Last Sept I sent my Jeep off to a shop in Southern Oregon for a V8 swap.  

I had chosen the 5.2 Dodge option as I was told by the shop's owner that Dodge to Jeep drivetrains swapped well.  I also opt'ed to get an electric fan, special headers, special exhaust, 3 inch lift, and more.  

A donor was located and I was told it would take 45 days or less.

I went to sea with the Merchant Marine for several months so time was not too much of an issue.  I kept in contact with the shop the entire time I was at sea by email.  

From mid Sept to mid Dec my Jeep was still being worked on.  When I returned for X-Mas and New Years it wasn't done.

From Sept to March my Jeep was beings worked on.  In late March it was finally delivered to my door.

The first thing to go wrong was the water pump needing replaced.  Then the electronics started blowing lots of fuses.  Then the gear shift stopped working and the Jeep got stuck in 2nd.

Each time I repaired the little bugs.  Each time another bug appeared.  The worst problem now is the gear shift remaining stuck in 2nd gear.

I paid $11K initially for the Engine Swap.  I have paid $2K to repair things related to the engine swap and still the problems return.  It took a total of 6 months for the swap to get done badly.

I can imagine this shop is good at actually replacing engines.  

This shop knows something about electronics - just enough to cause a mess of their clients vehicles.  

As far as mating the stick shift and transmission to the engine and other misc fabrication of parts needed to do the swap - not very skilled at all.  The owner of the Engine Swap Shop, Evan, definitely didn't QA his product before it went out the door.  

In the six months of my Jeep being held hostage my Jeep should have been well checked out for proper fit and function / top to bottom.

I expected bugs in such a major swap.  I did.  What is bugging me now is he is not taking my calls or emails.  That is unacceptatable.        

My current Mechanic trying to un-Fudge the adaptation of the shifter to the tranny wants to know if the part was specially made or a factory kit and what if any mods were done to make it work initially.  He needs to know so he can either fix it himself or if he is going to have to forward my Jeep to a machine shop to repair the damage done.

He wants the Engine Swap Shop owner to explain the thoughts into how this was done initially but like I said calls and emails are not being returned at this point.  

I am pissed!  

Since my Jeep has been rendered undriveable at this point I broke down last night and purchased a new car to get by while my poor Jeep is repaired - however I can find to get it repaired.

So, my advise, steer clear of this Engine Swap Shop... Stay very clear if you like your Jeep functional.              

Backwoods Offroad
1144 Wilderville Ln.
Grants Pass, Oregon  97527

541-955-0363
1-877-8DAKOTA