That’s just crazy.
When one thinks of Jeep, one conjures up images of an American vehicle being able to go anywhere and do anything. It has through history and it’s going to continue its push onwards off the beaten path for years to come. But, this Jeep Wrangler with some hardcore custom wheels has a bit of a polarizing secret – it’s powered by a Lexus V-8 engine.
Taken from a Lexus LS, the 1UZ V-8 engine sports double-overhead cams and replaced the aging 4.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that came from the factory in this Jeep. While it’s not out of the ordinary to find one of these engines spinning the rear custom wheels of drift cars, it’s super rare to find one in a Jeep.
While it wasn’t as complex as it may seem to put a Lexus 1UZ V-8 engine inside the Jeep and power the custom wheels, it wasn’t easy either. There are six bolt points inside the Jeep’s engine bay while a Toyota 4Runner flywheel and pressure plate sends power to the clutch disc from a V-6 Chevrolet Camaro and to the Chevrolet SM420 four-speed manual gearbox with a 3/8-inch steel plate adapter. The original Jeep transfer case is used, but inside are 4.10 gears and an 8.8-inch Ford rear axle.
While this may seem absolutely crazy and blasphemous, the loud V-8 engine packs quite a punch and can make those custom wheels spin with ease in the mud, as seen in the video. It’s an off-road work of art if you ask us!
Source: American Locomotive YouTube
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