6.1 LJR Build

[Gassiper]

Still not a lot of visual progress but tons more progress with wiring getting done today. The extra things the installer is doing to make everything look as factory and hidden as possible has blown me away. Small moves in the way some of the factory harnesses were routed are making huge differences in the way it looks. He’s pointing out things to me he's changed and it looks so much better. Got the bracket on for the steering column so that’s all done. No clearance issues with that. New body mount bushings all around went in easily. I believe he said they’ll start AC lines tomorrow and getting the radiator and fans in place. The intake was supposed to be back from powder coat today but it’ll be tomorrow. Still a little more work to do and it sounds like he’s shooting to be done Wednesday. The tune from the 6.1 swap they just finished will get loaded up and we’ll see what’s what. They also did a small cam in the previous swap so hopefully everything should be pretty well in line. The big difference between the swaps though is the other was an automatic and mine is using the AX15. Nothing really electronic about that transmission so it may not be a big deal but we’ll see. Hopefully just a few adjustments on the computer and it’ll be fine. But either way we will get it all cleaned up on the dyno and see what kind of numbers it makes next week hopefully.

 

[Daubie3]

Still not a lot of visual progress but tons more progress with wiring getting done today. The extra things the installer is doing to make everything look as factory and hidden as possible has blown me away. Small moves in the way some of the factory harnesses were routed are making huge differences in the way it looks. He’s pointing out things to me he's changed and it looks so much better. Got the bracket on for the steering column so that’s all done. No clearance issues with that. New body mount bushings all around went in easily. I believe he said they’ll start AC lines tomorrow and getting the radiator and fans in place. The intake was supposed to be back from powder coat today but it’ll be tomorrow. Still a little more work to do and it sounds like he’s shooting to be done Wednesday. The tune from the 6.1 swap they just finished will get loaded up and we’ll see what’s what. They also did a small cam in the previous swap so hopefully everything should be pretty well in line. The big difference between the swaps though is the other was an automatic and mine is using the AX15. Nothing really electronic about that transmission so it may not be a big deal but we’ll see. Hopefully just a few adjustments on the computer and it’ll be fine. But either way we will get it all cleaned up on the dyno and see what kind of numbers it makes next week hopefully.

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What thermostat temp are they using? Mine with a 180° doesn't get above 183°, I might end up putting a 195° in it at some point.

 

[Gassiper]

What thermostat temp are they using? Mine with a 180° doesn't get above 183°, I might end up putting a 195° in it at some point.

I just used a 180 when I was putting it all back together

 

[Gassiper]

More hoses and wiring today. Still taking time and routing things and cleaning up as they go. Got the exhaust hung. Holley’s Y-pipe needed some adjustments. They had to do the same thing on the one they just finished. Sounds like it was dumping right into the skid plate but didn’t take more then 20 minutes to fix. Looks like the exit pipe tucks out of the way pretty nicely and doesn’t visually scream motor swap. Intake came back from powder coat and the wrinkle black looks awesome. I was a little on the fence about it but it’ll look killer under the hood.

 

[Wildman]

Wow that intake looks great.



Sucks about the Holley Y-pipe but sounds like it wasn't hard to fix.

 

[Daubie3]

Did you guys bench test your injectors to make sure they open and spray? I didn't and ended up being a real pain to diagnose, but was somewhat easy to fix..
For the very few minutes it takes it might save a lot of time in the long run.. Looking good....

 

[Gassiper]

Did you guys bench test your injectors to make sure they open and spray? I didn't and ended up being a real pain to diagnose, but was somewhat easy to fix..
For the very few minutes it takes it might save a lot of time in the long run.. Looking good....

We didn’t but something I’ll keep in mind when we fire it up.

 

[Gassiper]

We’re gettin there! A little work on the radiator brackets to make them work. I think they were from Holley? Can’t remember but nothing too big. Trying to get the AC lines done today. We started looking for the intake tube we are going to use but couldn’t put our hands on it anywhere. Then started questioning if it even came in. Went through some emails and found the confirmation from the eBay sale and then found where 4 days later the sale was kicked back for some reason. Either way, got another one that will be in tomorrow along with the gas pedal. Getting the grill and intake back on seemed like a big milestone so it was good to walk in the shop and see the jeep looking like a jeep. Black wrinkle on the intake was absolutely the right decision. Looks great under the hood. Hopefully well try firing it up tomorrow and see where we’re at.

