How much time to install a 392 motor into a Gladiator?

[Frank Vos]

If you have the motor already, how much time would it take to install into a Gladiator? Will the motor mounts that are already in the Jeep work?

 

[Setton]

I had to go digging for this one. Installing a 392 motor into a Jeep Gladiator is quite a complex task and typically takes a significant amount of time. According to America's Most Wanted 4x4, a company specializing in Jeep conversions, the installation time for a 392 engine conversion in a Jeep Gladiator is approximately 45 hours. This estimate includes the time needed to fit all necessary components and ensure everything is working correctly.

As for the compatibility of motor mounts, this can vary depending on the specific model of the Gladiator and the 392 motor. Jeep Speed Shop offers a 6.4L 392 Hemi Swap Kit, which includes engine mounts among other necessary components like wiring, a computer, AC lines, and more. The kit suggests that there are different options for engine mounts, including weld-on and bolt-on types, indicating that the existing motor mounts in your Jeep might need to be modified or replaced to accommodate the 392 motor.

Given the complexity of such an engine swap, it's highly recommended to consult with a professional or a specialist company. They can provide more detailed information tailored to your specific vehicle and the engine model, ensuring a successful and safe conversion.

 

[smritte]

I need to comment on this.
I have done over a dozen engine swaps over my lifetime. All of them have been smog legal. I have also seen way more then that.

There will be a few issue's, few people will mention.

1. "if" the motor was offered from the factory and the company used "all factory parts", it wont be an issue. If not, you have a Frankenstein.
2. If you have a Frankenstein, no one will want to work on it if there's an issue. The reason is, as a tech, I have access to specs and procedures. On a custom job, I have nothing.
3. Who will make the harness?
The lifespan on conversion wire looms tends to be 3-4 years. Almost all of the engine swaps friends and friends of friends have brought me are 4-5 years old with weird issues caused by this. Because its custom, I don't know how they tied it all together. Factory wire looms almost never fail, conversion ones, commonly don't have the same quality.
4. who wrote the software?
It will take me too long to talk about this. What I will say is, as a technician, the last thing I need is an issue with custom software. Harness issues and software issues are what kill most engine swaps.
5.Aftermarket parts.
This is a whole rabbit hole by itself. With an unmodified vehicle, I can figure out if a crappy autozone part is the issue. Custom, I cannot. Now we have to guess. An example, One of my friends has a swap. His check engine light was coming on randomly. one of the codes, was on a component that vehicle is not equipped with. The problem was, it would happen so infrequently, I couldn't catch it. About a year later we figured out it was an Autozone module he installed that was causing an issue, it never should have been able to.

6. the company that did the swap may not actually be capable of diagnosing it. The exception will be one that writes their own software and builds their own harness. Their diagnostic skill will get better if they have several problems they already diagnosed. Most specialty conversion shops use other peoples stuff. Their great at doing the work but have no diagnostic skill and are too busy doing custom work to take the time to do this. If you have an issue, you really need to bring it to the guys that did the swap. Hopefully its local. The biggest reason is if their was a common issue with something, they will have an updated part or software. This can be an issue if their out of state or even worse, their out of business.

When you see a magazine write up an a motor swap. Almost all of them get sold within three years. That's about the time frame before weird things start happening. Back in the days of Carburetors and early throttle body fuel injection, you didn't have these issues. Today, its diffrent

If you bring me a vehicle, I need to tell you what it will cost to fix it. On a conversion, I have too many variables. If I fix an obvious issue and later it develops another issue that I cant diagnose (software), I get blamed for it.

Think carefully before engaging on any motor swap unless the vehicle was optioned for it from the factory. Unless you only plan on keeping it a few years and selling it before any possible issue pop up.

 

[Owen Hart]

Such a good point!!!