What to do with my Hellcat Gladiator

[sharpsicle]

This thing is going to be a project, even at the deal you got for it. If you are trying to own this as a daily driver, I don't think you're going to see that level of reliability out of it for quite a while. Eventually, yeah, but not soon.

Because of that, you need to have something else handy to be your daily. Not this. Then you can take the appropriate time you'll need to get it fixed. If you don't have the time to do that (which it sounds like you don't), then I wonder if this was the right deal for you.

This would be great once running right, but you're going to need to be able to do without it for significant periods of time to get it there. Since you say you can't be without it that long, I'd either sell it now, or if you really want to keep it then go buy something else now for your daily driver and take this project one step at a time.

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[Killroy Was Here]

Yup, transfer ownership of the vehicle to the business (LLC/ C Corp / S Corp)....then write it off under Section 179. Vehicle Maintenance is also a business expense.

Great idea. That will give some of the 87,000 new IRS agents something to do.

 

[Gren71]

Seems like you’ve figured out what you want to do with it Op.

Ill just offer some personal experience.

before my kids were born i used to buy beat up motorcycles and rebuild them for resale as a hobby. Loved doing it and learned a lot of lessons in the process.

One of which was that when a project stops being profitable i need to stop wasting time and cut my losses.

Had A handful of times that id buy a bike that “ran just fine, only needs a battery” and was an amazing price. Once id get it on the lift and open it up the bike would turn out to be a huge can of worms and the cost to repair wouldn’t be worth it. So id sell the bike at cost, or even a small loss, and move on to the next one.

over the long run id recoup the losses with the time/money better served on another bike.

at some point it may be beneficial to stop burning time and cash on the franken-truck and move on to another build.

 

[morejeepsthanicancount]

I cant thank you guys enough for the input. Since a few of you asked, you can see the truck, and the price on BaT where I have the same user name.

To clarify - the actual parts work well. I drove this, as is from NC to CT. This isn't a hardware problem (aside from exhaust being non- compliant) its a software problem. With the benefit of hindsight, and discussions with the tuner/AMW, I realized that this particular kit is using a JT ECM and several "work arounds" to fool it. That works for a 6.4 but the supercharged engines, while physically bullet proof, rely heavily on the computer and its inputs to run properly.

I COULD try harder to follow up with the builder and get a new ECM... but @TroutFishingInAmerica is right, I DON'T trust this tune/build at all after weeks and $ to diagnose. I like what @PlayfulBird is suggesting (going back to them first) but, even if I fix whats there it still leaves me with a "daily driver" without emissions equipment installed on it. Im not a stickler for emissions rules but I want to have my daily legally registered...

After discussion with AMW, I realize their conversion uses a TRX ECM which, along with some fuel/sensor/air flow parts that the other kit didn't come with, SHOULD make this truck factory reliable and 50-state compliant. And, yes, it should have had Tons on it from the beginning (6.4 you're ok but Hellcat you need more than D44s).

Am I answering my own question? probably... thanks to your input. Now you guys can follow my journey. Incidentally, the auction lists the builder. If anyone else has thoughts or feedback from experiences with them or AMW, please chime in!

That was a deal! Finish it up!

 

[Minty JL]

Great idea. That will give some of the 87,000 new IRS agents something to do.

It's all perfectly legal, ask your CPA or Tax attorney.......that's why we pay them.

 

[Teqsand]

What trans are you running and what controller did they use. My Hemi builds use the 8HP and the controller from Sound German Automotive. Russell makes a plug and play contoller that only needs a signal from the TP sensor...

Best aftermarket 8spd mopar controller there is.... about 1k complete with harness

https://www.soundgermanautomotive.com/pcs/

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

I find myself in a bit of a situation...

I bought a 2020 Hellcat Gladiator for, what anyone in their right mind would agree is a STUPID good deal. All the pieces are there, asthetically in amazing shape - 13k miles, a really nice truck, no regrets given the price paid. BUT, theres a reason that it was a stupid good deal... it runs like CR4P.

It doesn't start well, it kinda has a mind of its own on throttle, it has huge power delivery problems (under partial throttle acceleration > 3000rpm), the transmission shift points are really inconsistent and terrible for the street. It cruises the highway at 75mph GREAT, but thats not what I bought it for.

The (nationally recognized) shop that did the conversion briefly answered a first email but has failed to respond to follow up emails and several calls. I am still in touch with the seller, he's great, no issues there. He wasn't really up front about how poorly this is running but it was cheap and its not his car anymore - no biggie.

I took the Gladiator to a shop by me, well known for dyno tuning Hellcats, LTA/LT4s... they said they had never seen anything like this. There is no emissions equipment on the car (no cats - I think they were resonators, no oxygen sensors.... etc), the tune on the JT ECU is locked and the fuel system is sort of 'tricked'. The ECU thinks its a 5.7L (according to the tuners) and/or at times a 3.6L; at no time does it think its a supercharged 6.2L.