 

[Gassiper]

….

 

[Wildman]

Black Magic fan?

 

[Gassiper]

Black Magic fan?

I know the radiator and controls are flex a lite and I thought that kit included the fan from them as well. Could be wrong though.

 

[Wildman]

I know the radiator and controls are flex a lite and I thought that kit included the fan from them as well. Could be wrong though.

Flex A Lite makes the Black Magic fans. It looks similar to the first fan setup I had on mine with the 5.2 swap. Flex A Lite use to make a conversion radiator for the Magnum V-8 swap also but stopped offering it a few years ago.
Rig is looking great.

 

[Gassiper]

Flex A Lite makes the Black Magic fans. It looks similar to the first fan setup I had on mine with the 5.2 swap. Flex A Lite use to make a conversion radiator for the Magnum V-8 swap also but stopped offering it a few years ago.
Rig is looking great.

Gotcha. Yeah it’s all from Flex a lite. Appreciate it man!

 

[Gassiper]

Didn’t bring my phone in with me today but wasn’t a bunch to see. AC lines got done. Radiator and fan got mounted up on the grill. Realized the elbow on the power steering pump wasn’t facing the right way and wasn’t going to work with the reservoir location. Through a series of trying some different reservoirs and to keep from cutting and re-welding the elbow the right way, a Dodge Avenger reservoir mounted remotely works perfect and actually hides out of the way perfect and looks super clean. I’ll grab some pictures tomorrow. Should be about 95% done tomorrow and could very well be the day we test fire. Definitely taking it to the tuner though middle of next week. We were back and forth on taking it but I really want to see what kind of numbers it makes and want to be sure the tune is cleaned up and it’s running how it should.

 

[Gassiper]

It’s a Jeep again! It’s back together for good…as far as we know. Fan and controller is wired up. Power steering reservoir is done and mounted. A bunch of other aluminum work on other projects is getting done Monday so they’ll finish up the AC lines then. The drive shafts walked in as I was leaving. Took measurements for me on the shifter arm so it’ll get bent into the right location. Still getting wires tucked away and hidden. Gas pedal got installed. Still waiting on an elbow for the intake filter tube and the remote relocation kit for the oil filter. Test firing it today was shooting high but we can see the finish line and it won’t be long now. Just a handful of odds and ends to complete and we’ll be in business!

 

[Daubie3]

It’s a Jeep again! It’s back together for good…as far as we know. Fan and controller is wired up. Power steering reservoir is done and mounted. A bunch of other aluminum work on other projects is getting done Monday so they’ll finish up the AC lines then. The drive shafts walked in as I was leaving. Took measurements for me on the shifter arm so it’ll get bent into the right location. Still getting wires tucked away and hidden. Gas pedal got installed. Still waiting on an elbow for the intake filter tube and the remote relocation kit for the oil filter. Test firing it today was shooting high but we can see the finish line and it won’t be long now. Just a handful of odds and ends to complete and we’ll be in business!

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Awesome...
Are they using stock car AC lines then going to modify them to work?

 

[Gassiper]

Awesome...
Are they using stock car AC lines then going to modify them to work?

They are

 

[Gassiper]

It’s all the little odds and ends that hold everything up! Exhaust got done and looks great. Dumps perfect out the back. Still waiting on the elbow to finish the intake, but it should be in today if not tomorrow. AC lines will be completed today as well. Oil filter, relocation kit came in and was installed. The pictures don’t do it justice of how well protected it actually is but directly behind the bumper and not hanging too low is as good as it could get. Since it’s a relatively stock Jeep and doesn’t have some crazy long arm kit or something like that there really wasn’t a lot of room to put it anywhere. AC condenser got mounted and the water pump inlet was cooling off from being re-welded and will get painted and put back on. Hoping tomorrow or Wednesday we’ll get it started and see where we’re at but once again, super happy with all the guys at Rock Solid Motor Sports and Tom’s 4x4 in Chattanooga. Couldn’t be happier with the work they’ve done.

 

[Wildman]

I know you're getting excited about that first fire off of the engine.
It's looking great.

 

[Daubie3]

Looking good.!!
Yes sir, you're finding out same as I did that the last 10% of things to do end up taking about 50% of the time... Kind of like building a house.
I'm also very interested in what oil filter relocation kit they used and exactly where and to what they mounted it to. Like you stated, it gets really busy under there and not a lot of room just anywhere..
Keep us posted.!!