the car turning out over 700 HP at over 8000 RPM. That was a cooling challenge bringing in enough fresh air and providing escape routes in an engine bay with a mostly closed bottom panel to improve aerodynamics…plus providing enough water cooling through the radiators , which weren’t very big, to keep the block temperatures manageable.

As I said before we all have our opinions and they’re just that, opinions.

 

[BillyP]

In my opinion, I LOVE the idea of a V8 in the Gladiator. I am not happy with the 3.6, nor do I think I would be happy with the diesel. I drove both before buying a Gladiator and neither really impressed me. Yes, the diesel has a lot more torque than the 3.6, but still is lacking in my opinion. Good example is my Duramax 3500. It’ll blow the doors off of a gas powered 2500/3500, and tow better all day every day. That is how the diesel should be against the 3.6, and it’s not. Hell, they have not done anything to increase the power output of the 3.6, ever.

I learned a long time ago (for me personally) buy the most powerful engine that is offered in any vehicle. If not, I will regret it later. In my personal opinion the Gladiator needs more power.

Noted, the Gladiator and Wrangler have heat issues. There has to be SOMETHING that can be made to work with more power, or to fix the heat issues.

I LOVE Jeeps, and a Jeep truck is the ultimate vehicle for me, it just needs more power. I did not buy my Gladiator for its towing capability, I bought it as my daily driver/work truck/fun vehicle. It’s a mid-size truck, I didn’t buy it for towing, ergo the Duramax. I love having a bed on a Jeep, that’s why I bought the Gladiator. Fine, drop the V8 in it and drop the tow rating, I don’t care, I’ll be happy as can be with more power.

 

[legacy_etu]

We all value other people’s opinions here. But when people try and push their opinion as fact is when I have a problem and that’s what we have here.

Without a white paper or other published factual analysis anyone’s opinion is just that, opinion.

I have an advanced degree in “science” with a ME minor and worked on several race engines including a 911 GT2 race car ,which gave me some valuable insight into heat management since it was a highly tuned turbocharged engine in the back of the car turning out over 700 HP at over 8000 RPM. That was a cooling challenge bringing in enough fresh air and providing escape routes in an engine bay with a mostly closed bottom panel to improve aerodynamics…plus providing enough water cooling through the radiators , which weren’t very big, to keep the block temperatures manageable.

As I said before we all have our opinions and they’re just that, opinions.

Exactly and also why I've largely stayed out of this thread.

It also doesn't help when Jeep themselves in recent history stated the V8 wont work in the Wrangler, only years later goes and does the thing they themselves said wasn't possible.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Exactly and also why I've largely stayed out of this thread.

It also doesn't help when Jeep themselves in recent history stated the V8 wont work in the Wrangler, only years later goes and does the thing they themselves said wasn't possible.

So why is the tow rating of the 3.6 5,000 pounds and the V8 only 3,500?

What's the quote where Jeep said it wouldn't work?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Noted, the Gladiator and Wrangler have heat issues. There has to be SOMETHING that can be made to work with more power, or to fix the heat issues.

LOL - yeah, but no.
Do you really think that it hasn't already been done?
Here - do some homework, and see why the diesel in the JT and even certain other trucks have LOWER tow ratings than the gas counterparts - HEAT. Go read the diesel sections here and their adventures with heat.
https://www.jalopnik.com/the-engineering-behind-the-jeep-gladiators-tow-rating-1833657453/

I still can't get anyone who seems to know how wrong I am and has very strong "opinions" as far as "surely they can fix it" (LOL) to answer these simple questions:

If the JLU bit was all about the axle change, then why is the 3.6 rated at 5,000 pounds while the V8 is rated at 3,500 pounds - while sharing the same new axle.
Yes, the Rubicon/Rubucon X have the fancy rear axle, they are identical 3.6 compared to V8 and yet the 3.6 has a much higher - not a little, but a lot - tow rating.
Waiting for an answer.
And further, if towing was all about the axle, why didn't gladiator get the different rear axle to boost towing?
And - why is the diesel Gladiator rated lower in towing than the 3.6?
If it was all about the rear axle in the JLU - then why the grill change which also took place in 2024. The JLU now has the different grill letting a hell of a lot more air through, and yet - the V8 is still at 3500 while the V6 gets 5,000 pounds.
If it's all about the axle, then why does a shorter GC get 6,200 pound tow rating? Could it be due to cooling? The GC has always had a superior tow rating with the 3.6 to the JLU and yet doesn't have the floating rear axle. Actually, at 6,200 pounds, the GC kicks the ass of some of the JTs out there. So- is it REALLY about the rear axle - or a combination with the GRILL change too for more cooling.

Note in the article I linked to - they also talk why other midsize trucks with the diesel are rated lower - cooling. It's not just Jeep.

Funny how people skip over those questions and jump back in saying "surely they can fix it" or "they do it in the JLU they can do it in the JT" and leave it at that.

You gotta answer the above questions first.
If you can answer each of the above, then I bow to those as viable and reasonable arguments on why they could if they wanted to.
But so far, no takers - instead, deflecting to things like "surely they can fix it" or "but the Wrangler!"

And some seem to equate educated, well-read, and experienced opinions with those who simply say "but the Wrangler has it" and "surely they can fix it".
Then they go on comparing cars they built or raced to PRODUCTION vehicles with design constraints for safety, appearance, fuel economy and all of the regs involved.