I had intended to use this Gladiator as a replacement daily driver, trailer hauler and enjoy the utility of the pick up bed. I have a few toys, including a dedicated off-road vehicle, I wasn't looking for this to be another.



My options:

1) Sell the truck as is, with FULL disclosure and let someone else take on the project
Pretty sure I am even money even after shipping the truck and paying the tax to register

2) Try to pursue the original builder further.
I didn't commission the build. Further, it was done almost 3 years ago... I dont really have any recourse; could there be an easy fix I am missing?!

3) Ship it to AMW for a PROPER conversion, including Tons, and enjoy it. I have been in touch with them (Jared has been awesome).
Pretty sure I am IN the money after a proper conversion... thats why someone would buy it from me now. BUT, going this route would mean that this Gladiator is no longer an ideal "daily"

3) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"maybe its something really cool that I dont even know about"



All input appreciated

Personally, I'd talk to the shop that did the conversion and see what needs to be done to get it running correctly. Is it a case of the previous owner toying around under the hood and screwing it up? No credible conversion shop is going to turn their backs on a customer when a problem pops up UNLESS that customer screwed the engine up by doing what they were told not to. When you talk to the shop, ask them if there is a place closer to you that is affiliated with them.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Personally, I'd talk to the shop that did the conversion and see what needs to be done to get it running correctly. Is it a case of the previous owner toying around under the hood and screwing it up? No credible conversion shop is going to turn their backs on a customer when a problem pops up UNLESS that customer screwed the engine up by doing what they were told not to. When you talk to the shop, ask them if there is a place closer to you that is affiliated with them.

Agree with this, but I would move away from this shop as soon as I have a full history, so I can start a clean slate with a new partner that has no bad taste about the vehicle or previous customer. Starting out fresh will give a better relationship and moving forward a better and more motivated partner to fix future issues or repairs

 

[NC_Overland]

I cant thank you guys enough for the input. Since a few of you asked, you can see the truck, and the price on BaT where I have the same user name.

To clarify - the actual parts work well. I drove this, as is from NC to CT. This isn't a hardware problem (aside from exhaust being non- compliant) its a software problem. With the benefit of hindsight, and discussions with the tuner/AMW, I realized that this particular kit is using a JT ECM and several "work arounds" to fool it. That works for a 6.4 but the supercharged engines, while physically bullet proof, rely heavily on the computer and its inputs to run properly.

I COULD try harder to follow up with the builder and get a new ECM... but @TroutFishingInAmerica is right, I DON'T trust this tune/build at all after weeks and $ to diagnose. I like what @PlayfulBird is suggesting (going back to them first) but, even if I fix whats there it still leaves me with a "daily driver" without emissions equipment installed on it. Im not a stickler for emissions rules but I want to have my daily legally registered...

After discussion with AMW, I realize their conversion uses a TRX ECM which, along with some fuel/sensor/air flow parts that the other kit didn't come with, SHOULD make this truck factory reliable and 50-state compliant. And, yes, it should have had Tons on it from the beginning (6.4 you're ok but Hellcat you need more than D44s).

Am I answering my own question? probably... thanks to your input. Now you guys can follow my journey. Incidentally, the auction lists the builder. If anyone else has thoughts or feedback from experiences with them or AMW, please chime in!

You got a great deal, it looks like it’s in great shape, and you got to go to Wilmington. Win. Win. Do #3 and you’re still not upside down in it and Win, win, win.

 

[Hank_]

Keep it, fix it right, enjoy it. Seems simple. If I had the funds a V8 would already be in my gladiator.

Hank

 

[Lunentucker]

Does it always make that laughing sound?

 

[Johnny3]

Does it always make that laughing sound?

OMFG - LOL. Never noticed that bird until now

 

[Johnny3]

You got a great deal, it looks like it’s in great shape, and you got to go to Wilmington. Win. Win. Do #3 and you’re still not upside down in it and Win, win, win.

Wilmington was awesome- FYI this truck lived in Raleigh and went back and forth.

 

[Johnny3]

Agree with this, but I would move away from this shop as soon as I have a full history, so I can start a clean slate with a new partner that has no bad taste about the vehicle or previous customer. Starting out fresh will give a better relationship and moving forward a better and more motivated partner to fix future issues or repairs

Yeah- I think I have to move on from the first shop... even if the fix through them is reasonable. Was already 90%+ going toward AMW but you guys helped me realize thats my best option. Fix it, love it, all in cost basis is good relative to what some guys pay for these... win win win

 

[NC_Overland]

Wilmington was awesome- FYI this truck lived in Raleigh and went back and forth.

Nice. Never saw it, or at least close enough to see the badge or know what was under the hood.

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