Put in a build list today with MoTech for a LS 3 or LS 7 swap. If price is too much probably just going to buy a crate and their kit and do it myself.

 

If you're comfortable with pulling engines out of a modern vehicle and dealing with wiring harnesses, it's really not that bad of a job. Just take your time and lay everything out. All the bolts you take off regardless if you "think" you're not going to use them again, put in ziplock bags and LABEL!

Don't think you're going to pull this off in a weekend with a few buddies and some brews...

 

I plan on taking a week to week and a half. Im hoping I can run up on one with about 35k or less miles

 

I'd plan on it taking a month to a month and a half.
here's why.
1. there are always parts you will wait on. even if you start collecting everything you need prior to starting.. radiator, harness, getting a computer programmed with your VIN, the mounts, alllll the hardware you think you will need.. there will be more that you just don't think of till later. AC lines? fuel line? the stipid clips that hold the tranny cables in always break... stuff like that.
2. it takes a while to figure out where you will put everything and a while longer to fab up mounts for stuff like the radiator overflow, the remote power steering reservoir.
3. here is a BEST case scenario: you order every part and piece of hardware you need beforehand (extremely unlikely). You take 6 hours to pull the drivetrain, an hour to grind the old motor mounts off, a half hour removing the old exhaust, an hour aligning and welding the new mounts in, 2 hours getting the new motor and tranny in, a half hour bolting up the t case, 2 hours with the radiator and condenser, hour with the tranny cooler. now most of the parts are installed, but not hooked up. You have more than 2 days of solid work into it at this point. now comes hooking up the radiator hoses, AC lines, heater hoses (that you have to make), tranny and t case cables, computer, wiring harness, tranny cross member. this more than another day. Driveshafts, intake, battery box, fuse box, alternator, starter. Where is the dip stick? how about exhaust?

so that's about a week and a half of work if you are pretty spry and can actually wrench for 8-9 hours a day...assuming you have a well-equipped garage and some friends that work for beer.
The real kicker is the little things. if you rush them the install will not be right. if you want a reliable trouble free rig plan on taking your time and doing it right. that means it will cost a lot more and take a lot longer that you expect.

 

A month to a month and a half is realistic for a first time engine swap endeavor. The 1st Jeep LS swap I did was in a TJ, and it took about 3 weeks. I'm well equipped, been swapping engines in vehicles for quite some time, and have awesome sources for all the odd and end parts within miles of my shop. Like mentioned above, it's the little things you have to wait for that add up time.

 

Only reason i said around 2 weeks was after I had all the parts in. Plus my 3 friends helping me own a restoration shop and thats where we will be doing it. It will def be a month endeavour getting everything ready.

 

I would still allow for longer than 2 weeks. Not saying it will take more time, but trying to rush a project like this is when things get screwed up or left out. If you can handle the vehicle down time, I wouldn't even bother with having MoTech install the engine. Paying the HUGE premium to have a shop handle the swap caters to people who have time constraints and/or zero mechanical ability. Same as a lift install...just with a lot more parts.

If a problem does arise, at least you know what went into the build and troubleshooting shouldn't be too difficult. Plus you have the personal gratification of doing this yourself. To me, that's what owning a Jeep is all about!!

 

U said it. Im allowing for a month. Its my dd but got a ride to work and stuff. Im def. doing it myself going to cost between 6500 to 7500 for the modern motor.

 

I agree with what everyone else said, a week and a half for this swap is not going to happen. Getting parts shipped is a huge deal and will take longer than it should. WHen my LS swap was done it took a week to week and a half just to get ahold of MoTech, then another week for the parts to ship. They make one of the best kits on the market but service isnt the greatest.My swap ended up taking 4 months.

 

how much did the kit run u