We're aware of two types of engine swappers: Do-It-Yourself guys, and Do-It-For-Me guys. Whatever kind of guy you are, there are resources available.
For starters, the guys at Burnsville Off Road, who build Jeeps in the Minnesota area, stay busy repowering brand new JK Jeeps with new engines, removing the factory V-6. You can call Burnsville and have a diesel (or a Hemmall Burnsville and have a diesel (or a Hemand have a diesel (or a Hemi) dropped into your new Jeep, delivered turn-key. One of their most popular swaps is to replace the factory V-6 with 2.8 L engines once found in the Jeep Liberty. These engines are tunable, supply the mileage of a 4-cylinder and the torque of a V-8, and can be installed using factory parts. Another swap the Burnsville guys accomplished lately is a brand new '07 3.0L Mercedes engine into a brand new '07 Jeep JK. Their work looks factory, and most of it is, because they use OEM parts to do the transplants. You will find them at 3513 West Highway 13, Burnsville, MN 55337, or visit www.burnsvilleoffroad.com.
Another awesome resource we stumbled on is DeStroked, as in www.destroked.com. Scott at DeStroked caters to the DIY guy. It all started about two years ago when he set out to do his own swap, and was disgusted with the quality of the parts available. Since he owns a machine shop in the Denver area, he decided to machine better quality parts himself. Since then he has made a growing business out of assembling kits for shops and individuals who want to scrap one engine in favor of another, for whatever reason. That might mean the transmission has to be replaced or upgraded, so he makes adapters for that too. He says a lot of his business comes from Ford owners who like the truck but want to replace the 6.0 motor. He's picky about quality and workmanship himself, so he strives for finished products that mesh perfectly with the OE factory look and feel. Destroked: 7245 W. 116th Place, Broomfield, CO 80020; (303) 945-7570.
We'll be looking for more good examples of repowered rigs in upcoming issues. Chances are, we've only scratched the surface. So if you can share a good source of practical info or parts, feel free to send me an e-mail at
