Completed: At Home 6.1 Hemi Conversion
 

In short: 2007 JK Rubicon Unlimited. Bone stock to start. 6.1 Hemi with 5 speed automatic from Burnsville Offroad. AEV: 4.5 premium lift, 37 MT/R w/Kevlar tires, AEV Pinter wheels, and AEV front bumper with Warn 9500ti winch.

I installed a 2 post lift in the garage prior to install to facilitate a much easier install. Separated the body from the chassis. Only minor welding required for the motor mounts and transmission mount. A little more experience required to "re-clock" the header flanges to clear the upper control arm mounts on the JK. That was done professionally. A/C lines required modified as well as a little tweaking of the power steering cooling lines. A complete custom exhaust is required. I am using a Hot Rod shop here in Denver who only does mandrel bending for a true 3" exhaust all the way back.

In the end it took me 3.5 days from start to finish for the Hemi conversion. An additional 2 days for the lift and other little things to finish the job. It would have gone quicker if I has more help from buddies but when I worked on it from 6:30 till midnight every day it was a little much to ask. :)

Videos: Separating the body and chassis. The 1st start of the HEMI


New Shoes compared to the originals:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/e0e66dc8.jpg

Body and Chassis separation (3.5 hours total from start to apart)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/2e9a6e24.jpg

The Hemi in the stand (you have to replace the oil pan for proper mating to the transmission as well as remove the headers for the re-clocking)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/60d91772.jpg

Empty chassis waiting for a new heart and mounts:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/76a53c0e.jpg

New motor mounts:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/134ee2bb.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/cf4b547b.jpg

Speaking of new heart:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/c57b04f0.jpg

Re-Clocking of the header flanges:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/595347c9.jpg

Ready to mate the two back together:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/085458ef.jpg

Friends always willing to lend a hand:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/3d12a9ee.jpg

Finished:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/5a5de41c.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/1d216083.jpg

New AEV Bumper:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/3fe67e40.jpg

Completed rig with lift and new tires and wheels:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/a3e3e9a5.jpg

This was nothing hard but time consuming. I wouldn't hesitate to anyone who can wrench to do this themselves. I searched long and hard prior to me taking this on trying to find someone else who did it themselves but couldn't find anyone. I am more than willing to assist anyone with what I learned along the way.

Enjoy!!

Mike

That is so beautiful it brings a tear to my eye. I wish I had the wrenching knowledge to do one myself.

What is funny is after all of that, you are still a "JK newbie" because you only have 5 posts. Your status should automatically be raised. Well done with the conversion. The JK looks cool separated like that. did you yank the drivetrain prior to lifting the body or after? Seems like it would be cake afterwards. I have hemi-envy!

That is truly awesome.:bowdown::bowdown:

I really don't consider that any harder that a lift installation. Just takes time. I was very suprises how easy it all went together. The Devil is in the details so time will tell as to long term durability. I'de do it again, no hesitation at all.

dude that is soooooooo sick. very nice work my friend:thumbsup:

Good for you dude, that's pretty close to the perfect JK.

I want your job if you install a hydraulic lift in your "garage" to install a HEMI and a ton of other sweet stuff.

:thumbsup:much respect to you for taking that project on. looks great

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...I/5a5de41c.jpg

Perfect except that CAI - get rid of it before you have to put another engine in (I speak from experience).

Wow!! My hats off to you. Great Work! I cant beleive some of these places are charging 10,000 in labor.