The 10 harsh truths Jeep didn't come out with a V8 Jeep gladiator.

[Dilly’S Willy]

Dont matter how the turbo is installed if the engine dont fit in he truck because of length which has been discussed plenty. My point was the fellow had not heard of the 6 cyl so i directed him to a good example

You'll almost never be able to do a direct engine swap without swapping other parts too. Saying "it's too long" is an excuse. If you can fit a 6.4L in there, you can fit an I6 and a turbo.
- Subaru said the 6 cylinder wouldn't fit the Impreza chassis, WRONG. We swap the 3.0/3.6L engines all the time into the "Impreza" chassis (wrx/STi are just different powertrain up to 2007, then switched to Legacy chassis, which CAME with the 6 cylinder) and we add a turbo or two without issues regarding space/heat under the hood.
- Toyota said the 6 cylinder wouldn't fit the FRS/BRZ/GT86, yet people have been swapping the 6 cylinder in AND adding a turbo under the hood without issue regarding space/heat. Shit, people have LS swapped, rotary swapped, even FERARRI swapped that platform that Toyota said "wouldn't fit".
- Toyota also said you couldn't fit a v6 in the Scion tC/xB (2nd gen xB), yet they share the same chassis design of the Camry. People proved you absolutely CAN fit the v6 under the hood using OEM parts without issues. More understeer due to weight, but that wasn't the point.

OEM parts are a joke for powertrain on MOST vehicles. Again, they design them with the "mil-spec" mentality. Aftermarket mods/tuning is the ONLY way to make more power reliably, well relatively speaking. Still more reliable than OEM parts, when done correctly.

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[Joe Gladiator]

the easiest and cheapest way for Jeep is to add a turbo to the 3.6 like it was intended for, that would solve half of there issues ... and create just as much more ...

 

[VladtheGlad]

In this modern world, only about 5" to 10% of the people screaming for a V-8 Gladiator have the means for such an expensive mid-sized truck. The rational people who can afford a V-8 Gladiator will quickly see how financially irresponsible such a niche vehicle would be to purchase. Jeep can choose to support the wealthy (few) Jeep purchasers over the average guy, but that seems like a terrible business decision for a mass market vehicle. When I replace my Gladiator in a year or two, I can promise Stellants no V-8's will be on my list of potential mid-sized truck purchases. Hmmm ... I wonder if Hyundai is planning a V-8 for their new mid-sizer. I bet not!

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

This is what I’ve been saying. An updated inline 6 with a turbo would give just enough performance increase to satisfy the super majority of people, while also increasing reliability, and possibly even gas mileage.

I'd rather have an N/A V8. Fits easier, more displacement, no blower needed.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

In this modern world, only about 5" to 10% of the people screaming for a V-8 Gladiator have the means for such an expensive mid-sized truck. The rational people who can afford a V-8 Gladiator will quickly see how financially irresponsible such a niche vehicle would be to purchase. Jeep can choose to support the wealthy (few) Jeep purchasers over the average guy, but that seems like a terrible business decision for a mass market vehicle. When I replace my Gladiator in a year or two, I can promise Stellants no V-8's will be on my list of potential mid-sized truck purchases. Hmmm ... I wonder if Hyundai is planning a V-8 for their new mid-sizer. I bet not!

How do we know how expensive a truck that doesn't exist is?

What if the 5.7L was a $5k option? Many of the people screaming want it as a cheap option.

 

[VladtheGlad]

How do we know how expensive a truck that doesn't exist is?

What if the 5.7L was a $5k option? Many of the people screaming want it as a cheap option.

Wow. The air must be sweet up there where you live!! $5K for a V-8 ....

An edit here - your 5K wish proves my point. So ... Jeep builds the V-8 Gladiator - now with the upgraded engine itself $$$ and ALL of the other components (electrical, computer, hardware, ect. $$$) required for this - new to the platform engine - plus suspension and brake upgrades $$$ will make it far from a 5K option and all the "screamers" will not buy one because the price becomes a LUXURY purchase and not a mid-sized American truck purchase. No harm intended for the dreamer/screamers, but a dose of reality ...

