Hellwagon

[rws31]

Come on . Cherokee 7.4 liter

Exactly.


I used to have 2 Buick 455 engines. I was going to put one of them into my 69 X model


Back in 87-ish, can't remember exactly, when I started my 82 Wag tow vehicle project, I tried to stuff a 500 Caddy motor under the hood. Actually had it hanging in the engine bay. Decided it was to much work to remove heater box and get a smaller brake booster to make it fit. Decided to go with 454 cause it fit and I could have overdrive. If Dodge had an overdrive for a 440 back then, the 89 would have a 440 in it today.

The Hemi and the LS motors are awesome engines. Most people spending that kind of money on a Wagoneer with a hellcat in it would probably crap their pants if they actually did a burn out.

[rang-a-stang]

...Most people spending that kind of money on a Wagoneer with a hellcat in it would probably crap their pants if they actually did a burn out.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! SOOOOOoooooooooooo true!!! LOL!!!! They just want to say "Yeah, Bro, it's not a Wagoneer, its a Hellwagon! Dude, it's got 700HP!!"

There is so much more to Gen 3 Hemi's and LSs than just the power compared to our old AMC/Buick V8s. They are lighter, they are much more tune'able, the transmission choices are much better, they last a lot longer, and most of their parts are on the shelf at your local McParts (and the dealer if you are in a pinch). They run soooo smooth, too. Now they are so common, you can get them almost as cheap as an AMC 360 (I have seen complete 5.3's for $500 on my local Craigslist). The only down side to them anymore is the complexity. But with the aftermarket stepping up, that's not even really an issue anymore. I think you could swap in a decent running LS/Hemi for about the same cost as a good AMC V8 rebuild (and cheaper than what I did in my build).

[Rusty76]

Being a total rookie at rebuilding old vehicles I just assumed the way to go was to rebuild my original 360. I'm for sure not a purest numbers matching guy. Glad some guys are into that. For me its your jeep do what you want with it. Cherokee Chief badge on a Wagoneer, sure. Long story short I kinda wish I would have looked for a ls to swap into my Wagoneer. On the plus side if I do another vehicle I will be that much more skilled.

[Rusty76]

Recently it took all my will power to not buy a Javelin that was missing the engine.
In a matter of minutes I convinced myself that this would be the perfect opportunity
to do a ls swap! It was a hard fought battle but I came to my senses. I'm really enjoying working on the Wagoneer and don't need the distractions of another
project. Plus seems like my area is never short on projects vehicle to purchase.
Still really like those Javelins seems like an affordable muscle car.

[Crankyolman]

I think you could swap in a decent running LS/Hemi for about the same cost as a good AMC V8 rebuild (and cheaper than what I did in my build).

Sometimes I regret not doing just that when I had my engine rebuilt. I could have bought a wrecked LS1 Corvette with 50,000 miles for less than I spent on rebuilding my original AMC engine.

Recently it took all my will power to not buy a Javelin that was missing the engine.
In a matter of minutes I convinced myself that this would be the perfect opportunity
to do a ls swap! It was a hard fought battle but I came to my senses. I'm really enjoying working on the Wagoneer and don't need the distractions of another
project. Plus seems like my area is never short on projects vehicle to purchase.
Still really like those Javelins seems like an affordable muscle car.

Several times I've had to stop myself from buying Javelins, I think an LS would be a good swap for one.

[rang-a-stang]

Sometimes I regret not doing just that when I had my engine rebuilt. I could have bought a wrecked LS1 Corvette with 50,000 miles for less than I spent on rebuilding my original AMC engine.

I regret not going hemi almost every time I drive mine.

[rws31]

I regret not going hemi almost every time I drive mine.

Lol. My brother kept trying to get me to Hemi the 89. I probably will Hemi the 88 Ramcharger. Not sure yet.

[Rusty76]

Oh man Crankyolman don't agree with with! Last thing I need is someone to validate my line of thinking. This just might push me over the edge and have me actively looking for Javelins without an engine...

[Crankyolman]

Oh man Crankyolman don't agree with with! Last thing I need is someone to validate my line of thinking. This just might push me over the edge and have me actively looking for Javelins without an engine...

The way I see it is it doesn't necessarily need to not have an engine, just an undesirable or incorrect engine. I've always liked Javelins and think a Javelin with a modern engine would be a great affordable classic and uncommon muscle car that would rock!

[mwood65]

Oh man Crankyolman don't agree with with! Last thing I need is someone to validate my line of thinking. This just might push me over the edge and have me actively looking for Javelins without an engine...

I always wanted an early AMX and thought they were too cool!

[rang-a-stang]

I always wanted an early AMX and thought they were too cool!

Agreed. One of the few 2WD vehicles I would off my Cherokee for. Unfortunately if I sold my Cherokee, I would get enough money to buy an AMX fender and that's about it.

[MysticRob]

OP, thanks for posting that. Always great seeing what people can do with these awesome vehicles. I'm not one to normally do an engine swap (patiently waiting for the new Edelbrock EFI kit to drop so I can get my newly-acquired 88 GW running properly again) but if a HellCrate just happened to show up I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[ShagWagon]

The way I see it is it doesn't necessarily need to not have an engine, just an undesirable or incorrect engine. I've always liked Javelins and think a Javelin with a modern engine would be a great affordable classic and uncommon muscle car that would rock!

Theres a guy in Coos bay with a 401 javelin trying to get it running....

[Crankyolman]

I just saw a TV show where someone built a Javelin with a Hellcrate that they say they upped to 1200 HP