 

[Glamisfan]

Somewhere around 2018 give or take a year there was at least one interview with I think it was a jeep engineer who said the V8 in the JL would not work. Those of us that have been watching the JL from before it was even released remember it. Pretty hard to go back and find that although maybe I’ll ask ChatGPT right now.​

and Bill, since you have no interest or no belief that a V8 in the gladiator will ever happen in any of our lifetimes from the factory, why don’t you just ignore this thread? it does you no good to comment on this thread? You’ve said you pease can’t you please just let it go. Sometimes you post twice in a row on this thread, which is really excessive for someone that has again absolutely no belief or interest in a V8 in the gladiator.​

Can’t you let those of us that have hope continue on this thread?​

 

[Oilburner]

Seems a front end akin to this might go a long way to fixing heat transfer issues.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Somewhere around 2018 give or take a year there was at least one interview with I think it was a jeep engineer who said the V8 in the JL would not work. Those of us that have been watching the JL from before it was even released remember it. Pretty hard to go back and find that although maybe I’ll ask ChatGPT right now.

AI - that's funny, because quite often it takes info from FORUMS. In fact, it told me last night the V8 was coming for 2026 and one of the references was the Gladiator forum! What a hoot.

So, why not answer the questions?

I know the interview you are referring to - it was about crash testing and crumple zones, and space for same with a V8 in place. That was it. That was their issue with it - the space and weight to get through crash testing and "potential lack of space" for the front end to crumple as designed.

They got through that - and your V8 is still limited to 3,500 pounds while the 3.6 is 5,000 pounds.
They'd have to drop the "best in class" towing stuff and cut the tow rating down for the V8 like they did with the diesel.

Oh, and one of the executives said that market share didn't make it worth it.
Check Jrgunn5150s comments about how the Ram V8 is selling vs. the 3.6 - read back a ways and find his other posts on the topic.

I'm here to correct the bull crap like "they could do it if they wanted to" - sure - but with the idea that if you want the V8 in that Rubicon we take your towing number from 7,000 pounds down to 5,000 pounds.
Would you accept that? Maybe you never tow, so you might.

 

[Glamisfan]

I think many of us, myself for sure would accept a lower tow rating. You said they already did that with a diesel model, so they 100% could do the same for a V8 in the gladiator, if they wanted to.

and yeah, you’re right about that video. Glad you were able to remember it, that was their main concern was crumple zones. I did a quick AI search and it mentioned that there was a lot of work to get that V8 work properly in the JL. And yeah, I also saw that they didn’t think there was much market share for it. Yet they’ve been selling them for $100,000 and making quite a bit of profit.

IF Jeep buildS it they can have my money in two years from now. If they don’t, then I will buy a used gladiator and send it off to AMW. One way or another I will have a V8 in a gladiator. And long travel suspension. And it’s gonna be a healthy overland build out.

 

[ecidiego]

People who buy the manual couldn't care less about a far lower tow rating tow rating has nothing to do with it

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think many of us, myself for sure would accept a lower tow rating. You said they already did that with a diesel model, so they 100% could do the same for a V8 in the gladiator, if they wanted to.

and yeah, you’re right about that video. Glad you were able to remember it, that was their main concern was crumple zones. I did a quick AI search and it mentioned that there was a lot of work to get that V8 work properly in the JL. And yeah, I also saw that they didn’t think there was much market share for it. Yet they’ve been selling them for $100,000 and making quite a bit of profit.

IF Jeep buildS it they can have my money in two years from now. If they don’t, then I will buy a used gladiator and send it off to AMW. One way or another I will have a V8 in a gladiator. And long travel suspension. And it’s gonna be a healthy overland build out.

Yeah, I didn't come into this blind or without some research and "knowing" a few things. I recall what they said, the why's of it and so on.
I read most of that stuff way back when researching for my first JT (and my wife eventually getting a JLU for herself)

People don't buy the JLU for towing- although taking a look around here, maybe they do, and just ignore the numbers. I've seen boats behind the JK and JL that were taller and wider than the Jeep itself and wondered - how the @#% did they get up that bloody hill without blowing the radiator out of it or leaving parts of the rods on the highway?

IF Jeep buildS it they can have my money in two years from now. If they don’t, then I will buy a used gladiator and send it off to AMW. One way or another I will have a V8 in a gladiator. And long travel suspension. And it’s gonna be a healthy overland build out.

Perfect scenario for a V8

Me, I need the towing, and I wanted my wife's JLU to be able to tow just in case my JT blew up on the highway, I'd call her to bring the JLU and hook up to my trailer and go from there. So she's getting the Rubicon X with 3.6 and 5,000 pound towing - a but under-rated for my towing needs, but could get things back home in an emergency.

I'm glad the Mojave X now has 7,000 pounds - I got by with 6,000 but I want a big buffer for those really hot days in the hills.
Heck, i can make my 3.6 JT OVER-HEAT when it's 10 degrees out when the snow plow is on it, so these really do run on the edge.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

People who buy the manual couldn't care less about a far lower tow rating tow rating has nothing to do with it

Interesting the manual is still available in the JLU.
I haven't looked yet - did they bring it back for the JT?

 

[RougeShot12er]

Just going to leave this right here...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just going to leave this right here...

But what's that to do with a factory V8?
He's happy, and I'm glad he is - he's not really towing a great load, it's more overlanding. Slow, not a huge load behind him, not generating a ton of heat.

Had to laugh when he said "and not act like it was working too hard"
Guess it was his first newer vehicle where engines wind up for HP and torque.
Man keep him out of Asian cars - he'd be afraid to drive them, believing 5,000 rpm means they are struggling.
Hell, my LS equipped Chevy had to wind up to 5,000 RPM to tow my trailer up our hills - and it was a V8!!
I guess he's old-school and can't accept newer methods or ways.

I bet we can find dozens of "conversions" where people are happy with them.
Sorry, but that one has zip to do with anything other than you have found someone who doesn't understand newer engines, and simply wanted a V8, so had it done.

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