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Wow. The air must be sweet up there where you live!! $5K for a V-8 ....

It was a $1k option on my 2020 F-150.

 

[VladtheGlad]

It was a $1k option on my 2020 F-150.

The platform was engineered for this engine - the Gladiator platform is not engineered as such.

 

[ChrisNLA]

V8 isn't gonna happen

I'll just have to keep some cam kits on the shelf as the truck gets older.

Or get rid of it for a fullsize or a GM midsize with a turbski.

 

[RougeShot12er]

The platform was engineered for this engine - the Gladiator platform is not engineered as such.

They literally already sell the JL with a 6.4.
What additional engineering?
Not to mention AMW has been doing warranty covered swaps forever now.

 

[VladtheGlad]

They literally already sell the JL with a 6.4.
What additional engineering?
Not to mention AMW has been doing warranty covered swaps forever now.

And those swaps ain't cheap$$$

 

[Zachanadandy]

The platform was engineered for this engine - the Gladiator platform is not engineered as such.

It's identical in every way that matters to the JL, that gets a 392 from the factory. The ecodiesel was more different than the pentastar and makes more torque than the 5.7L. In reality they already have all the parts, engineering, etc in house. They absolutely could offer it as a $5k a la carte option. The reason they won't is they can't keep up with the demand for the 5.7L in all the other vehicles they reintroduced it to. The ram was available with the v6 or the 5.7L option... for $3500. That's all it should cost to do the same in the JT. With the willys 392 they've proven that the engine option isn't all that expensive, it was the fact that they tied nearly every other option into the 392 package when they launched it in the JLs. Why on earth would it cost the same as an installed swap for the factory to build it right out the gate? That's nonsense.

 

[Mr._Bill]

There are a lot of costs with offering different engine options. One of the larger ones is the crash test requirements. Spread that out over the number of sales and it's not so bad for the Wrangler, but pretty high for the Gladiator.

Jeep has done the evaluations, likely multiple times. If there was money to be made offering a V8 in the Gladiator, they would already be doing it.

 

[Jteakus]

I have been extremely happy with the 3.0 diesels in my JL and Jt. Plenty of torque with fuel economy as well. No need for a V8.

 

[DirkG]

You'll almost never be able to do a direct engine swap without swapping other parts too. Saying "it's too long" is an excuse. If you can fit a 6.4L in there, you can fit an I6 and a turbo.
- Subaru said the 6 cylinder wouldn't fit the Impreza chassis, WRONG. We swap the 3.0/3.6L engines all the time into the "Impreza" chassis (wrx/STi are just different powertrain up to 2007, then switched to Legacy chassis, which CAME with the 6 cylinder) and we add a turbo or two without issues regarding space/heat under the hood.
- Toyota said the 6 cylinder wouldn't fit the FRS/BRZ/GT86, yet people have been swapping the 6 cylinder in AND adding a turbo under the hood without issue regarding space/heat. Shit, people have LS swapped, rotary swapped, even FERARRI swapped that platform that Toyota said "wouldn't fit".
- Toyota also said you couldn't fit a v6 in the Scion tC/xB (2nd gen xB), yet they share the same chassis design of the Camry. People proved you absolutely CAN fit the v6 under the hood using OEM parts without issues. More understeer due to weight, but that wasn't the point.

OEM parts are a joke for powertrain on MOST vehicles. Again, they design them with the "mil-spec" mentality. Aftermarket mods/tuning is the ONLY way to make more power reliably, well relatively speaking. Still more reliable than OEM parts, when done correctly.

If Ford / Mazda can shoehorn a V6 into the Probe GT and Mazda MX6, anything is possible. I worked in this engine bay countless times in the 90s (intake, headers, cat-back, etc.) and I have the scars to prove it. Sometimes I had to call in a friend because his hands were small enough. But we made it work.

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