2006 Jeep Wrangler V10

Burnsville Off Road (BOR) in Burnsville, Minnesota, has become famous for its factory-like Hemi swaps into Jeeps of all kinds, especially the new JK Wrangler. The company has also swapped a few Viper V10s into TJ Wranglers over the last few years. The last Viper V10 conversion in an '06 short-wheelbase TJ was so impressive that Dan McKeag, the owner of BOR, decided he just had to have a Viper V10 TJ of his own. The only difference was that he wanted an Unlimited for its extra wheelbase.

There was one leftover bright orange '06 TJ Unlimited sitting on the dealer's lot, so Dan purchased it and towed it back to the shop. With 3 miles on the odometer, BOR stripped the TJ and went to work. Everyone in the shop is an expert at motor swapping, so the whole crew knows what's up and does exceptional work. Dan had already purchased an '06 Dodge Ram SRT10 that was damaged on the way to the dealership and therefore had no miles on it. For those who don't know, the Dodge Ram SRT10 is a 2WD truck built by Chrysler's SRT shop that has a 505ci (8.3L) Viper V10 that produces 500hp at 5,600 rpm and 525 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. The big V10 is not just a high-rpm-performer, as it produces 90 percent of its total torque output at 1,500 rpm! To stop the beast this TJ was going to become, the crew at BOR chose to use the big Brembo brakes that came on the SRT10. They found that the smallest wheel diameter they could use to clear the brakes was 20 inches, so to get enough flotation larger tires would also have to be procured. More on that in a bit.

The louvers from an '89 Pontiac Grand Prix help the big Howe radiator keep things cool under the hood. The Grand Prix louvers look like they belong on the Jeep.

The guys at BOR have plenty of experience installing the V10 in the TJ and say that it's easier than putting a Hemi in the JK. They also used the stock SRT10 48RE overdrive automatic that not only lives behind the V10, but in Cummins-equipped diesel trucks too. Since the SRT10 was a 2WD pickup, a 4x4 tranny tailhousing was used so a 241 Rock-Trac transfer case could be installed. The 241 has a 4:1 Low range and is extremely strong. The V10, 48RE, and 241 were in the Jeep and working in two days! Hood louvers from an '89 Pontiac Grand Prix help the Howe aluminum racing radiator keep the big mill cool. BOR built the stainless exhaust system using a MagnaFlow muffler and cat. The only other additions under the hood are an ARB compressor on the left-side battery tray and an Optima RedTop battery on the right-side tray. A Gen-Right Off Road gas tank with skidplate carries almost as much gas as the stock tank but affords more clearance both underneath its skidplate and for the big Iron Jock 60 housing. Stock axles wouldn't do, so Dan contacted Currie Enterprises and ordered Iron Jock 60 front and rearends with 5.38 gears, an ARB Air Locker in the back, and a Detroit Locker in the front. The Iron Jocks will be plenty strong for this Jeep, and their high-pinion design keeps the driveshaft up and at manageable angles (although in the Unlimited, with its stretched wheelbase, this isn't really a problem). Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts built front and rear CV driveshafts that will hold up to the Viper V10 horsepower.

39.5x13.50-20LT Interco Irok tires are mounted on 20x8.5 American Racing Cartel wheels. The Cartels had to be machined so the center hole was big enough to clear the big F-450 hubs. They make a great-looking combination. Staun internal beadlocks keep both the inner and outer tire beads locked to the rim.

Superlift coils and Superlift/Bilstein remote-reservoir shocks provide a great ride, even with the extra weight of the V10 up front. The ORO SwayLOC dual-rate sway bar is air-actuated and provides control on the pavement and a torsion bar for the dirt. Designed and patented by Blaine Johnson, ORO and Full-Traction are licensed to build this. There are, however, other companies copying it without authorization.

The Currie Iron Jock 60 frontend features hardened axles, F-450 outers with locking hubs, 5.38 gears, and a Detroit Locker. A Currie drag link and tie rod with high-misalignment rod ends are up out of the way and tough. A Gen-Right skidplate protects the stock steering box. You can see the power-steering cooler mounted high behind the front body mount.