Hello:
I'm new to this forums, and the main reason i'm here is because i need some advice on this project we (with a customer) have. We do a lot of sand dunes, and our first project was building a Jeep TJ with an EFI chevy 427 small block, all custom made, BUT, we saw the Burnsville webpage and now my customer is very interested in buying a '08 Sahara 2 door with a 6.4 engine and manual transmission, my main concerns are:

- Do you believe the stock axles hold up with 33x14.50 tires and a heavy foot, with some jumps included? (obvious response i think)
- If we upgrade to Superior (or any other make) axles, will they hold up?
- If this were your project (and if you liked sand), what other upgrades would you do?
- How much do you believe it would be the approximate cost of such a complete conversion like that, Jeep included?
- Anyone have Burnsville off road's direct email address?

Thanks in advance for any advices you can give me

 

First, welcome to JK-Forum.
I don't have their email address but there phone # is 952-890-3990, but I bet you may not here much from them until next week, because they have some rigs at SEMA.

 

For sand...I think I would supercharge it with all the exhaust goodies (headers & cat-back) 3.73's to maintain my top end and call it a day.

Sounds like a hell of a project, maybe you should consider a sandrail and tow it in with an Unlimited!!!

 

Are you kidding me??

If you run a shop that does this kind of work for money, I would figure you would be able to easily answer these questions for yourself............

-No the stock axles will not hold up to 33" tires with some jumps, I doubt they could hold up to 33's and some small jumps with the factory minivan motor in there, let alone a 525Hp 6.4L Hemi.

-Just upgrading axle shafts isnt going to cut it. With such a substantial power plant mixed with dune jumping, you will need stronger housings and internals than the JK comes with. (But thats not all)

-If this was my project I would plan on spending a ton of money. Otherwise, something is going to get half-assed and you'll pay dearly for it later.

My guess is that you guys have no idea what you are doing and shouldnt be taking money from anyone, atleast not for this kind of work...........Either that or your a troll

 

with the engine my un-experienced self would say 44/60 would be wanted....but, i dont know much. 33s would be fine on stock without the engine. thats my input.

 

No, i'm not


I'm not taking money from anyone, this is my customer's idea and we're looking at the options we have, besides why are you so rude? i think there's not a nice way to treat somebody who's new in this forums and that you didn't know, so i'll appreciate a bit more education please

 

I agree why are you being so rude?

 

I know that the engine conversion for the 6.1 liter Hemi was aroung $30,000 just because the engines are hand built and are very rare so it is hard to find one in a junkyard. With these engines the axels so far have been getting upgraded to at least a Dana 60, and if you are doing jumping you would need to truss the axle. Overall I would say that a conversion like this would be $40,000 to $50,000 without the Jeep.

 

Dan from Burnsville offroad answered my email, he said the 6.4 conversion would cost $ 36,000, plus other upgrades we would need for our application, so now i have to see if my customer approves that price , if not, we'll go the TJ route