8 Speed behind a 3.6
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
8 Speed behind a 3.6
I'm still planning what I am going to do so I would like to build in stages and give myself the most options. As of right now I have 315/70/17s and going with 4.56 and trutracs. Then i would like to swap the 8 speed trans in. I contacted Jake's Speed Shop and they said they could sell me the electronics to make it work. I would get a programming software, is HP Tuners the best? This way I could either leave the 3.6 alone, do a hemi swap or hang a turbo off the 3.6.
My issue is I do not know if there is a software update to my stock ecu that is needed or will tying the 8 speed into the canbus, as JSS shows on YouTube be enough.
Also, the ZF 8HP trans is longer but I don't see anywhere by how much. I only have leveling spacers in the front will a slight length in the trans need to lengthen the front and shorten the rear driveshafts?
The 6.4 hemi swap guys use the ZF 8HP trans seemingly without issues.
Any and all help is appreciated.
thank you Bill
My issue is I do not know if there is a software update to my stock ecu that is needed or will tying the 8 speed into the canbus, as JSS shows on YouTube be enough.
Also, the ZF 8HP trans is longer but I don't see anywhere by how much. I only have leveling spacers in the front will a slight length in the trans need to lengthen the front and shorten the rear driveshafts?
The 6.4 hemi swap guys use the ZF 8HP trans seemingly without issues.
Any and all help is appreciated.
thank you Bill
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 509
From: Calgary, AB, Canada
My TCase moved rearward about 3" for the Chev install so that was done with the adapter tranny mount plate that Motech supplied in my kit. The other issue doing that is you need new driveshafts as the stockers are impossible to reliably modify the lengths of. There is enough room to move the V6 forward but by how much you stated you don't know. The JL hood is longer than the JK but to relocate the motor forward may be way more work than moving the TCase rearward.
HP Tuners is really good but I have been warned to not play with the tranny settings for fear of grenading the transmission uness you know what you are doing. Can that vendor simply provide a transmission tune that works for the Jeep?
Interesting project - please keep us informed as those 8 gears will be magic both on and off road.
HP Tuners is really good but I have been warned to not play with the tranny settings for fear of grenading the transmission uness you know what you are doing. Can that vendor simply provide a transmission tune that works for the Jeep?
Interesting project - please keep us informed as those 8 gears will be magic both on and off road.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
My TCase moved rearward about 3" for the Chev install so that was done with the adapter tranny mount plate that Motech supplied in my kit. The other issue doing that is you need new driveshafts as the stockers are impossible to reliably modify the lengths of. There is enough room to move the V6 forward but by how much you stated you don't know. The JL hood is longer than the JK but to relocate the motor forward may be way more work than moving the TCase rearward.
HP Tuners is really good but I have been warned to not play with the tranny settings for fear of grenading the transmission uness you know what you are doing. Can that vendor simply provide a transmission tune that works for the Jeep?
Interesting project - please keep us informed as those 8 gears will be magic both on and off road.
HP Tuners is really good but I have been warned to not play with the tranny settings for fear of grenading the transmission uness you know what you are doing. Can that vendor simply provide a transmission tune that works for the Jeep?
Interesting project - please keep us informed as those 8 gears will be magic both on and off road.
I'll update if I do the swap.