Starting a 6.4 Hemi swap

[Flyin6]

I have a busy build thread located here where you can track the progress that got me to this point:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ator-rubicon-build.67479/page-71#post-1731482

I tried adding a supercharger, but after bolting on two separate Vortech units, I am still hearing the strange noise in the attached video. All I really wanted was to get the truck to cruise comfortably long distances. I live in Kentucky, but explore with it in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and similar western destinations. Trying to battle the winds of Kansas and Nebraska is just mind-numbing. That Pentastar is just not up to the task. Oddly, when off-road in low range, I find the little V6 to be ideal everywhere below 12,000 feet. I was struggling a bit at 13,000 once.

After talking with AMW and RubiTrux, and considering doing it myself with help from Jeep Speed Shop, I settled on a brand-new option. My preferred shop, High Lift Off Road in Cincinnati, has completed nearly 100 AMW swaps and does specialized work for Jeep through Stellantis. After waiting too long, too many times for parts, they designed their own Hemi swap. It is close to the AMW swap but has some neat differences. It costs a bunch less, too.

I will detail the process on this thread and add a reader's digest version on my build thread, which has over a thousand posts already.

The JT was trailered away today for the short 1-hr trip to the shop. I would not drive it because I just do not trust the integrity of that supercharger. I only drove the Jeep a bit more than 3 miles because of the sound it makes. When they pull the motor out, I will remove the SC, then sell the engine, which has something less than 20K on it.

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[camss69]

Yikes! That noise would freak me out too! Looking forward to following your build! Hope to swap mine someday if I ever escape CA!

 

[Flyin6]

Yikes! That noise would freak me out too! Looking forward to following your build! Hope to swap mine someday if I ever escape CA!

Move to Kentucky! You'll feel like you moved to a foreign (better) country!

Caveat: Leave all that Kali-thinking behind. I've witnessed firsthand a Native California person moving here. They just don't understand that they don't have to ask permission for everything they want to do.

I was digging a pond on my farm. The guy asked me who did the engineering and the environmental impact study? (What's that??) I explained that I just purchased an excavator and started digging. He just could not grasp that concept. I later explained that what he was experiencing was freedom for the first time!

 

[AmosMoses]

Wow, that place is only 23 minutes from me. Looking forward to your progress reports.

 

[Flyin6]

Wow, that place is only 23 minutes from me. Looking forward to your progress reports.

Cool!
You'll have to stop by and check it out in person. I think it is showing up on their Instagram and FB pages today or tomorrow

 

[Jteakus]

Here for the pictures and updates.

 

[ChecksOut]

What kind of price are we talking about for the swap?

 

[Flyin6]

What kind of price are we talking about for the swap?

Of course, you will have to contact them for your pricing. I'll ask the owner today, when I stop by, what, if any, promotional price he might offer folks ready to move on the swap. The list price was very different than what I am paying, but then again, I am a bit of a test run...
It is by far the least expensive Hemi swap I have seen!

 

[Flyin6]

Here for the pictures and updates.

Going up to the shop today (And that's no easy thing...City traffic!!!). Update this evening...

 

[Flyin6]

False alarm...In the Army, we called it a "Hurry up and wait," or "Stand by for a standby, there might be a maybe."
They haven't turned any wrenches on the JT yet. They say they are clearing out the workspace and putting all the parts together to start the swap. Needless to say, I did not fracture any nerves or burn any fuel testing that traffic today.

 

[Shibbyjeep]

Of course, you will have to contact them for your pricing. I'll ask the owner today, when I stop by, what, if any, promotional price he might offer folks ready to move on the swap. The list price was very different than what I am paying, but then again, I am a bit of a test run...
It is by far the least expensive Hemi swap I have seen!

I also would like to know the price range. Looked on their site and didnt see anything as far of the offering yet. Will they only be doing 6.4s? Or will they also offer 5.7s?

*Edit*
I dug some more on their site and found a link at the bottom of the page for swaps. No pricing but see that they dont have 5.7 listed just 6.4 and up.

 

[Flyin6]

I also would like to know the price range. Looked on their site and didnt see anything as far of the offering yet. Will they only be doing 6.4s? Or will they also offer 5.7s?

*Edit*
I dug some more on their site and found a link at the bottom of the page for swaps. No pricing but see that they dont have 5.7 listed just 6.4 and up.

Mike, the owner, discussed preliminary pricing with me, but I shouldn't say anything until I've verified it with him. It is mo-better than what has become the norm. He is uniquely positioned in the business to acquire parts more cheaply than most folks can. I will share more on that later, if he is comfortable with me discussing that aspect of his business. Suffice it to say, he is a lot bigger than you might expect.

They are not fans of the 5.7 and told me they were just doing 6.4's. Not sure if you know, but the 6.4, especially the SRT crate engine, is stronger than the 5.7. 6.4 hemis have forged steel crankshafts, whereas the 5.7 has a cast crank. That's a pretty big deal.

Edit: Yes, they also do the Supercharged 6.2's a 426, and the supercharged 426.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I just don’t want to have to run Premium. It’s going to be pretty cool to see though. Looking forward to your build.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

Sounds like the bearings in the SC are GONE, a long time ago gone. The TRD SC has a similar issue, even though it was built by Vortech, the design was by Toyota, and the bearing design killed the SC the same way.

I've never been a fan of SCing engines that don't need it for their intended purpose, RACING. Donw low torque for drag racing or pulling big loads at low speeds where a spike in boost isn't acceptable.

Turbos are they way, no extra power losses to power your power booster (like that phrasing?) Less stress on the engine at the same boost levels, higher possible boost levels, more power over a broader range, easily tunable for the rpm range you want power in.

Oh, and when you don't want/need that power, you don't HAVE to use, unlike SCs where if the throttle is open, it's making boost (only a couple MODERN SCs have the ability to bypass boost internally, but they still MAKE boost, they just recirculate it back through the intake until you say it's okay to use it again.

Similar to SCs, a larger displacement engine is just like a SC, always there, always consuming. Just adding the weight factor on top now. Granted THIS is the ONLY way I'm aware of that allows SOME sort of OEM warranty for the upgraded power gain.


Good luck with the build, and better post result videos and dyno gains.

 

[ChrisNLA]

They are not fans of the 5.7 and told me they were just doing 6.4's. Not sure if you know, but the 6.4, especially the SRT crate engine, is stronger than the 5.7. 6.4 hemis have forged steel crankshafts, whereas the 5.7 has a cast crank. That's a pretty big deal.

Edit: Yes, they also do the Supercharged 6.2's a 426, and the supercharged 426.

I wouldn't lose a minute of sleep over a cast crank in a 5.7L if it was offered to me, and the 6.4L being stronger would be lost on me.

But I don't have the coin for either swap so I guess it's irrelevant

Looks like fun, curious to see the progress.

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