--- title: "Yes, They’ve Already LS-Swapped A Brand-New 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL" description: "The 2018 Jeep Wrangler is the first all-new model in a decade, and as we wrote in our review, better than its predecessor in basically every way. But more power is always welcome, so the folks at Bruiser Conversions have already figured out how to swap a 6.2-liter, LS V-8 engine from General Motors in there." date: "2018-02-08" modified: "2019-05-16" authors: - name: "Kyle Cheromcha" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/18346/yes-theyve-already-ls-swapped-a-brand-new-2018-jeep-wrangler-jl" categories: - "Jeep News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Conversion" - "Engine Swap" - "General Motors" - "Jeep" - "Jeep Wrangler" - "LS Swap" - "Off-Road" - "suv/crossover" - "Wrangler" --- # Yes, They’ve Already LS-Swapped A Brand-New 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* The 2018 Jeep Wrangler is the first all-new model in a decade, [and as we wrote in our review,]() better than its predecessor in basically every way. But more power is always welcome, so the folks at [Bruiser Conversions]() have already figured out how to swap a 6.2-liter, LS V8 engine from General Motors in there. The company has been known for stuffing all sorts of interesting powerplants into Wranglers for over a decade, and it shows in the precision engineering required to make components from two completely different manufacturers play nice together in a brand new truck. That includes things like custom fabricated transmission adapters and engine brackets, as well as electrical work to control everything using the original Chrysler computer to maintain all the features and functionality of a stock Jeep. ![message-editor%2F1518128930615-27459672\_1357018271069673\_5388439494118151587\_n.jpg]() **Facebook | Bruiser Conversions** The 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine puts out 450 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, both significant upgrades over the numbers from the original 3.6-liter V6. While a supercharged Hellcat engine might make more sense [from a familial standpoint,]() 707 horsepower would make the Jeep a hilarious handful. Using the lighter and [relatively-tamer LS V8]() should provide just the right amount grunt for trail driving—and make one hell of a sound, as shown in [several teaser videos]() put out by the company. https://www.instagram.com/p/BetlQWPB0Xt Bruiser Conversions will be selling both turn-key conversions and at-home kits for the DIY set, and both come with a [3-year/36,000-mile warranty](). Fortunately, the company determined that the Jeep Wrangler's new 8-speed automatic transmission can easily handle the increase in power, though how exactly they managed to make work with a GM engine is a trade secret. https://www.instagram.com/p/BeooN4MBfsm The 2018 [Jeep Wrangler]() is just starting to make its way into the hands of eager customers who really should be mandated by law to take it off road every once in a while. And with the option of even more power under the hood, there's even less of an excuse for anyone to stick to pavement. ## Author Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()