Again, the issue is not as much the HP, but the steepness of the HP curve. The engine requires higher rpms to produce more horsepower.

If you want real horsepower gains for less than $2k, that would be your net cost of running a RIPP--buy new for around $5k, sell used for around $3.5k.

Anyway, below are the stock numbers.

 

i had a 3.8, put an intake, exhaust and re gear - still was worthless with all the armor and 35's i put on it.
my 3.8 began to burn oil, and i was told oil was blowing by the piston due to bad rings.

i did the Chevy LS 5.3 kit from Motech, but just my parts cost me 12k, but was a new crate motor.
it was stoopid money, but really is what the JEEP should be from the factory.

if you're able to do the swap for 5k, i suggest doing that.

 

I'll do that one better and I will give you 10k if you do this swap on my jeep and then you can make a cool 5k profit. And I just supercharged my 3.8lL.

In other words; I just researched the heck out of these options and don't believe you can come even close to doing a hemi or LS swap for anything close to $5k - even if you do the work yourself.

 

Honestly I'm happy with my 3.8 JKUR. It won't blow the doors off anyone but I cruise at 75 mph with no problems. Next year doing a 2.5 inch lift and 35s.

 

Well Obviously you didn't do your research very well.
The turn key kit from MOTECH for the ls swap is priced at $5200.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhKpbKjOPmo

 

http://www.lswrangler.com for more information/

 

right - 5k that's just the computer and proprietary wiring harness...

+ engine used or new
+ transmission
+ labor

i think OP is guessing at the 5200 for an LS complete swap.. i agree with '46Chevytruck' id would have given someone 10k vs the 20k i spent.

i researched this too,
almost went HEMI (heard about too many overheating issues) ~22k est.
almost went 4bt Diesel but very limited for highway speeds, plus in PA i had to re-construct the title. ~18k est.
MoTech has been doing LS swaps for a while and i didnt hear any complaints. and Robbie has given me great support when i have questions.

i've been happy, but for me the total job (kit, new engine /trans, radiator, misc., labor )was 20k, i wasnt looking to do this until my stoopid 3.8 $hit da bed.
so ya, 5k is hard to believe for a swap.

 

That doesn't include the engine, the transmission, the exhaust, or the labor.

If someone performed the swaps for $10k, so that the engine, tranny and labor totaled $4800, that guy would buy the package.

Supposedly, a swap takes about 40-50 hours labor. MoTech charges $5k for labor.

How much is a crate or low miles 5.3 or 6.0? Usually for emissions requirements, the engine needs to be the same year or newer than your jeep.

How much is a crate or low miles 6L80E?

How much will the exhaust be?

 

You can get an LS motor and Transmission off craigslist, eBay, or out of a refurbishing auto yard for under a grand. I was looking at building a 5.3 or a 6.0 for my Z71 and they had a package deal for $1,200 that came with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. (computer, exhaust, wiring and all)

I’ve been talking about on the cheap… Doing it yourself... Sure you can go buy an LS crate motor and rack the price up or send it out to have someone else do it for you, but you can do it for much cheaper if you need too, and or know how too. I'm also not saying I want too... I'm just saying it can be done for around $5K

Here’s one on craigslist, they are “ASKING” $650 I bet if you waved $500 in his face he would take it.
5.3 LS1

Here a bunch of them on Ebay for $650 buy now price, you can still make offers or bid on them.
03 04 Suburban 1500 5 3L Engine Motor 151K LKQ | eBay

I've seen them go for a lot less too. It's just finding the right deal at the right time. We have a junkyard here that take vehicles and parts them out. They will give you everthing you need, and want to know. They post how many miles were on the vehicle as well, so you can find a low mile engine or a high mile engine. The engine and trasmission I was looking at for $1,200 was a 6.0 with only had 39K on it, my plan was to add heads and cam to it before I dropped it in my truck. You can also, for even less money, go with the 4.8 V8 LS motor and put that in the Jeep. It's the cheaper and less desireable of the LS enigines, but still an LS motor with 302 hp, and the 5.3 has 315 hp, but the 6.0 has 360 hp. Just something else to think about before going off and buying any LS engine.

I will say when I did my ’03 Wrangler with the LT1.(285 hp) I already had the motor, so it was less expensive. As far as the transmission, I spent a few hundred dollars for an adapter... Not sure if you can do the same thing with 3.8, but I would think the 6 speed manual should bolt up...(with different bellhousing) But I'm not sure.

 

Ummmm Yeah.....